Sports

AD Josh Whitman

Published

6 months ago

June 26, 2025

AD Josh Whitman: ‘Disruption is our opportunity’

CHAMPAIGN – The Illini have taken steps forward with a recent Elite Eight berth and a football team that cracked 10 wins for the first time in more than two decades.

And just as the Illini have some real momentum and coaches signed to long-term deals with non-compete clauses, the Illinois athletic department wades into the new world of college sports beginning next week with a determination to take advantage of chaos in the industry.

By being creative, aggressive and forward thinking, athletic director Josh Whitman said Thursday during a media round table, the Illini plan to maximize opportunity in the greatest era of change of college athletics. Following the House settlement, the game changes Tuesday, July 1, when schools essentially pay players to play, even if the semantics created let you think otherwise.

“I’ve said this for years. Disruption is our opportunity,’’ Whitman said. “We have an industry that is continuing to experience intense disruption. We’re very disciplined in the way we talk about it and think about it. Within Illinois athletics, we see this as our moment and see the change happening across college athletics as an opportunity for Fighting Illini athletics to out-think, out-strategize and out-execute our opposition.

“We will continue to find ways to think differently, to be creative, to maybe zig when others are zagging, to create a competitive advantage for the Fighting Illini going forward. The changes are all around us.’’

Whitman, like his coaches, aren’t sitting back after a couple good seasons.

“We will never confuse being pleased with being satisfied,’’ he said. “We have so much more work to do, so much more opportunity in front of us. We’re really happy with the progress we’ve made, but we have a lot more opportunity in front of us.’’

The revenue sharing starts next week, when the Illini plan to pay out the maximum allowed at $20.5 million, even as they lose a little more than a million from NCAA distributions. While the Illini plan to spread the wealth close to a 75-15-5-5 plan adopted by most schools in the Power 4, Whitman wouldn’t go into much detail, other than saying 98 percent of the revenue would be distributed among the four sports where tickets are sold – football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball.

“We’re not exactly in line with that (75-15-5-5), but we’re not far from that,’’ Whitman said. “It’s a significant investment in those four sports.’’

Through a Big Ten Conference licensing agreement, athletes will sign a contract selling their exclusive rights to promote the university, the Illinois athletic department, the Big Ten and NCAA while retaining their ability to cut deals otherwise in the sponsorship market. The university would retain the athlete’s contract for the length of their eligibility. If the athlete wishes to transfer, Illinois would negotiate with the other school in determining a settlement for those NIL rights.

“A transfer to another school has no mechanism to pay them, unless there’s an agreement between the three parties,’’ Whitman said.

Other power conferences are setting up similar deals. Whitman stressed it’s not pay to play, rather the schools purchasing the NIL rights.

Whatever you want to call it, I guess.

While the number of athletes at Illinois will likely fall from about 500 to 450, about 150 will be paid through NIL. Whitman said no state dollars will be used, even at a time when the university is phasing out student athletic fees.

Illini AD Josh Whitman

The Illini are unlikely to fund the maximum number of scholarships allowed in all sports. It makes less sense to fill the jump in scholarships allowed in baseball (up from 11.9 to 34), because of the disadvantages for northern programs, than spreading the money to sports where the Illini face a more level playing field.

Athletic department officials will help athletes secure sponsorship dals through Illini Icon, the former collective’s now shifting to become a conduit between the players and the marketplace.

For this new system to work, schools must still follow the rules. Under-the-table payouts, a long tradition in college sports, would still keep that level playing field from truly existing, so it’s imperative for the College Sports Commission – the new sheriff in town – to keep things clean. Everyone is thinking the same thing. Good luck with that.

The commission needs to “investigate fast, punish hard,’’ Whitman said. “In order for this to work, that has to be the mandate. We want the College Sports Commission work quickly and swing a big hammer. We need to demonstrate early that it’s different from what we’ve known from the NCAA.’’

Whitman called this new era “the most ambitious, comprehensive project in the history of athletics.’’ But without enforcement in an arena where dark money flows at a remarkable pace, creating true change might be impossible.

If the old guard continues to spread the wealth past the $20.5 million (a number that increases 4 percent annually), will they take the slap on the wrist, or is that when the true upper crust splits again, leaving the rest of the programs to realign.

While those powerhouses can still spend more money than others on facilities, coaching salaries and the day-to-day expenditures, the perceived level playing field comes with the roster construction tied to revenue sharing and outside sponsorship deals passing through an NIL clearinghouse.

“This is a new ballgame,’’ Whitman said. “We’re building teams largely year to year with the ability to compensate them. As we move into the new environment, that’s a really significant variable exerted into the mix that’s not been there before.’’

