Sports
Rutgers hires LSU executive Keli Zinn as athletic director

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Rutgers named Keli Zinn its new athletic director on Wednesday, filling the job after a one-year vacancy.
Zinn had been deputy AD and chief operating officer at LSU since 2022 after stops at West Virginia, Maryland and the Big East. She assumes control of overseeing 24 men’s and women’s varsity sports on Aug. 6.
“Keli Zinn brings the strategic drive, operational excellence, and championship pedigree we need right now for Rutgers Athletics,” said William F. Tate IV, who took over as Rutgers president on July 1, also coming from LSU. “Her leadership style resonates deeply with Rutgers’ mission — competitiveness on the field, integrity in our practices, and excellence in the student‑athlete experience. She will guide Rutgers into a new era, with forward-looking leadership, tapping into the Rutgers Edge.”
Rutgers has been without a full-time athletic director since Pat Hobbs abruptly resigned last August. Hobbs cited health reasons for his resignation, and a subsequent investigation found he had an improper relationship with a gymnastics coach.
Ryan Pisarri served as interim AD before taking the same post at Tufts University in Boston earlier this month. Matthew Colagiovanni took over in an acting role before Zinn was hired.
Zinn’s five-year contract, approved Wednesday by the Rutgers Board of Governors, calls for a salary of $1.35 million in its first year, with $50,000 annual increases. She’ll also be paid a $150,000 retention bonus every two years of the term.
One of Zinn’s first priorities will be to build Rutgers’ name, image and likeness program into a robust, competitive one that can attract top-tier athletes to the New Jersey school. The Scarlet Knights have struggled to generate significant NIL money, especially in the high-profile sports.
Zinn said raising revenue — by identifying new streams and capitalizing on those that already exist — is going to be a consistent focal point.
“It’s absolutely a necessity and critical for our success,” Zinn said, “but also to do so in a way where the traditional fundraising side of things and the ability to raise capital and support the university capital projects can both thrive together.”
Before going to LSU, Zinn spent more than a decade at West Virginia in various roles, including deputy athletic director from 2016-22. She was assistant AD at Maryland from 2005-10 after being a compliance assistant for the Big East in 2003 and ’04.
Sports
Wisconsin’s Carter Booth has F-bomb after volleyball upset vs. Texas
Dec. 15, 2025, 8:46 a.m. ET
Perhaps no one is more hyped about the No. 3 Wisconsin Badgers upsetting No. 1 Texas during the 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament than star Carter Booth.
On Sunday, the Badgers unleashed an elite game plan to get a dominant 3-1 win in the Elite Eight over the Longhorns. The victory was the 13th straight win for Wisconsin, which now has a date in the Final Four in Kansas City later this week. After the match, Booth was still amped up during an ESPN interview when she dropped a pretty big F-bomb.
“I refuse to [ expletive] lose,” she said matter-of-factly.
MORE WOMEN’S SPORTS:Caitlin Clark thankfully looks like herself again at Team USA practice
Booth, realizing her error, immediately apologized and kept going. “But I refuse. I refuse! And this team refuses,” she explained. The best part actually isn’t the middle blocker’s unplanned F-bomb. It’s outside hitter Mimi Colyer standing next to Booth. Colyer seemingly appeared stunned at the slip for a millisecond, but jumped in to support her teammate. “Yeah! Yeah!” she hysterically said while nodding in agreement.
Here’s the video of Booth’s ESPN interview.
She said what she said.
Sports
Can Pitt volleyball use favorable path to finally get over Final Four hump?
Sports
Legendary Lincoln Lutheran volleyball coach Sue Ziegler retiring
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – After 28 successful seasons of leading the Lincoln Lutheran volleyball program, Sue Ziegler is retiring. The legendary head volleyball coach announced the decision during a team meeting on Monday.
Ziegler is a 6-time state champion (2004, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024) and member of the Nebraska High School Hall of Fame. In 2021, she was recognized as the AVCA National High School Coach of the Year. Ziegler totaled 624 wins over her career, which ranks among the state’s all-time leaders.
Ziegler’s teams reached the NSAA State Tournament 15 times, including each of the last nine years. Prior to the 2024 season, Lincoln Lutheran dedicated its court to the longtime volleyball coach.
Lincoln Lutheran said the search for a new head coach will begin immediately.
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Copyright 2025 KOLN. All rights reserved.
Sports
Loyola Chicago Leads MIVA in Preseason Poll
CHICAGO – The Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) named Loyola Chicago as the No. 1 favorite in the league’s preseason poll, announced on Monday. Ryan McElligott, Daniel Fabikovic and Aleksandar Sosa tabbed spots on the Preseason All-MIVA Team.
The MIVA Preseason Poll and All-MIVA Team are voted on by the nine MIVA head coaches.
After finishing the 2025 season as the MIVA regular season and tournament champions, the Ramblers claim the top spot with 75 points and five first place votes. MIVA Tournament runner-up Ohio State ranks second and Ball State rounds out the top three.
Senior setter McElligott led both the NCAA and the MIVA in assists in 2025, totaling 1,1016, earning him All-MIVA First Team and All-Tournament Team, and an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention. He added 75 kills, 69 total blocks and 32 service aces.
Fabikovic was a menace on the court last season, starting all 29 matches and seeing action in 105 sets where he contributed 343 kills, the most amongst returning Ramblers. The junior outside hitter tallied 403.5 points during his sophomore campaign which earned him All-MIVA First Team and All-Tournament Team as well as a back-to-back AVCA Second Team All-American nod.
