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Former WSU track and field coaches, athletes react to program cuts

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Nobody wore a black armband to work, but the tone was funereal in the text exchanges and calls among Washington State track and field alums Tuesday.

When it wasn’t just angry.

“I feel like going over to the alumni center and chopping that tile with my name on it out of the floor,” said former Cougar coach John Chaplin. “I’m just so pissed.”

The reactions – from resignation to indignation – came in the wake of the school’s announcement on Monday that it was dropping the “field” part of the program and reducing, in ways unspecified, its numbers in the sprints and hurdles. The Cougars will carry on a program centered on distance running.

How many scholarships will be awarded, how much in budget savings will result and the status of assistant coaches have not been shared publicly. Athletic director Anne McCoy and head coach Wayne Phipps continued to refuse interview requests on Tuesday.

But one thing seemed clear. National regard for the once-formidable Cougar program will take another hit.

“The program has had such a rich tradition and heritage,” said Drew Ulrick, a Cougar discus thrower 20 years ago and now a real estate professional in Spokane. “It was more competitive in the ‘80s and ‘90s on the national stage, but even in my era you always knew WSU was at a meet – there were always a few stars out there.”

Like many, Ulrick was confused by the two-paragraph school statement that the cuts would give WSU “the best opportunity to remain competitive at the conference and national levels,” though it did specify “in the distance events.”

“I just wish they’d been up front and said, ‘We need to cut,’ and not tried to make it sound like this was a good thing,” said Debra Farwell, who coached throws at WSU for 20 years and was one of the pioneer athletes in the women’s program. “This is just sad and another sign that the college athletics system is broken.”

The school provided no rationale for the cuts. But the combination of existing athletic program debt, the collapse of the pre-2024 Pac-12 and the drying up of television money from that and, finally, the pressure the Cougar athletics will face navigating life after the recent House vs. NCAA settlement opening up direct payments to athletes suggests that it was solely a financial consideration.

The last WSU sport to take such a blow was men’s tennis, which was dropped entirely in 1994 after years of half-funding.

Cougar field events were not the first track-related casualty of the post-House world, either, with Colorado announcing last week that it was throwing more of its resources behind its renowned distance corps and axing two field events coaches.

“Sadly, there are probably many more to come,” said Cougar alum and hammer specialist Brock Eager, who competes on the professional level out of the Iron Wood Throws Club in North Idaho. “The whole scheme and layout of college athletics has changed completely in just the six years I’ve been out of college.”

While the Gerry Lindgrens, Henry Ronos and Bernard Lagats of the Cougars’ “Long Crimson Line” of distance runners put WSU track on the map, the field events were wildly underrated.

“The school record in the high jump is 7-foot-7,” noted Eager. “Ian Waltz threw 212 feet in the discus, Tore Gustafsson 255 in the hammer – I’m at 236 and that’s just third. All the other records are world class.”

Indeed, it’s been difficult in recent years for Cougar field athletes to even crack the school’s top 10s. But 14 of the school’s last 21 Pac-12 champions came on the field side.

“To lose that tradition is sickening,” said Farwell.

But what former athletes and coaches find more disheartening is the loss of opportunity.

“If I didn’t get a scholarship to go to college, I wasn’t going,” said Francesca Green, a two-time then-Pac-10 champion from Kennewick who now coaches at the University of Arizona. “Having (coaches) Rick Sloan and Lissa Olson take a chance on me was the opportunity of a lifetime, because my times in high school didn’t put me at the top of the country. So it was life-changing.”

It was a sentiment echoed by CJ Allen, a 2024 U.S. Olympian in the intermediate hurdles.

“If what’s happening with the program now happens back then, I don’t’ know if my life looks the same,” he said. “I won a conference championship as a freshman and used that momentum for the rest of my career, really. Put me in the SEC that year in a little more competitive field and maybe I don’t make the final.”

Allen would win another Pac-12 title before he left WSU, and made time gains each year post-collegiately through 2023 – until he’d become the 30th fastest 400 hurdler in history and No. 14 American.

“In the new scenario at WSU,” he said, “I don’t exist.”