Like previous seasons, football is driving the boat, and Whitman has great confidence in coach Bret Bielema’s ability to carry Illini athletics into the future.

“If we can get within spitting distance of our competitors, I’m here to ride with the guy in the Smith Center, because he’s pretty good,’’ Whitman said.

The new game officially begins Tuesday. It’s sink or swim for the Illini, like everyone else in the Power 4.

Sports

Wisconsin volleyball knocks off Stanford in Sweet 16, moves to Elite 8

Published

6 minutes ago

December 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Updated Dec. 12, 2025, 7:56 p.m. CT

AUSTIN, Texas – Wisconsin volleyball has long eyed a deep postseason run.

In the NCAA tournament regional semifinals, the third-seeded Badgers fully looked the part as they outdueled second-seeded Stanford in four sets, 25-17, 21-25, 25-23, 25-22, to advance to the NCAA regional finals for the eighth consecutive season.

“The level of talent out there on the court and the level of play out there – that easily could have been a Final Four match,” Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield said afterward. “It’s unusual to see that high level and back and forth in the Sweet 16.”

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Nebraska volleyball faces Texas A&M in regional final on Channel 8

Published

22 minutes ago

December 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Nebraska Vs Kansas Courtesy Photo — Courtesy Nebraska Athletics

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The undefeated Nebraska volleyball team is looking to punch its ticket to Kansas City with a win over Texas A&M on Sunday.

The Huskers face off against No. 6 Texas A&M on Channel 8. That game begins at 2 p.m.

Texas A&M is coming off a five-set win over Louisville, Husker head coach Dani Busboom Kelly’s former team.

Shortly after that match, Nebraska swept Kansas in a dominant performance inside a sold-out John Cook Arena.

The Huskers are now onto their 34th regional final in program history. That is the most regional final appearances in NCAA history.

Nebraska gets another postseason game at the Bob Devaney Center. The Huskers have won 90 home matches in the NCAA Tournament.

Only four schools nationally have 90 or more victories in the tournament.

Nebraska and Texas A&M have faced off 39 times, most recently in 2010 when the Huskers swept the Aggies on the road.

Nebraska has won 32 of those matchups.

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Tracking undefeated women’s volleyball teams in 2025

Published

39 minutes ago

December 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

We are tracking all remaining undefeated teams in DI women’s volleyball for the 2025 season. Only Nebraska is left standing after Texas fell to Texas A&M in a five-setter on Friday, Oct. 31.

Since 1981, there have been only four programs — five teams — to finish a season undefeated and win a national title: Penn State (2008, 2009), Southern California (2003), Nebraska (2000) and Long Beach State (1998).

READ MORE: Every undefeated national champion in college volleyball history

Penn State holds the longest win streak in DI women’s volleyball history with 109 match victories from 2007-10, with the Nittany Lions winning four consecutive titles (2007 through 2010). The 2009 title team is the most recent undefeated champion.

Will there be another team to etch its name into history this season? Follow along here:

Undefeated DI women’s volleyball teams in 2025

Rankings are from the AVCA:

No. 1 Nebraska (33-0): The Huskers’ extend their win-streak to 33 after most recently sweeping Kansas on Friday, Dec. 12 in the regional semifinal of the NCAA tournament. Next: vs. Texas A&M (NCAA Tournament)

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Steinbrecher Named ECAC Coach of the Year, Louisell Named First Team

Published

2 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

DANBURY, Conn. – James Madison volleyball Head Coach Lauren Steinbrecher was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference Coach of the Year while Kennedy Louisell took home First Team honors, the organization announced on Friday.

Steinbrecher – also named the Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year – led JMU to a Sun Belt regular-season championship in 2025, finishing 22-9 and 13-3 in league play. The Dukes led the conference in kills (1,695), assists (1,594), and hitting percentage (.255) along with ranking seventh nationally with 325.5 blocks (2.58 per set).

Louisell added to her list of accolades, as the junior was also named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-East Region team on Dec. 9. The 2025 Sun Belt Player of the Year set JMU Division I single-season school records in kills (605) and kills per set (4.80), along with the single-match record for kills (38), doing so against Georgia Southern on Oct. 25.

After bringing in eight new players following an 11-16 record in 2024, Steinbrecher and the Dukes rebounded from a 2-4 start to the 2025 campaign by ratting off 13 straight wins from Sept. 27 to Nov. 13 – tied for the third longest winning streak in program history.

