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Kansas State University

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Veteran coach Bill Peterson, who has experience at virtually every level of college and professional basketball coaching, has been named an assistant men’s basketball coach at Kansas State in an announcement by head coach Jerome Tang on Tuesday afternoon (April 29). Peterson, who started his new job on Tuesday, previously coached […]

Published

1 month ago

April 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Veteran coach Bill Peterson, who has experience at virtually every level of college and professional basketball coaching, has been named an assistant men’s basketball coach at Kansas State in an announcement by head coach Jerome Tang on Tuesday afternoon (April 29).

Peterson, who started his new job on Tuesday, previously coached alongside Tang while at Baylor from 2017-22 where they helped guide the Bears to the 2021 NCAA Championship.

“I am fired up to have Coach Bill Peterson as a part of our staff,” said Tang. “He brings a wealth of experience in both college and the NBA. Every coach, player, and person associated with K-State Basketball will be better because of the addition of Coach Bill Peterson.”

Peterson has a combined 10 years of head coaching experience at the NAIA, Division II and G-League levels in his 47-year coaching career while he has been an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech (1980-83), McNeese State (1987-94), Bosier Parish Community College (1997-99), Colorado State (2000-07) and Denver (2024-25) to go with significant experience in a support staff role at Baylor (2017-24).

Peterson has also served in various capacities in the NBA, including as special assistant with the Golden State Warriors (1989), player development/scout with the Dallas Mavericks (1998-2000) and assistant coach/player development with the Milwaukee Bucks (2007-13). He has G-League experience with the Texas Legends (2014) and Erie BayHawks (2014-17).

Peterson has mentored over 20 NBA players, including Hall of Famers Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash and Karl Malone as well as 13-year pro Jason Smith and current Charlotte Hornet Seth Curry.

“I am extremely excited to be joining Coach Tang’s staff at Kansas State,” said Peterson. “I have known Jerome Tang for the past eight years and have great respect and admiration for him and his family. The opportunity to work with him and his staff is a real blessing. The opportunity to work at a storied basketball program like K-State with a rich tradition of excellence is a real honor.

“I am excited to again be competing in the Big 12 as it is recognized as one of the premier basketball leagues in the country. I will pour my heart and soul into the players, coaching and staff to get 1% better every day.”

Tang became familiar with Peterson during their 5-year stint on staff at Baylor (2017-22), where they helped the Bears to a 120-42 (.741) overall record, including a 61-26 (.701) mark in Big 12 play, to go with the 2021 NCAA Championship, two Big 12 regular-season titles (2021, 2022) and three NCAA Tournament appearances (2019, 2021, 2022).

Peterson was Baylor’s director of men’s basketball operations from 2017-19 before spending the next five seasons (2019-24) as the special assistant to head coach Scott Drew. Overall, he was a part of 167 wins with the Bears to go with five NCAA Tournament appearances (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024).

Prior to joining the staff at Baylor, Peterson spent 10 seasons (2007-17) in the professional ranks with the Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks and Orlando Magic. He was an assistant and player development coach with the Bucks under head coaches Larry Krystkowiak, Scott Skiles and Jim Boylan from 2007-13 before spending time with the Mavericks’ G-League franchise, the Texas Legends in 2014. He was the head coach of the Erie BayHawks, the G-League affiliate of the Orlando Magic, from 2014-17 and was instrumental in the NBA call-ups of Seth Curry, Austin Daye, Keith Appling and Anthony Brown. He led the Orlando Magic Blue Team to the 2016 NBA Summer League Championship.

Peterson’s pro experience also includes a stint as a player development coach and scout with the Mavericks from 1998-2000 and as a special assistant with the Warriors in the summer of 1989.

Peterson served as associate head coach at Colorado State for seven seasons (2000-07) under the direction of head coach Dale Layer. He was a part of 103 wins while in Fort Collins, including the Rams’ first NCAA Tournament bid in 13 seasons after winning the Mountain West Conference Tournament in 2003.