It also puts into question, in the likelihood of similar cuts elsewhere, the impact to Olympic development if its feeder system shrinks. Green – “I’ve always been an optimistic person,” she said – believes elite athletes will always find their place and that it could be an iron-sharpening-iron outcome. But broad-based development could suffer.

“You’re not going to have the walk-on, the football guy who tries the hammer and takes to it and becomes national caliber in four years,” said Eager. “You’re going to miss out on making the diamonds-in-the-rough into diamonds.”

But that’s a macro problem. Alums are more worried about WSU’s micro problem.

“I think about so many kids that won’t get the opportunity now,” said Farwell. “A kid like Tim Gehring – from Kettle Falls, a walk-on and with our development program became a national championship competitor who threw 63-10. He’s an accountant now in Pullman. We had so many kids like that. Maybe they only got a semester’s tuition or books, but that was incentive for them to keep improving.”

Most of the track and field alums grasp the realities of today’s college landscape, even if they don’t like it or understand. They’re more saddened than disgusted.

That doesn’t make this wholesale gutting of the program easier to swallow. Chaplin, a long-time donor as well as the builder of the program, insisted he’s taking the Rono statue project he’s ramrodded off campus.

“I don’t want my name attached to the university in any way,” he said. “I’m embarrassed to be a graduate of WSU.”



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Adriana Jeanpierre, Beachside, All-First Coast girls volleyball award

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Dec. 28, 2025, 5:00 a.m. ET



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Assistant Director, Behavioral Health & Performance in New Orleans, LA for Tulane University

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Details

Posted: 27-Dec-25

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

Type: Full-time

Categories:

Operations

Sector:

Collegiate Sports

Required Education:

Masters

Internal Number: IRC34061

Position Summary: The Assistant Director of Behavioral Health & Performance Specialist provides clinical leadership, direct services, and program oversight within Tulane University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Reporting to the Assistant Athletic Director, Behavioral Health & Performance, this position is responsible for managing the delivery of comprehensive mental health services to student-athletes. The Assistant Director of Behavioral Health & Performance ensures high-quality, evidence-based care while collaborating with internal and external partners to promote student-athlete wellbeing, resilience, and performance.

Essential Functions of the Job:

1. Function: Clinical Services – Provides psychotherapy (individual, crisis, and group) to Tulane student-athletes, with emphasis on performance-related and sport-specific concerns; conducts intake evaluations, diagnostic assessments, treatment planning, and referrals for student-athletes, including coordination with athletic and medical partners as needed; oversee clinical caseload management for the Behavioral Health & Performance unit to ensure timely access for new student-athlete clients; serves as a primary point of contact, with student-athlete consent, for communication with collateral parties including parents, coaches, medical staff, faculty, and administrators; ensures the Behavioral Health & Performance unit’s adherence to university, NCAA, and professional standards, updating and implementing policies and procedures as needed; provides leadership in case formulation, clinical decision-making, and team consultation to support effective care delivery; oversee and ensure that treatment approaches are tailored to the unique needs of student-athletes, while maintaining professional standards of care; directs case disposition decisions, coordinating referrals internally and externally to ensure comprehensive support for student-athletes; carries an appropriate treatment caseload, including individual therapy cases and leading and/or co-leading groups and workshops when appropriate, and takes responsibility for ongoing monitoring and management of case assignments; provides leadership and oversight during complex cases, crisis consultations, and hospitalizations, serving as the clinical point of escalation; documents patient records in EHR in a timely manner and ensures that the records are accurate; maintains professional standards of mental health care delivery, including ethical and legal issues; provides consultation and supervision to Clinical Case Manager; and promotes professional development for the Behavioral Health & Performance team, including ongoing training, supervision, and performance feedback. (65%)

2. Function: Leadership & Supervision – Provides consultative assistance to the Tulane community and Campus Partners regarding mental health as needed; represents the Tulane Athletics at campus events, including weekend parent and student orientation sessions, off-hours outreach and workshop opportunities, etc.; forms positive working relationships with Campus Partners and others within Student Affairs and throughout the University Community; demonstrates willingness to be a Tulane Athletics representative and campus presence at a variety of events as needed; 0versee daily operations of the Behavioral Health & Performance case management team; provide supervision, mentorship, and consultation to case management, and interns as appropriate; and assist in hiring, training, and evaluating team members to support departmental goals. (10%)