ECAC Major Awards

Player of the Year: Korrin Burns – Saint Francis University, Sr., OH

Libero of the Year: Jessie Golden – Brown University, Sr., L

Rookie of the Year: Ava Poinsett – Yale University, Fr., OH

Coach of the Year: Lauren Steinbrecher, James Madison

ECAC Division I Women’s Volleyball All-ECAC First Team*

TaKenya Stafford – Coppin State, Rs-Sr., OH

Kiannisha Santiago – Rider University, Sr., OPP

Korrin Burns – Saint Francis University, Sr., OH

Kennedy Louisell – James Madison University, Jr., OH

Izadora Stedile – Hofstra University, Sr., OH

Alexandra Sappia – Saint Francis University, Rs-Sr., S

Jessie Golden – Brown University, Sr., L

ECAC Division I Women’s Volleyball All-ECAC Second Team

Kali Moore – Stony Brook University, Sr., OH

Arianna Ugolini – Bryant University, Sr., OH

Maya Walker – Fairfield University, Sr., MB

Ava Poinsett – Yale University, Fr., OH

Sydney Draper – Princeton University, Jr., S

Coco Figueroa – Coppin State, Jr., L

ABOUT THE ECAC

The ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) is an eighty-five-year-old organization with well over 200 member schools across all three NCAA Divisions – I, II and III. The ECAC exists to enhance the experience of student-athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics and provides great value for universities and colleges by sponsoring championships, leagues, bowl games, tournaments and other competitions throughout the Northeast.

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Sports

Jane Hays Named Associate Head Coach of Georgetown Volleyball

Published

2 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University volleyball has named Jane Hays as the Associate Head Coach, as announced by Head Coach AJ Bonetti on Friday morning.

“The decision to name Jane Hays as Associate Head Coach was an easy one. She has earned this through exceptional performance, unparalleled strategic input and her leadership both on the court and in the locker room. She is a vital piece of our coaching structure, and I look forward to continuing our partnership as we continue to build Georgetown Volleyball into the program we all know it can become; one competing for BIG EAST Championships!” – Head Coach AJ Bonetti

Hays joined the Georgetown volleyball staff in April 2023 and has served as Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator. She has been instrumental in the program’s rise, helping the Hoyas achieve their highest BIG EAST finish since 2018 and securing wins over multiple RPI Top-75 opponents. As the program’s recruiting coordinator, she led the effort to sign Georgetown’s highest-ranked class in school history, with the 2027 class earning a No. 45 national ranking.

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Huskers Cruise Into Regional Final – University of Nebraska

Published

2 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LINCOLN, Neb. – The No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team cruised into the NCAA Regional Finals with a 25-12, 25-11, 25-12 sweep of No. 16 Kansas on Friday night in front of a crowd of 8,800 at John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

The Huskers (33-0) were dominant from start to finish, never trailing in the match. NU hit .450 – its third-highest attack percentage of the year – and stifled the Jayhawks (24-11) to a season-low .029 hitting percentage. Nebraska also out-blocked Kansas, 10-1, out-dug the Jayhawks 48-30 and had six services aces and only three errors while KU had one ace and six errors.

Nebraska’s middles were dominant, combining for 21 kills on 28 error-free swings (.750 attack percentage) while adding eight blocks. Rebekah Allick had nine kills on nine swings to hit 1.000, and she added three blocks. Andi Jackson also had nine kills on .600 hitting with five blocks. Manaia Ogbechie produced three kills on four swings in the third set.

Harper Murray added seven kills and had a match-high 10 digs. Bergen Reilly dished out 30 assists while Olivia Mauch had a season-high three aces.

Three players led Kansas with six kills.

Set 1: NU got off to a 4-0 start on Choboy’s serve with a kill by Allick and two blocks by Jackson, one with Adriano and one with Murray. After Kansas got on the board, NU scored a 6-0 run with Mauch serving a pair of aces to go up 10-1. Jackson’s fourth block – with Reilly – and a kill by the junior middle blocker made it 13-3 Big Red. The Jayhawks scored three in a row to cut it to 13-6, but four kills by Allick put NU ahead 18-7. Landfair set Allick for her sixth kill on six swings, and a solo block by the senior middle blocker made it 21-8. Jackson and Landfair tacked on kills for a 25-12 win.

Set 2: Adriano had an early kill and an ace, and Murray and Jackson each posted a kill and a block together as the Huskers built a 7-3 lead. KU pulled within 9-7, but a Murray kill started a 5-0 run with Allick providing two kills and a block with Adriano. The lead grew to 10 at 19-9 after a block by Allick and Adriano and a kill by Murray. An Adriano kill made it 20-9, and Jackson and Murray teamed up for a block and a 22-11 lead. The Huskers closed out a 25-11 win on a Choboy ace.

