Sports
Researchers teach robot to play badminton using Nvidia RTX machine learning
Why it matters: Ever since Boston Dynamics first showcased its famous legged robots in 2013, numerous organizations have introduced machines that autonomously perform various professional and recreational activities. The latest research utilizes badminton to develop a robot’s agility and coordination, which could help advance training methods and maneuverability. Scientists at ETH Zürich recently published a […]

Why it matters: Ever since Boston Dynamics first showcased its famous legged robots in 2013, numerous organizations have introduced machines that autonomously perform various professional and recreational activities. The latest research utilizes badminton to develop a robot’s agility and coordination, which could help advance training methods and maneuverability.
Scientists at ETH Zürich recently published a study and video (below) explaining how they trained a quadrupedal robot to play badminton. The research could demonstrate the usefulness of a full-body training model that doesn’t break activities into individual steps, potentially widening the range of learnable tasks.
A standard ANYmal-D robot was equipped with a DynaArm and taught using a standard reinforcement learning model with minimal software or hardware specialization. Furthermore, the machine learned to track the shuttlecock using only its onboard stereo camera.
The robot learned to navigate the court using Nvidia’s Isaac Gym virtual simulator, which took about 7,500 iterations over almost five hours using an RTX 2080 Ti graphics card. Additionally, a noise prediction model helped it track the shuttlecock when it passed out of the camera’s limited field of view.
Eventually, it learned to deploy various complex movements to hit the shuttlecock without the researchers needing to teach them individually, such as starting motions, backswings, hits, running, and recovery. It even adjusted its movements based on the shuttlecock’s perceived speed, galloping across the court to hit it in time.
The experiment demonstrates the adaptability of the ANYmal-D, which ANYbotics designed to perform inspections, emergency response, and other tasks in various industrial environments. The company’s website shows the robot navigating indoor facilities, gravel, staircases, caves, snow, mud, and flooding while operating around the clock. An upcoming model, the ANYmal-X, is certified for more hazardous environments to help conduct inspections involving oil, gas, and chemicals.
Badminton is only the latest leisure activity used to demonstrate a legged robot’s adaptability. Boston Dynamics famously showed its original Atlas model dancing and performing gymnastics, and the company’s quadrupedal Spot unit demonstrated how robots might one day assist in stage productions.
Meanwhile, Google DeepMind trained a robot arm to play table tennis, Engineered Arts showcased a humanoid robot artist, and the NBA recently deployed robots to assist practicing athletes. Chinese companies also recently deployed robots to compete in a half-marathon and a kickboxing tournament with mixed results.
Sports
Water polo team splashes onto podium
HBC Hurricanes The Hibiscus Coast Water Polo Club entered two teams at the annual Logan Family King’s Birthday U12 Tournament on May 30 to June 2, both brought home medals. The club has been based at Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre since 2017. The HBC Horizons, a team new to the sport, ended with a third-place […]


The Hibiscus Coast Water Polo Club entered two teams at the annual Logan Family King’s Birthday U12 Tournament on May 30 to June 2, both brought home medals.
The club has been based at Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre since 2017. The HBC Horizons, a team new to the sport, ended with a third-place finish in the Newbie Grade. The more experienced HBC Hurricanes competed in the C Grade and emerged as champions with the gold.
They won six of their seven games. The teams include players from a range of local schools on the Hibiscus Coast, including Silverdale Primary, Gulf Harbour School, Ōrewa Beach Primary, Red Beach School, KingsWay Primary, Whangaparāoa Intermediate, Wentworth College, and Ōrewa College.
The tournament brought together 33 teams from across Auckland, Waikato and Rotorua hosted by Mountfort Park Water Polo Club in Manurewa.