3. Function: Program Development & Collaboration – Partner with the Assistant Athletic Director, Behavioral Health & Performance to design and implement innovative mental health and performance initiatives; develop workshops, team training, and outreach programming to enhance student-athlete wellbeing and reduce stigma around mental health; serve as a key liaison between Athletics, the Tulane Center for Sport, Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine, and other campus and community resources; and contribute to the development of policies, procedures, and best practices for student-athlete care. (10%)

4. Function: Administrative & Compliance – Collect and analyze data to evaluate program effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement; ensure departmental practices align with NCAA, institutional, and professional ethical guidelines; and uphold strict confidentiality standards and safeguard student-athlete records. (5%)

5. Function: Emergency Preparation and Response – Serves as a member of the department and/or divisional crisis response teams and/or the University’s Essential Personnel, as needed; carries out activities detailed in the All-Hazards Plan; participates/contributes to annual review of emergency processes and procedures; maintains departmental emergency equipment and supplies; assists with coordination/support of department operations during emergencies; attends training to maintain knowledge of emergency response protocols; adheres to federal, state, and local regulatory requirements to maintain safety and emergency protocols; and participates in regularly scheduled drills to maintain safety procedures and university protocols. (5%)

6. Function: Other Duties – Performs other duties as requested or required, whether or not specifically mentioned in this job description. (5%)

Required Education and Experience:

  • Master’s Degree in Counseling, Social Work, or Psychology  
  • Current Licensed Professional Counselor, PLPC, LCSW or other mental health therapist license recognized by the State of Louisiana (or the ability to obtain within 30 days of the start date) 
  • Experience working with athletic population  
  • One year of clinical experience  

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities/Competencies:

  • Ability to protect confidentiality and meet all ethical standards associated with the practice of psychology within a university counseling center context
  • Strong clinical expertise in the assessment and treatment of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, and sport-performance concerns.
  • Outstanding oral and written communication skills, able to dialogue effectively with a wide range of students, faculty and staff
  • Ability to effectively utilize an electronic medical records system
  • Demonstrated leadership, supervisory, and team-building skills.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills with diverse stakeholders, including students, families, coaches, administrators, and healthcare providers.
  • Knowledge of developmental trends and concerns of undergraduates, as well as graduate and professional students
  • Ability to engage in an ongoing pursuit of self-knowledge and understanding of own personal factors affecting clinical work

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Training and interest in working with multicultural issues and students with diverse identities
  • Experience in developing and delivering case management to high profile athletes and their families.
  • Prior experience working with NCAA Division I student-athletes or high-performance/elite athlete populations.
  • Certification or advanced training in sport psychology, trauma-informed care, or performance enhancement strategies.
  • Experience in administrative leadership, program development, or interdepartmental collaboration.

NCAA Related:

Ensures that all Department of Athletics and University related activities operate in full compliance with university, conference, and NCAA rules and regulations. Attends and participates in scheduled compliance seminars and complies with all the Athletic Department’s efforts to monitor compliance with NCAA regulations. Seeks interpretations from the compliance staff before acting when necessary. Reports potential rules violations immediately.  Completes required compliance paperwork in a timely and efficient manner. Monitors all of their areas and/or programs activities closely to maintain compliance with applicable rules and regulations. 

In order to be considered for this position, applicants are required to apply for IRC34061 via the Tulane University employment website (https://jobs.tulane.edu/position/IRC34061).  The position is OPEN UNTIL FILLED.

Please Note: Tulane University has officially adopted a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, which includes the requirement of a booster when eligible. All employees and visiting faculty must be fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccination or obtain approval for a medical or religious exemption prior to beginning employment.

 

Tulane University is an EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. Applications by members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged.

