HAMMOND, La. – Former All-American Angie Simpson has been named the new head volleyball coach at Southeastern Louisiana University, SLU Director of Athletics Jay Artigues announced Monday.
 
Simpson’s hire is pending approval from the University of Louisiana System’s Board of Supervisors.
 
“I’m extremely excited to be able to bring in a coach of Angie’s caliber,” Artigues commented. “She is well-renowned in the beach volleyball community and is a huge addition to our department. Angie is the type of coach that will make our program a consistent contender. We are very fortunate to have her in Hammond and I’m excited about the future of our beach volleyball program.”
 
Simpson is excited to be taking over a young Southeastern program that was established in 2020.
 
“Southeastern already has the infrastructure in place and the support from the administration to evolve into a nationally recognized program,” Simpson commented. “I’m eager to hit the ground running, because with the facilities, community culture and institutional support already in place, the expectation is to win the conference and earn an NCAA (Championships) bid.”
 
Simpson grew up in Muncie, Ind., where she helped Muncie Burris to three state championships during her prep career. The Owls were the No. 1 ranked team in the USA Today national high school ranks in three of Simpson’s four seasons and finished 162-1 during her time at MBHS.
 
Simpson played outside hitter on the indoor volleyball team at Penn State, where she was named an All-American as a senior and was a two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection. During her collegiate career with the Nittany Lions, Penn State made two Final Four appearances and won a pair of conference championships.
 
Simpson’s collegiate career was prior to the NCAA’s sponsorship of beach volleyball, but Simpson spent several years on the AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) Tour. One of Simpson’s most frequent partners was Jennifer Kessy, who earned a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
 
“When I met with the team it felt so comfortable, because I’ve been in their shoes before,” Simpson said. “Our administration is dedicating a full-time coach to our beach volleyball program and we’re going to be in it together. I feel with my playing experience I have a unique knowledge base to share and pass forward with this generation of players and I’m completely committed to the process.”
 
Following her beach volleyball career, Simpson spent two decades working in the Biotech and health care leadership field in California. She kept involved in the volleyball community, serving as a broadcaster for Fox Sports Net, ESPN and other outlets.

 

As her son, Colby, a tight end signed to play football next fall at Tulane, reached high school, many of his friends requested Simpson come lend her vast knowledge to the Oaks Christian High School beach volleyball team. In her first season, OCHS won the CIF D2 championship and Simpson also led the program to back-to-back Marmonte League titles.

 

“With my son finishing up high school and set to head off to college, I thought this was a perfect time to return to my passion of coaching volleyball,” Simpson said. “Once I started with Oaks Christian and we won that CIF D2 championship, I just thought ‘I’m back’.

 

“I feel really confident that I know how to win,” Simpson continued. “I’ve been winning on and off the court and throughout my professional career. I’m going to pass that knowledge on to this team.”

 

The Southeastern beach volleyball team will open the 2026 season in February.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

For more information on Southeastern Athletics, follow @LionUpAthletics on X and Instagram or like /LionUpAthletics on Facebook.

 

CLEAR BAG POLICY

Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.

 

Established in 1787, York College of Pennsylvania is a private, four-year college located in the city of York, a hub of arts and industry between Baltimore and Philadelphia. Housed on 190 picturesque acres, the college is known for its focus on experiential learning and community engagement, serving over 4,000 undergraduate and 300+ graduate students in more than 70 baccalaureate majors, along with 20+ graduate and professional programs. Deeply rooted in the liberal arts and recognized for excellence in its professional nursing, business, engineering, and education programs, York is ranked among the nation’s top 50 Best Value Schools by U.S. News. The College’s robust recreation and athletics program is among the best in the region, and is home to 23 NCAA III Division sports teams and 30+ intramural sports. A Princeton Review Best Northeastern College, York prides itself on its experienced, engaged faculty; its high-impact and student-centric philosophy; and its long-standing commitment to affordability and accessibility.

York College is committed to building a diverse college community and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply.

ADRIAN, Mich. – Adrian College Athletic Director Craig Rainey ’89 announced a leadership change for the track and field program following the resignation of head coach Kaylie Laskody due to personal reasons. Beginning in the new year, Matthew Gipple will serve as Acting Head Coach for the spring 2026 season. Following the conclusion of the academic year, Kirk Richards will assume the role of head coach for the Adrian College track and field teams.