Peterson had the first of two stints as a small college head coach from 1983-87 at NAIA Union College in Barbourville, Ky., where he led the Bulldogs to 73 wins. He posted four consecutive winning seasons, including the school’s most wins (22) in 16 seasons in 1984-85 while producing the school’s first-ever NBA Draft pick in James Anderson (Portland Trail Blazers) in 1985.

Peterson was the head coach at Division II Alabama-Huntsville from 1994-97, guiding the Chargers to their first winning season in 10 years in 1994-95 after inheriting a squad that won just one game the previous season.

In between his head coaching stints with Union College and UAH, Peterson spent seven seasons (1987-94) on head coach Steve Welch’s staff at McNeese State. He was a part of 75 wins with the Cowboys, including a Southland Conference Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament bid in 1989.

Peterson spent the 2024-25 season with the University of Denver under head coach Jeff Wulburn.

Peterson began his coaching career as a student assistant at St. Petersburg (Fla.) Junior College before 3 seasons (1980-83) as a graduate assistant for head coach Andy Russo at Louisiana Tech, where he was part of a coaching staff that developed All-American and Hall of Famer Karl Malone.

Peterson earned his bachelor’s degree in Leisure and Recreation from Eckerd (Fla.) College in 1980 before obtaining a Master’s in Physical Education and Human Relations from Louisiana Tech in 1982.

Peterson and his wife, Diane, are the parents of three daughters: Kati, Ginny and Hailey (who went to be with The Lord in 2000).

Coaching Experience
Student Assistant, St. Petersburg Junior College, 1978-79
Graduate Assistant Coach, Louisiana Tech, 1980-83
Head Coach, Athletes in Action Russian/European Tour, 1985-86
Head Coach, Union College (Ky.), 1983-87
Special Assistant, Golden State Warriors, Summer 1989
Assistant Coach, McNeese State, 1987-94
Head Coach, Alabama-Huntsville, 1994-97
Assistant Head Coach, Bosier Parish Community College, 1997-99
Player Development Coach/Scout, Dallas Mavericks, 1998-2000
Associate Head Coach, Colorado State, 2000-07

Assistant Coach/Player Development, Milwaukee Bucks, 2007-13
Assistant Coach/Player Development, Texas Legends (NBA G-League), 2014
Head Coach, Erie BayHawks (NBA G-League), 2014-17
Director of Men’s Basketball Operations, Baylor, 2017-19
Special Assistant to the Head Coach, Baylor, 2019-24
Assistant Coach, Denver, 2024-25
Assistant Coach, Kansas State, 2025-present

Education
Bachelor’s Degree in Leisure and Recreation, Eckerd College, 1980
Master’s in Physical Education and Human Relations, Louisiana Tech, 1982

Personal
Wife: Diane
Children: Kati, Ginny, Hailey (who went to be with The Lord in 2000)

How to follow the ‘Cats: For complete information on K-State men’s basketball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team’s social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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NIL

Martin Named First Team All-Region by ABCA/Rawlings

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State junior Maximus Martin received First Team All-Central Region recognition Tuesday, as the American Baseball Coaches Association revealed the 2025 ABCA/Rawlings All-Region teams. Martin is one of seven players from the Big 12 Conference named to the All-Central Region First Team, a region compiled of 37 schools. First Team All-Region […]

Published

15 minutes ago

June 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State junior Maximus Martin received First Team All-Central Region recognition Tuesday, as the American Baseball Coaches Association revealed the 2025 ABCA/Rawlings All-Region teams.

Martin is one of seven players from the Big 12 Conference named to the All-Central Region First Team, a region compiled of 37 schools. First Team All-Region selections are eligible for ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors, which will be announced Friday, June 13 prior to the start of the 2025 NCAA Division I College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.