Sports
Oregon baseball pitching coach Blake Hawksworth departs for Oklahoma State
Oregon is in the market for a new pitching coach. Blake Hawksworth, who coached at UO the past two seasons, has taken the same position at Oklahoma State. Hawksworth, whose two-year contract was due to expire at the end of this month, earned $195,000 in salary plus $20,000 in bonuses this season. Friday starter Grayson […]
Oregon is in the market for a new pitching coach.
Blake Hawksworth, who coached at UO the past two seasons, has taken the same position at Oklahoma State.
Hawksworth, whose two-year contract was due to expire at the end of this month, earned $195,000 in salary plus $20,000 in bonuses this season.
Friday starter Grayson Grinsell (9-3, 3.01 ERA) emerged as a third-team All-American this season under Hawksworth, recording 101 strikeouts as Oregon’s Friday starter.
The Ducks led the Big Ten and ranked 15th nationally in ERA (4.10) and led the country in hits allowed per nine innings (7.1), but ranked 72nd in walks allowed per nine innings (4.14) this season. Those were significant improvements from 2024, when UO ranked 45th in ERA (4.88), 18th in hits allowed per nine innings (8.12) and 145th in walks allowed per nine innings (4.69).
Hawksworth was previously the director of operations at UC Irvine (2023), as well as pitching coach at California’s JSerra High School (2021-22), Grand Canyon (2020) and Cal State Fullerton (2017). He played also professionally for 11 seasons, including three in the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sports
Assistant Volleyball Coach in Orange City, IA for Northwestern College
Details Posted: 16-Jun-25 Location: Orange City, Iowa Type: Full-time Categories: Coaching Coaching – Volleyball Sector: Collegiate Sports Preferred Education: Masters Additional Information: Employer will assist with relocation costs. Northwestern College is seeking applicants for the position of Assistant Women’s Volleyball Coach. This position is a full-time, 10-month (August to May) role. Responsibilities will include administering […]

Details
Posted: 16-Jun-25
Location: Orange City, Iowa
Type: Full-time
Categories:
Coaching
Coaching – Volleyball
Sector:
Collegiate Sports
Preferred Education:
Masters
Additional Information:
Employer will assist with relocation costs.
Northwestern College is seeking applicants for the position of Assistant Women’s Volleyball Coach. This position is a full-time, 10-month (August to May) role. Responsibilities will include administering and promoting the program in a manner consistent with the mission and goals of Northwestern’s athletic department. The assistant coach will coordinate individual workouts, recruit athletes, help with daily program operations, reflect our intentionally Christian mission each day, and develop positive relationships with athletes. Additional duties assigned within the athletic department will also be expected.
Red Raider volleyball has won back-to-back GPAC championships and ranked #1 in the NAIA the past two seasons, achieving a record of 64–4. The volleyball team was also the 2023 NAIA National Runner-Up. The Red Raider athletic department has claimed 16 GPAC regular season and tournament titles in the past two years, sent 16 teams to the NAIA postseason, and finished in the top 20 of the 2023-2024 NAIA Learfield Cup standings.
The mission of Red Raider athletics is to “Honor Christ Through Excellence in Athletics.” The department core values include grit, gratitude, Christ-like, competitive greatness, and focus. The Red Raider athletic vision seeks to bring in student-athletes who desire to excel in all aspects of their life, build them as individuals and athletes during their collegiate athlete experience, and send them to championships on the competitive surface and ultimately out into the world as graduates of Northwestern College.
A master’s degree is preferred, but all qualified candidates will be considered. Applicants must possess excellent knowledge of the sport of volleyball and have experience as a player and/or coach at the college or high school level.
Northwestern College seeks candidates with an authentic Christian faith who will embrace and live out our mission & values (nwciowa.edu/mission-values), including our Reformed, evangelical and ecumenical identity as stated in our Christian Identity Statement, Mission Statement, Vision for Learning and Vision for Diversity. We view these statements as complementary and draw from each in fulfilling our mission.
To apply, send letter of application, resume and Northwestern College application form to:
Human Resources • Northwestern College
101 7th St. SW • Orange City, IA 51041
Phone: 712-707-7223
Apply online at www.nwciowa.edu/employment
About Northwestern College
Northwestern is a Christian college in the Reformed tradition, founded in 1882 and affiliated with the Reformed Church in America. Certified as a Best Christian Workplace, we are committed to providing a standout Christian liberal arts education in the context of community among learners on campus and online. We offer bachelor’s degrees in traditional and professional programs, as well as graduate degrees and certificate programs. Our mission is to be a Christian academic community engaging students in courageous and faithful learning and living that empowers them to follow Christ and pursue God’s redeeming work in the world.
Connections working at Northwestern College
Sports
Assistant Women’s Water Polo Coach in Los Angeles, CA for UCLA Intercollegiate Athletics
Details Posted: 16-Jun-25 Location: Los Angeles, California Type: Full-time Salary: $60,000.00 – $80,000.00/year Categories: Coaching Coaching – Water Polo Sector: Collegiate Sports Salary Details: This is a contract, full-time position with full health benefits and membership in the UC Retirement Plan. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is accepting applications for the open position […]