Employer Logo

About Tulane University

Founded in 1834, Tulane is one of the most highly regarded and selective independent research universities in the United States. A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, we take pride in being a part of this select group of 62 universities with “pre-eminent programs of graduate and professional education and scholarly research.” Our schools and colleges offer undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees in the liberal arts, science and engineering, architecture, business, law, social work, medicine and public health and tropical medicine. With a seventeen-sport program that competes in the American Athletic Conference, Tulane Athletics is on the rise, boasting one of the oldest and most storied athletics programs in the Southeast, and indeed the nation.Tulane University is an EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. Applications by members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged.


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Prep Volleyball: Texas High earns multiple honors in District 10-5A awards

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TEXARKANA, Texas — Texas High was well-represented in the District 10-5A all-district volleyball selections, with two players earning superlative honors and several more recognized across the first and second teams.

Senior Kyleigh Perkins was named Co-Utility Player of the Year, sharing the award with Lufkin’s Akira Smallwood. Taryne Stiger, also a senior, earned Co-Blocker of the Year alongside Hallsville sophomore Kylee Fernandez.

Eva Treadway and Sydney Woods were selected to the first team, while Kenley Dewberry and Cruz Hopkins were named to the second team.

Four players earned honorable mention: Karasha Hayes, Zanasia Nelson, Deja Aubrey and Lexie Burton.

Texas High also had 12 players named to the Academic All-District team: Aubrey, Burton, Madelyn Carroll, Dewberry, Hopkins, Phoenix Jones, Acasia Nelson, Zanasia Nelson, Perkins, Stiger, Treadway and Woods.

Hallsville’s Kaycin Farrell was named Most Valuable Player, and Hallsville head coach Tara Wager and her staff earned Coaching Staff of the Year.

——

2025 District 10-5A All-District Honors

Most Valuable Player: Kaycin Farrell – Hallsville – JR. No. 25

Most Valuable Hitter: Chesney McCullough – Lufkin – SR. No. 4

Most Valuable Setter: Lilly Fry – Hallsville – SR. No. 3

Co-Utility Player of the Year: Kyleigh Perkins – Texas High – SR. No. 2 and Akira Smallwood – Lufkin – SR. No. 12

Libero of the Year: Danika Cantu – Marshall – JR. No. 13

Co-Blocker of the Year: Taryne Stiger – Texas High – SR. No. 6 and Kylee Fernandez – Hallsville – SO. No. 12

Server of the Year: Ava Wise – Whitehouse – SR. No. 2

Newcomer of the Year: Ja’Lee Flores – Tyler – SR. No. 9/17.

Coaching Staff of the Year: Tara Wager – Hallsville

——

1st Team All-District

Lyla Evans – Hallsville

Madi Farrell – Hallsville

Tailor Benson – Hallsville

Eva Treadway – Texas

Sydney Woods – Texas

Ellie Cooley – Whitehouse

Vaida Hocker – Whitehouse

Lily Holzbauer – Whitehouse

Kaylee Garner – Whitehouse

Savannah Bergman – Lufkin

Aleciera Smallwood – Lufkin

Kinlee Smith – Marshall

Jazlyn Duran – Tyler

Kaelyn McLean – Tyler

Emmy Finnerude – Nacogdoches

——

2nd Team All-District

Livi Vineyard – Hallsville

Miller Goswick – Hallsville

Caroline Slaten -Hallsville

Kendall Bostik – Whitehouse

Ava Reese – Whitehouse

Jazlynn ONeal – Lufkin

ZaNyia Johnson – Lufkin

Kenley Dewberry- Texas High

Cruz Hopkins – Texas High

Ella Kate Runnels – Marshall

Addi Watkins – Marshall

Ruby Hulen – Mount Pleasant

Miyah Amador-Farrier – Mount Pleasant

Zarriya Swindle – Nacogdoches

Kinsley Fields – Nacogdoches

Elaine McCown – Jacksonville

Gretchen Ault – Jacksonville

Ryan Vega – Tyler

Marilyn Cardenas – Tyler

——

Honorable Mention

Karasha Hayes – Texas High

Zanasia Nelson – Texas High

Deja Aubrey – Texas High

Lexie Burton – Texas High

——

Academic All-District

Texas High: Deja Aubrey, Alexeia Burton, Madelyn Carroll, Kenley Dewberry, Cruz Hopkins, Phoenix Jones, Acasia Nelson, Zanasia Nelson, Kyleigh Perkins, Taryne Stiger, Eva Treadway, Sydney Woods