A native of Edgewater Park, New Jersey, Martin is the fifth player in the Pete Hughes era to garner All-Region honors, joining MLB Draft picks Zach Kokoska (2021) and Tyson Neighbors (2023), and first-rounders Jordan Wicks (2021) and Kaelen Culpepper (2024).

In his first season at K-State, the Second Team All-Big 12 selection produced a slash line of .320/.420/.612, compiling 18 doubles and 14 home runs – tied fourth in the single-season records. Martin was one of the league’s top offensive performers, finishing the regular-season in the top-10 in three categories.

Martin, who garnered both Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Week honors, turned in a team-leading 18 games with two or more hits, while he was second with 15 multi-RBI games.

On March 10, he became the first Wildcat in school history to be named the Golden Spikes Player of the Week after he registered incredible 2.714 OPS with five home runs and 12 RBI in the Wildcats series sweep of William & Mary.

K-State ended its 2025 campaign with a 32-26 overall record, including a record-breaking 17 conference wins to earn its second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.

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Logan Storley believes NIL money could affect how many collegiate wrestlers go to MMA

One of the early shifts in mixed martial arts came when dominant American wrestlers entered the game, nullifying strikers and often being able to smother jiu jitsu specialists with their size, strength and dominant top games. Former interim Bellator welterweight champion and current PFL contender Logan Storley believes MMA’s future will see far fewer wrestlers […]

Published

25 minutes ago

June 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Logan Storley believes NIL money could affect how many collegiate wrestlers go to MMA

The ability of college athletes to make significant money through NIL deals has caused a massive shift in how sports operate at the university level. While splashy deals around “revenue sports” such as basketball and football, oft-overlooked sports have seen an influx of cash for athletes.

Take, for example, NiJaree Canady, the softball player who transferred to Texas Tech and signed a $1 million NIL deal (she just signed a second such deal for next season). Texas Tech made the investment into their program and it paid off with a run to the finals of the Women’s College World Series.

With programs expanding their push for championships to “non-revenue sports” through NILs for elite athletes, Storley — himself a four-time NCAA Division I All-American for the Minnesota Golden Gophers — thinks college careers could be enough for wrestlers to avoid moving to a high-risk career in MMA.

“Right now we’re in a weird time with MMA with NIL money coming in and we’re not seeing as many wrestlers come over,” Storley told MMA Fighting. “NIL has changed a lot. Guys are getting paid a lot of money. So we haven’t seen a ton of wrestlers come over. … Some of these guys are making a million, $1.5 million-with your top recruits, do you come fight after that?”

UFC Pound-for-Pound Fighter Rankings: Merab Dvalishvili closing in on top spot; Kayla Harrison moves up

Brian Campbell

UFC Pound-for-Pound Fighter Rankings: Merab Dvalishvili closing in on top spot; Kayla Harrison moves up

MMA has never been a guaranteed path to financial security, even if you prove to be a very good fighter, and that has not changed in the current landscape.

Building yourself up on the regional scene to get experience means small purses while also paying to train, and the better the training, the higher the cost.

With the UFC as the end goal for most fighters, with the most prestige and the highest potential pay, most fighters now come into the UFC through competing on Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS). Impress enough on DWCS and you’ll be offered a UFC contract which pays $10,000 to fight, with a $10,000 win bonus. Assuming three fights per year, all victories, that’s $60,000 annually. And that’s before taxes, fees paid to managers and coaches, specialized diets, basic training costs and gear. Oh and then whatever is left you get to live off of.

Two-time former GLORY light heavyweight kickboxing champion Artem Vakhitov split a pair of kickboxing fights with former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and earned a contract on DWCS with the hopes of meeting Pereira in a big-money UFC clash in the near future.

Vakhitov then walked away from the UFC contract when UFC officials were not willing to budge on their entry-level contracts, even for a fighter with a built in rivalry with one of their biggest fighters that could be used to sell tickets and pay-per-views.