Sosa, a junior transfer from Quincy, was named to the 2025 All-MIVA Second Team after leading the Hawks in points, kills and aces. The opposite finished fifth in the MIVA in kills per set and fourth in points per set and posted double-digit kills in 18 matches, including 15 straight to cap the season.
2026 MIVA Preseason Poll
1. Loyola Chicago – 73 (5)
2. Ohio State – 68 (2)
3. Ball State – 63 (1)
4. Lewis – 57 (1)
5. McKendree – 52
6. Lindenwood – 33
7. Purdue Fort Wayne – 24
8. Northern Kentucky – 19
9. Queens – 16
2026 Preseason All-MIVA Team (alphabetical by team)
Lucas Machado – Ball State
*Patrick Rogers – Ball State
Oguzhan Oguz – Lewis
Nico Paula – Lewis
Ryan McElligott – Loyola Chicago
Daniel Fabikovic – Loyola Chicago
Aleksander Sosa – Loyola Chicago
Yadiel Diaz – McKendree
Nate Flayter – McKendree
Stanislaw Chacinski – Ohio State
Shane Wetzel – Ohio State
Logan Muir – Purdue Fort Wayne
*Preseason Player of the Year
Sports
Assistant Athletic Trainer in Salem, WV for Salem University
Details
Posted: 15-Dec-25
Location: Salem, West Virginia
Type: Full-time
Categories:
Sports Medicine
Sports Medicine – Athletic Training
Sector:
Collegiate Sports
The Assistant Athletic Trainer is responsible for assisting the Head Athletic Trainer in maintaining and representing a NCAA Division II athletic program that supports student recruitment and enhances the educational experience and personal growth of the student-athletes. Will cooperate with the Head Athletic Trainer to manage assigned teams and all aspects based on strict adherence to the University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Policies and Procedures. Equally responsible for conducting all activities in accordance with all state and federal regulations, accreditation standards and the University’s policies and procedures, all conference and NCAA regulations consistent with the highest ethical standards.
Position Requirements: The role includes providing coverage for assigned teams during practices and games, as well as overseeing regular treatment and rehabilitation sessions. It also involves assisting other personnel and departments with data collection and problem solving, and participating in departmental activities such as staff meetings, training sessions, orientations, and campus or community events, while being available for representational and public relations duties. Additional responsibilities include supporting the planning and administration of practices and contests to promote successful seasons, assisting with team travel, and facilitating player interactions with Athletic Training, Sports Information, and Compliance staff. The position also requires counseling student-athletes on academic success and responsible citizenship, upholding the highest ethical standards, and adhering to all relevant state and federal regulations, accreditation requirements, and University, conference, and NCAA policies. Other duties may be assigned as needed.
- Bachelor’s degree in athletic training or related field
- BOC Certified/WV Licensed or eligible to apply
- Valid Driver’s license/qualified to operate a passenger vehicle up to 12 or 15 passenger van consistent with university insurance regulations.
- Excellent oral and written communication and computer skills required
- Outstanding time-management skills with ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
- Excellent communications and interpersonal skills. Able to work effectively with people from global, diverse cultures and different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds
- Commitment to the balance of academic and athletic achievement and integration in a small university setting is essential.
About Salem University
The Mission of Salem University is to prepare global citizens with broad knowledge, marketable professional skills, and the ability to make decisions with integrity.
Connections working at Salem University
https://ncaamarket.ncaa.org/jobs/21896714/assistant-athletic-trainer
Sports
Texas volleyball loses middle blocker Ayden Ames
Less than 24 hours after Texas volleyball’s season ended with a loss to Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament regional finals, middle blocker Ayden Ames reportedly intends to enter the transfer portal.
Ames becomes the first Longhorn to announce her intention to enter the portal, and she’ll be just the second regular member of the rotation not returning next season. Libero Emma Halter, the lone senior starter for a Texas team that went 26-4 this season, will next play for the Indy Ignite of Major League Volleyball.
Ames’ exit was first reported by On3.
A 6-foot-4 blue-chip recruit from the Dallas suburb of Prosper who once competed for the under-19 U.S. national team, Ames became a regular part of the lineup over the past two seasons after flipping from Nebraska to join Texas late in the 2024 recruiting cycle.
She enrolled in the spring of 2024 and immediately established herself as a key component of the Longhorns’ lineup. Texas coach Jerritt Elliott even called her “the most complete middle I’ve ever had as a freshman,” a powerful statement from a coach who has worked with All-Americans such as Asjia O’Neal, Molly McCage and Chiaka Ogbogu.
As a freshman, Ames started all 27 games and 96 sets for the season and finished second on the team with 88 blocks and was fifth on team with 150 kills and 1.56 kills per set average. She played in 29 of Texas’ 30 matches this season, but her numbers dipped slightly to 149 kills and 1.52 kills per set with a team-high 109 blocks.
In Sunday’s loss to Wisconsin, Elliott replaced Ames with freshman middle blocker Taylor Harvey after Texas dropped the first two sets. Ames didn’t have a kill or a block against the Badgers.
Pending any more portal exits for Texas, Harvey and redshirt sophomore Nya Bunton will enter the offseason as the only middle blockers on the Longhorns’ roster. Both saw extensive action this season, with Bunton ranking second on the team with 61 blocks.
Texas didn’t sign any middle blockers in its touted 2026 recruiting class, which means the position will likely be a top portal target for Elliott and his staff.
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