Details
Posted: 16-Jun-25
Location: Los Angeles, California
Type: Full-time
Salary: $60,000.00 – $80,000.00/year
Categories:
Coaching
Coaching – Water Polo
Sector:
Collegiate Sports
Salary Details:
This is a contract, full-time position with full health benefits and membership in the UC Retirement Plan.
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is accepting applications for the open position of Assistant Women’s Water Polo Coach. This is a contract, full-time position with full health benefits and membership in the UC Retirement Plan. Responsibilities and duties include, but are not limited to: Assist in the coaching and training of student-athletes, and in the planning, development and administration of all phases of the Women’s Water Polo program including the preparation and management of travel, athlete gear, procurement of supplies/equipment, recruitment and selection of student-athletes, interaction with support services and involvement in appropriate public relations and promotional activities. All applicants should demonstrate the following abilities: the ability to understand how to guide, teach and communicate with collegiate student-athletes; comprehension of the demands placed on a Division I student-athlete both in the classroom and in the competitive arena and the willingness to help them succeed in both; desire to work within a team structure and to collaborate with the coaches and administrators of the UCLA Women’s Water Polo Program. Must display: commitment to and responsibility for adhering to all rules and regulations of UCLA, conference and the NCAA; ability to work compatibly and cooperatively with the staff and personnel in the department of intercollegiate athletics and other university units. Continued employment is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory background investigation. UCLA offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits package. Screening of applications has started and will continue until candidate is selected.
Expressions of interest must be received by 8:59pm on June 30th, 2025. All applicants must submit their cover letter, resume and references via the following website link: https://jobs.ucla.edu/jobs/7972
*Employment is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory background check performed by Universal Background Screening and UCLA Athletics.
As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.
“Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
Qualifications include: bachelor’s degree from an accredited university is required; knowledge of NCAA Division I rules and history of compliance in this area, effective communication skills with student-athletes, administrators, peers and the general public, demonstrated coaching expertise and ability to select, recruit and train student athletes. Preferred qualifications include: High level collegiate water polo experience and coaching experience at a Division I institution.
About UCLA Intercollegiate Athletics
UCLA Athletics embraces the mantra of “Champions Made Here”, not just on the competitive field but in the classroom and in the community. UCLA’s broad-based nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program for men and women was the first in the nation to win 100 NCAA Championships. UCLA offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits package and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
Connections working at UCLA Intercollegiate Athletics
Sports
Texas A&M track will defend national title with more than 30 additional scholarships
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – As Texas A&M track and field coach Pat Henry addressed 100-or-so fans that made their way to the front steps of E.B. Cushing Stadium, he held an air of confidence that only comes from winning 25 team outdoor national championships in his half-century at the helm. Another NCAA Championship, this […]