Secondary promotions have also continued to fall under the UFC’s dominance. Pride, EliteXC, Strikeforce, Bellator, and so on, have all folded over the years, with just PFL and ONE standing as potentially valid places for a top athlete to ply their trade outside of the UFC’s Octagon. And PFL purchased Bellator before not using many of the top athletes that came with the deal, releasing many of them with one, or even zero, PFL fights.

“I think the landscape of MMA has changed,” Storley, who fights in the 2025 PFL welterweight tournament semifinals on Thursday, said. “With Contender Series and less guys on the roster with PFL, Bellator’s gone, it’s changed a little bit. Wrestling has some money, and there’s no security in your early career in MMA. That’s just the truth of it. The first few years are very, very tough, and I think with guys making money over there and going into coaching and coaching roles, you have a little more security.”

NIL

UW Athletics shifts NIL responsibilities to in-house Dawgs Unleashed

Montlake Futures, UW’s official third-party NIL collective, will begin relinquishing its responsibilities to Dawgs Unleashed, UW’s internal NIL division, following the House settlement. (From @anyamashita) https://t.co/XYH1e9ZITV — Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) June 9, 2025 The ironic twist to the House v. NCAA settlement agreement is now, starting on July 1, everything Name, Image, and Likeness related […]

Published

34 minutes ago

June 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Montlake Futures, UW’s official third-party NIL collective, will begin relinquishing its responsibilities to Dawgs Unleashed, UW’s internal NIL division, following the House settlement. (From @anyamashita) https://t.co/XYH1e9ZITV

— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) June 9, 2025

The ironic twist to the House v. NCAA settlement agreement is now, starting on July 1, everything Name, Image, and Likeness related when it comes to athletics, will be in-house for the University of Washington.

Through Dawgs Unleashed — founded in October 2024 to serve as UW’s internal NIL operations — will now be the go-to for fans and the university alike when it comes to contributing to the ever-evolving arms race in the world of intercollegiate athletics — most of which is centered around the cash cow that is college football.

According to the Seattle Times, who spoke with Montlake Futures’ executive director Andrew Minear — the previous official third-party collective used by UW student-athletes since NIL came into existence legitimately in July 2021 — on Monday, there is a changing of the guard for the better.

“We feel pretty good about what we did. We’re just going to continue to encourage our donors and fans to love Husky athletics and support them the best they can so we can continue to be dominant in all of our sports,” Minear told Andy Yamashita.

With the school moving its NIL operations in-house it will allow athletes to use UW branded merchandise and smoothen out other red-tape factors that Montlake Futures and other NIL entities didn’t have the ability or capacity to facilitate, especially with a reported $20.5 million figure floated for each athletic department to allocate throughout football, men’s and women’s basketball and other sports programs.

Joe Kelly, who previously served as the head of major gifts for UW, is leading the charge for Dawgs Unleashed, which should also help assist major companies create NIL partnerships with athletes who dawn purple and gold, with Amazon, Alaska Airlines, Boeing, Costco and dozens of other major businesses within the city that could separate the Huskies from most other college football programs that don’t have a major metropolitan city near campus.

As part of the House v. NCAA $2.8 billion settlement reached last week, previously agreed to deals through entities like Montlake Futures, won’t be subject to the same scrutiny as new deals signed after July 1, which was a significant factor for many spring and winter portal transfers to frontload deals with agents knowing the settlement was expected to come before the start of the 2025 season

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Men’s College Basketball Adds Challenge, but No Quarters—Yet

Men’s College Basketball Adds Challenge, but No Quarters—Yet Privacy Manager Link 0

Published

35 minutes ago

June 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Men’s College Basketball Adds Challenge, but No Quarters—Yet

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2025 College World Series Predictions & Preview With Chris Lemonis

Image credit: (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images) On this week’s College Baseball Podcast, Baseball America college writers Jacob Rudner and Peter Flaherty are joined by 2021 national champion head coach Chris Lemonis to break down super regional action, preview the College World Series and make predictions for a national champion. Time Stamps (0:35) Super regional […]

Published

36 minutes ago

June 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Image credit:
(Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)

On this week’s College Baseball Podcast, Baseball America college writers Jacob Rudner and Peter Flaherty are joined by 2021 national champion head coach Chris Lemonis to break down super regional action, preview the College World Series and make predictions for a national champion.