Set 3: Sigler had two kills, and Landfair and Jackson pounded away for a 9-4 NU lead. Landfair tacked on another kill before one by Manaia Ogbechie put NU ahead 13-6. Ogbechie, Murray and Jackson added kills, and Murray served an ace to help the Huskers go up 20-9. NU went on to finish the sweep, 25-12.

Up Next: Nebraska will take on No. 6 Texas A&M in Sunday’s NCAA Regional Final at 2 p.m. on ABC. The Aggies beat No. 9 Louisville, 3-2 in a reverse sweep, in the first match on Friday.

Nebraska Post-Match Notes

With the win, Nebraska advanced to an NCAA Regional Final for the 34th time in program history. The Huskers’ 34 regional final appearances are the most in NCAA history. Nebraska has made an NCAA Regional Final in 13 of the past 14 seasons.
The Huskers played their 175th NCAA Tournament match tonight. Nebraska and Stanford are the only two programs to play 175 NCAA Tournament matches.
With the win, Nebraska improved to 137-38 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers rank second in NCAA history in postseason wins and winning percentage (.783).
The win was Nebraska’s 33rd consecutive victory. The Huskers are 33-0 this season, marking the third straight season Nebraska has won 33 matches. The 33 wins tie for the second-most victories in a season by a Husker team in the NCAA era (1981-present).
Nebraska improved to 34-7 all-time in NCAA Regional Semifinal matches, including a 17-1 record in matches played in Lincoln.
The Huskers improved to 90-7 all-time in home NCAA Tournament matches, including a 35-2 record at the Devaney Center.
Nebraska has won 90 home matches in the NCAA Tournament while only four other schools have 90 or more total victories in the NCAA Tournament.
NU has won 29 consecutive home matches in the NCAA Tournament, a school record.
Overall, Nebraska has won 63 consecutive home matches dating back to Dec. 1, 2022. That ties for the fifth-longest streak in NCAA Division I history and ties for the second-longest streak in Husker history.
With the win, Nebraska improved to 13-0 against ranked opponents this season. The 13 victories against ranked opponents are tied for second in school history, one shy of the school record (14 in 1998).
Nebraska won the first two sets and is now 106-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament when taking a 2-0 lead.
Nebraska was the first to 20 points in each of the three sets. The Huskers are now 95-0 this season in sets when reaching 20 points first.
The Huskers held Kansas to fewer than 15 points in all three sets. That marked the second time this season that Nebraska has held its opponents to fewer than 15 points in every set, with both occurrences coming against top-25 teams (also against No. 25 Penn State on Nov. 28).
Nebraska won the first set, 25-12. That marked the Huskers’ 46th consecutive set won at home this season. That is a school record for consecutive sets won at home in one season, eclipsing the 45 consecutive home sets won by the 2004 team.
Overall, Nebraska has now won 48 consecutive sets at home which ties for the second-longest streak in school history, trailing only the 52 consecutive home sets won spanning the 2001-02 seasons.
Nebraska stuffed four of Kansas’ first 11 swings of the night, recording four blocks in the first eight rallies. The Huskers had as many blocks in the match’s first 15 rallies (5) as they did in their second-round sweep of Kansas State last Saturday.
Fueled by the block, Nebraska won 13 of the first 16 rallies of the match to take a 13-3 lead.
Nebraska finished with 10 blocks in the match, tying for its highest block total in 13 matches.
The Huskers hit .450 in the match, its third-highest attack percentage this season. Two of Nebraska’s three matches this season hitting .450 or better have come in the NCAA Tournament.
Nebraska has now hit above .400 in nine matches this season, the most in a single season in the rally-scoring era (2001-present).
The Huskers played three middle blockers in the match in Rebekah Allick, Andi Jackson and Manaia Ogbechie. The middles combined for 21 kills on 28 error-free swings. Allick had a kill on each of her nine swings.
Allick also had three blocks in the match, increasing her career total to 539 blocks and moving into 10th place on Nebraska’s all-time blocks list.
Harper Murray had seven kills in the match, increasing her career total to 1,156. She passed Lexi Sun and moved into 10th place on Nebraska’s career kills list in the rally-scoring era.
Olivia Mauch had a season-high three aces in the match.
Nebraska limited Kansas to a season-low .029 attack percentage. The Jayhawks’ previous low was a .104 hitting percentage against Kansas State on Oct. 24.
The Huskers have held 15 opponents under a .100 hitting percentage this season.
Kansas did not have a block until the 31st rally of the third set. The Jayhawks finished with one block, marking the third time this season a Husker opponent has totaled only one block.