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – As Texas A&M track and field coach Pat Henry addressed 100-or-so fans that made their way to the front steps of E.B. Cushing Stadium, he held an air of confidence that only comes from winning 25 team outdoor national championships in his half-century at the helm.
Another NCAA Championship, this year from the men’s squad, wasn’t a surprise, but an expectation for his program.
And yet, with all of that experience in the sport, Henry said he was taken pleasantly by surprise when he heard how the House settlement would change his program.
As Henry builds his roster for a 2026 outdoor title defense, he will be able to offer scholarships to the full roster of men’s and women’s track athletes, both he and athletic director Trev Alberts confirmed with KBTX Monday.
“When I was told how the scholarships were going to work moving forward, it hit me too,” Henry told KBTX. “It’s kind of a shock and I’m excited about this opportunity.”
For A&M’s run to the men’s NCAA title, Henry had 12.6 scholarships to divide among 52 athletes. The women’s squad, who finished third at the NCAA Championship, had 18 scholarships divided among 55 athletes
For the 2023-24 athletic season, the most recent reported, A&M spent $632,601 for those 12.47 scholarships that were divided among 45 athletes, according to the school’s NCAA financial reporting documentation obtained by KBTX via open records request. For the women’s squad, the total was $894,136 for 17.46 scholarships divided among 41 athletes. Those figures also include indoor track and cross country.
Now, both men’s and women’s outdoor track will have 45 full or partial scholarships per program, which matches the new roster limit enforced by the House settlement.
Beyond the added scholarships the House settlement provides athletes in different programs, it also allows universities to enter into revenue sharing agreements. Trev Alberts previously stated that six programs at A&M will receive revenue sharing in the first year of the settlement term beginning July 1.
Track will not be one of those programs, Henry confirmed with KBTX.
Alberts has emphasized that revenue sharing will go to the six programs that can help grow revenue for the athletic department.
“What sports do you have additional seats? Where do you have attendance, right? Alberts said at the Southeastern Conference Spring Meetings in late May. “And so, you can sort of figure some of that out and the rest of our sports, you can look at scholarship increases, those type of things.”
It is assumed that some of A&M’s biggest revenue drivers will make up five of those revenue-sharing programs: football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball. Volleyball will be the last, a source with knowledge of the revenue sharing model confirmed with KBTX Monday. Soccer will not receive revenue sharing, but will have scholarships for its full roster of 28 athletes. For all programs, A&M will provide approximately 200 more scholarships for the 2025-26 year than the seasons prior, Alberts said at spring meetings.
The programs that receive revenue sharing can change year-to-year, Alberts confirmed Monday.
As of its last NCAA financial documentation for the 2023-24 season, football was the only Aggie program that produced a profit. Football led in revenue at $118.5 million, followed by men’s basketball ($12.2 million), baseball ($5.6 million), soccer ($2.6 million), volleyball ($1.2 million), women’s basketball ($1.2 million) and softball ($1 million).
Men’s and women’s tennis, as well as men’s and women’s golf produced the lowest profit deficit, followed by men’s basketball (-$2.1 million), men’s swimming (-$2.3 million), soccer (-$2.4 million) and volleyball (-$2.4 million). Softball’s deficit was -$3.3 million, followed by baseball (-$3.6 million) and women’s basketball (-$6.2 million).
Men’s and women’s track (which includes outdoor, indoor and cross country) were near the top in profit deficit at -$3.4 million and -$3.6 million, respectively, while pulling in $328,888 in revenue for the men and $343,726 for the women.
Henry said he understands the reality of how the revenue-sharing pie is cut, hoping that they can put more fans in seats in the coming years to make their case for a portion.
However, many schools around the country won’t have the money to provide scholarships for full rosters of Olympic sports, which can be as much of a competitive edge for those programs in recruiting as revenue sharing.
“We have an AD that wants to win in all sports and he’s going to give us that opportunity,” Henry said.
Copyright 2025 KBTX. All rights reserved.
Sports
News
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois Volleyball alum Bryleigh Buchanan has joined the 2025 coaching staff, the program announced Monday. A native of Harrisburg, Ill., Buchanan is a true Southern Illinoisan, coming to SIU from John A. Logan College where she was an assistant for three seasons. She was also an operations intern for SMASH Volleyball […]


CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois Volleyball alum Bryleigh Buchanan has joined the 2025 coaching staff, the program announced Monday.
A native of Harrisburg, Ill., Buchanan is a true Southern Illinoisan, coming to SIU from John A. Logan College where she was an assistant for three seasons. She was also an operations intern for SMASH Volleyball Academy in Carbondale from 2021-2022.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Bryleigh Buchanan back to Saluki Volleyball as our new Director of Operations,” Head Coach Brittany Harry said. “As a proud alum and Southern Illinois native, Bryleigh brings a deep understanding of our program’s values, culture, and competitive spirit. Her passion for SIU and dedication to excellence make her the perfect fit for this role.”
Her playing career followed a similar path, beginning at John A. Logan College where she earned her Associate’s Degree before finishing with her Bachelor’s at SIU in the School of Health and Human Sciences in 2022.
“It’s a blessing to return to the program I came up in, this time under Coach Harry. I’m excited to learn from her, connect with the team, and help put this program on track for a successful year,” Buchanan said.
Buchanan appeared in six matches for the Salukis in 2021, collecting 16 kills. As a freshman at John A. Logan, she was named to the NJCAA All-Region Team after tallying 255 kills and leading the team with 87 blocks.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on X (@SIU_Volleyball), Instagram (@SIU_Volleyball) and Facebook (SalukiVolleyball). Fans can also download the “Salukis” Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
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