Time Stamps

(0:35) Super regional review with Chris Lemonis
(7:15) College World Series preview with Chris Lemonis
(15:30) Scouting top draft prospects
(24:24) The impact of NIL and portal
(28:25) Are college exit velos out of control?
(32:00) Chris Lemonis’ pick to win it all
(33:00) Coastal vs. Arizona
(34:33) Oregon State vs. Louisville
(37:38) UCLA vs. Murray State
(39:43) LSU vs. Arkansas
(41:13) Flaherty and Rudner make picks to win it all
(42:28) Picks to Click
(47:50) Final thoughts

Want more podcasts like this one? Subscribe below!

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Player FM

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Patty Gasso would like to see Women’s College World Series format change

Patty Gasso and her Oklahoma Sooners softball team have become as much a fixture at the Women’s College World Series in recent years as the singing of the national anthem. They don’t always win it all, however, carting home the championship trophy in seven of the last 11 seasons is pretty darn close to it, […]

Published

37 minutes ago

June 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Patty Gasso and her Oklahoma Sooners softball team have become as much a fixture at the Women’s College World Series in recent years as the singing of the national anthem.

They don’t always win it all, however, carting home the championship trophy in seven of the last 11 seasons is pretty darn close to it, and the Sooners were the national runner-up in one of the other seasons. Moreover, Oklahoma has made it to the Women’s College World Series in 13 of the last 14 seasons.

Suffice it to say that when Gasso, the winningest active head coach in NCAA Division I softball, has something to say, people listen. Or at least they should.

The Oklahoma head coach of 31 years had something to say at this year’s WCWS about the current format and that she’d like to see a change implemented.

Gasso would like to see the “if necessary” doubleheader game eliminated when teams reach the national semifinal stage of the tournament.

Oklahoma lost to eventual national runner-up Texas Tech in the national semifinals this year and was eliminated from championship contention, but had the Sooners won that game, the current rules call for a second game to immediately follow the same day to determine which team advances to the championship series.

The Sooners did not have to play the “if necessary” WCWS doubleheader elimination game this year, but they have had to go through that tenuous and exhausting process several times in recent seasons.

“Can I go on a soapbox for one second, please, everyone?” Gasso said to reporters during the postgame press conference following the WCWS loss to Texas Tech. “Because I’m old, I don’t care what anyone thinks anymore,” she quipped.

“I’ve been in this tournament enough, and there’s one thing that has to change, and I’ve got to say it out loud, and I hope to committee is going to look at this. If we are all about women’s athletics and women’s sports and rah, rah, do not make us play doubleheaders to get to a national championship series. Don’t do that. It should not happen.”

If the winner-take-all game is necessary, she said, come back the next day and play it. Don’t put both teams into a bind where they’re not at their best for such an important game.

To say that’s the way it’s always been isn’t the best excuse, Gasso said.

Oklahoma has had to play three such doubleheader games in the last five seasons the WCWS has been held. In 2019, the Sooners had to defeat Alabama in a second game the same day after losing the first game 1-0. Two years later, OU lost in the opening round to Cinderella James Madison and had to beat them twice the same day, a couple of days later, to move on to the championship series.

And in 2022, the Sooners had to play the second game in a doubleheader against UCLA after falling in the first game in the semifinal round and forcing a winner-take-all second game.

Oklahoma survived all three times and went on to win the national championship, but Gasso feels strongly that it shouldn’t have to be that way.

“Please, let’s try to change that even if it’s going to cost a little bit of extra money,” the Sooner head coach concluded. “These athletes deserve it. And thank you very much.”

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