This file photo shows Texas High's Kyleigh Perkins serving. (Submitted photo)
This file photo shows Texas High’s Kyleigh Perkins serving. (Submitted photo)
Texas High's Taryne Stiger. (Photo contributed)
Texas High’s Taryne Stiger. (Photo contributed)



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USA Volleyball Mourns the Passing of Hall of Fame Leader and Visionary Glen Lietzke

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Dec 27, 2025) – USA Volleyball is deeply saddened by the passing of longtime volleyball leader Glen Lietzke, a respected and influential figure whose dedication to the sport touched athletes, families, and organizations nationwide.

A true champion and pioneer of the game, Lietzke’s service spanned decades and encompassed numerous initiatives to grow and strengthen the volleyball community. He was a cornerstone of the sport, the founder of Austin Juniors Volleyball, and an AVCA Hall of Fame inductee.

In 1998, he was inducted into the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame as a recipient of the USA Volleyball George J. Fisher Leadership Award. His impact was felt profoundly at the national level through his work with First Point Volleyball, now an arm of USA Volleyball, and his service on the USA Volleyball Foundation Board, where his vision helped expand opportunities for countless young athletes.

He was a longtime coach, including collegiate stints at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Southwest Missouri State University, and the University of Texas. He also coached many teams at Austin Juniors and coached with the U.S. junior and youth national teams.

“Glen Lietzke always amazed me with the depth of his innovation and the lasting influence he had on our sport, shared John Speraw, President and CEO of USA Volleyball. “But what impressed me most in recent years was his generosity and the quiet way he made an impact. I always knew I could call Glen for honest insight and thoughtful perspective. He worked behind the scenes, never seeking attention, always focused on making things better for others. That is what our sport has lost, a humble icon and we have lost a good friend.”

Lietzke was a tireless advocate for the growth of boys and men’s volleyball, investing resources and leadership to help programs thrive in regions where few opportunities previously existed. At the time of his passing, he was actively leading preparations for January’s Southwest Boys Classic, one of the premier events on the national calendar.

Beyond his professional achievements, Glen was a trusted friend to the First Point Volleyball and a visionary leader whose belief in what was possible strengthened the sport. His legacy is one of generational impact; a volleyball community made better, more inclusive, and more vibrant through his lifelong commitment.

USA Volleyball extends its heartfelt condolences to his wife, Kathy, his children, Nathan and Lauren, the Austin Juniors community, and the many athletes, coaches and colleagues inspired by his life and work.



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Kentucky Wildcats volleyball player transferring to Louisville

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Dec. 27, 2025, 1:22 p.m. ET

Just a few days ago, coach Craig Skinner and the Kentucky Wildcats volleyball team got a huge lift by landing All-ACC outside hitter Morgan Gaerte from the transfer portal. However, they will also be losing Brooke Bultema. The sophomore middle blocker announced she was transferring, and very quickly found a home with the Louisville Cardinals.

Bultema didn’t see a lot of action down the stretch of the season, but she played well when she was on the court. In 57 sets played, she recorded 92 kills and 55 blocks. Her .264 hit percentage was top five on the team among regular players, and her 1.61 kills per set was fourth. She was second on the team, behind only Lizzie Carr, with .96 blocks per set.



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Kentucky Wildcats volleyball star Eva Hudson signs pro deal

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Dec. 27, 2025, 4:50 p.m. ET

The Kentucky Wildcats volleyball team had one of its most successful seasons ever in 2025, winning 27 straight games and getting to the national championship match. It didn’t end the way they would have hoped, but it was a terrific run that captured the hearts of Big Blue Nation.

Individually, Eva Hudson had a huge season that led to her being named the SEC Player of the Year. He recorded 546 kills to lead Kentucky, and was critical to their success. Her senior season was certainly a special one.

Hudson’s eligibility ended after the season, but she has quickly managed to land a professional deal, signing with LOVB Atlanta. League One Volleyball is set to begin its second season in January, and features six professional teams.



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