“We are excited to welcome Coach Gipple and Coach Richards to Adrian College,” said Rainey. “Coach Gipple has demonstrated success as an assistant coach at Siena Heights, and we are confident in his ability to lead the program as Acting Head Coach. We look forward to welcoming Coach Richards to Adrian College at the conclusion of the 2026 season and wish him the best of luck in his final season at Siena Heights.”

Gipple has served as an assistant coach for the Siena Heights University cross country and track and field programs since 2024. During his time with the Saints, he has coached two conference champions, five national qualifiers, and one All-American. His athletes also include five All-Conference selections and one program record holder.

As a student-athlete at Siena Heights, Gipple competed in track and field and compiled an accomplished career. He earned four All-American honors, captured two conference championships, received 12 All-Conference selections, and qualified for seven national championships.

Richards brings extensive coaching experience to Adrian College, having spent 15 seasons at Siena Heights University coaching cross country and track and field. During his tenure, Richards coached 129 All-Americans, 94 individual conference champions, and 16 national champions. At the team level, he led the Saints to WHAC Outdoor Track and Field Women’s Championships in both 2016 and 2017.

Prior to his collegiate coaching career, Richards spent 18 years coaching at the high school level. He guided his teams to 14 regional championships and 42 conference titles while mentoring multiple state champions in events including pole vault, hurdles, distance, long jump, and sprint relays. Richards has also demonstrated strong local recruiting success at Siena Heights, with 25 of the program’s 28 athletes hailing from Michigan and two from northwest Ohio.

Gipple will begin his coaching duties at Adrian College immediately, while Richards will transition to Adrian College following the 2026 season.

 

 

Official CSC Release

–Twenty-five Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) individuals have been named to the 2025 NCAA Division III Academic All-District® Women’s Volleyball Team, selected by the College Sports Communicators.

 

Individuals from the WIAC receiving the honor included: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Mya Cinnamo, Kaitlyn Erickson, Bailey Leeke and Abby Stanwood; UW-La Crosse’s Taylor Larson, Grace Nommensen and Kayla Sexton; UW-Oshkosh’s Izzy Coon, Jaclyn Dutkiewicz, Grace Juergens and Samantha Perlberg; UW-Platteville’s Kierney McDonald; UW-River Falls’ Lauren Noth and Audrey Petersen; UW-Stevens Point’s Tessa Erlandson, Olivia Paukner, Lauren Shaw and Carly Thomka; UW-Stout’s Maja Anderson, Emma Barton, Brynn Hessel and Brooke McCune; and UW-Whitewater’s Emma Bludgen, Abbie Dix and Amanda Hillmann.

To be eligible for the Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® award, a student-athlete must carry a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, must compete in 90 percent of the institution’s sets OR must start in at least 66 percent of the institution’s total matches, and must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically.

 

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FARMINGDALE, N.Y. | The Skyline Conference released its winter weekly reports on Monday and two women’s basketball players from Farmingdale State College claimed Player and Rookie of the Week honors.

Women’s Basketball (6-4, 4-3 Skyline) | Skyline Report

Farmingdale State increased their winning streak to four consecutive games with a convincing 90-56 victory over non-conference opponent John Jay last week.

Senior guard Shyann Parker (Floral Park, N.Y.) was named the Skyline Conference Player of the Week after finishing just two assists shy of a triple-double at John Jay. She compiled 13 points, a career-high 16 rebounds, eight assists and two steals in the win.

Freshman forward Alana Henry (Amityville, N.Y.) picked up Rookie of the Week honors as she scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting to go along with five rebounds, two steals, and a blocked shot.

The women’s basketball team returns in the new year for a noontime start on January 3 (Sat.) at Hunter College.

Men’s Basketball (8-2, 1-0 Skyline) | Skyline Report

The Rams had the week off and are back in action January 3 (Sat.), when they play host to St. Joseph’s-Brooklyn in a 2 p.m. tip-off. Prior to the contest, the team will welcome youth basketball players as part of its annual CYO Day.

Indoor Track and Field

Farmingdale State returns to action on January 9, when it travels to the Ocean Breeze complex in Staten Island, N.Y., for the St. Thomas Aquinas Spartan Invitational at noon.