Longtime Fresno State track and field coach Bob Fraley — whose acts of selflessness helped define a man who also coached with genuine care — recently passed away.

Mr. Fraley, who died Dec. 30, was 88 years old.

Always one to think of others first, Fraley demonstrated in 2003 perhaps his greatest moment of selflessness.

With Fresno State eliminating sports to balance its athletic department budget and meet NCAA Title IX requirements , the Bulldogs men’s track and field program suddenly was on the chopping block.

But Fraley stepped up in a way that seemed so noble then, and remains practically unfathomable today.

The track and field coach — whose passion for the sport, along with connecting people, took a back seat only to his faith and family — struck a deal at Fresno State to sacrifice his coaching salary and work for free to save the program.

“Just speaks to man that he was,” said Scott Barnes, the Oregon State athletic director who with his wife Jody (Marsical) Barnes set up an endowment at Fresno State three years ago in the name both Bob Fraley and his wife Elaine.

“I’ve never heard of anyone else doing something like that in college athletics. Him giving back to keep men’s track and field in the fold and working for free … it just shows he was about impacting others and changing lives.”

Achievements on track, beyond

Fraley’s career spanned 65 years, coaching at the high school, junior college and collegiate Division I levels. He spent 28 years at Fresno State, including eight years as head coach.

In addition, he coached at Riverdale High, his alma mater Laton, and Lemoore, as well as at Clovis West and College of the Sequoias in his post-retirement .

Along the way, Fraley mentored 44 All-Americans, four NCAA champions, which included his son Doug in pole vaulting, and established himself as a renowned pole vault expert.

He was USA Track & Field’s National Coach of the Year and U.S. Olympic Committee Developmental Coach of the Year in 2003. He served a term as president of the U.S. Track and Field Coaches Association. In addition, Fraley went on to be inducted into the Pole Vault Hall of Fame.

He’d also go on to create the national Pole Vault Summit and the popular Clovis Street Vault competition in his post-retirement years.

“Coach Fraley wasn’t just a good pole vault coach — he was an expert,” said Melissa (Price) Western, who became the first NCAA women’s pole vaulting champion in 1998 and was a three-time All-American.

“He studied how to get better, how to jump higher. He helped us understand those details.”

Fraley’s love for pole vault stemmed from his desire to be like his childhood idol and legendary Fresno State star pole vaulter Dutch Warmerdam.

“All of us kids wanted to be like Dutch,” Fraley said according to his bio in the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. “Dutch was a great teacher and motivator. I learned so much from him about the dynamics of the pole vault, but I loved his philosophies.

“He’d say, ‘Compete and give your best, be a cheerleader for your teammates, go to church on Sunday, and we’ll work on it on Monday.’”

Coaching and connecting

While Fraley’s knowledge helped him climb the ranks of track and field and aided his athletes, it was his sincere way of coaching and communicating that endeared him to so many.

“He just always did the right thing,” said Jody (Marsical) Barnes, who was a high jumper at Fresno State from 1984-1988. “He was a coach, he was a mentor, he was a father to a lot of us.

“He was just so impactful for so many people on so many levels. He spoke life into a lot of people. It’s hard losing someone like Coach Fraley.”

Former Bulldogs basketball player Brandon Bakke met the track and field coach through the student organization Fellowship of Christian Athletes with Fraley and Elaine hosting FCA meetings at their home.

“Most coaches are so self-absorbed with their own program that they don’t have the space or time to reach out to others,” said Bakke, who played at Fresno State from 1991-96. “Coach Fraley was all about all of the athletes at Fresno State.

“He really taught me how I was representing something bigger than myself. And that you were more than just a basketball player. He really cared about other parts of our lives.”

Fraley’s care for others extended beyond Fresno State.

Fraley authored articles regarding obesity and diabetes in youth, and how track and field could help address such problems.

“One of the reasons Coach Fraley fought hard for track and field was, it’s one of those sports that caters to people of all sizes,” Jody Barnes said.

And he had a keen interest in recruiting athletes from small, rural communities.

After all, Fraley was from the tiny Fresno County town of Laton., where he

“You can’t help but respect him and want him to lead you,” said former Bulldog vaulter and Coalinga native Roy Phelps in 2008. “He’s a genuine person, the kind of person I’d love to see myself being when I get older.

“He always told me: ‘It’s not where you came from, but what you make of it. Anyone is capable of anything.’”

Mr. Fraley is survived by his wife of 67 years, Elaine, their three children (Tammi Fraley Groom, Jill Fraley Palacios and Doug Fraley), five grandchildren, as well as four great grandchildren.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 9, at Oak Grove Cemetery in Laton.

“In a time when college athletics is so transactional, we need more Bob Fraleys in the world,” Scott Barnes said. “A coach who can connect and build trust with his athletes, thinks about them beyond the competition setting.

“Someone parents know their kid is getting taken care of under someone like coach Fraley. I pray for more coaches like coach Fraley.”

This story was originally published January 7, 2026 at 10:06 AM.

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ATLANTA — Georgia State announced the promotion of Isabella “Bella” Ferary to assistant coach of the beach volleyball program in January 2026, elevating one of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history into a full-time coaching role.

Ferary joins the coaching staff following a record-setting and decorated playing career with the Sandy Panthers and a brief stint as a graduate assistant while completing her master’s degree. She previously served as a graduate assistant and director of beach volleyball operations from August 2024 through December 2025.

A four-year letterwinner from 2021–24, Ferary leaves an indelible mark on Georgia State Beach Volleyball. She is the program’s all-time career leader in individual wins with 105 and, alongside her twin sister Angel, holds the school record for most pair victories with 100. Competing primarily in the top flight, the duo earned national recognition throughout their careers, including back-to-back All-Sun Belt First Team selections in 2023 and 2024 and being named the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Pair of the Year.

During the 2024 season, Ferary helped lead Georgia State to its second consecutive Sun Belt Conference Championship and a third straight NCAA Championship berth, as the Sandy Panthers finished ranked inside the nation’s top 16. She and Angel posted a 25-14 record, highlighted by nine wins over nationally ranked opponents and an 11-1 mark in conference play. The pair was named Sun Belt Conference Pair of the Week on March 27.

Ferary’s junior campaign in 2023 was highlighted by her selection to the AVCA All-America Second Team. She played a key role in Georgia State’s inaugural Sun Belt Conference championship and contributed to a season that included a program-defining victory over USC’s top pair, handing the Trojans their only regular-season loss. She finished the year with a 19-14 record and eight wins over ranked opponents.

In 2022, Ferary and her sister compiled a historic 37-2 record, setting school records for both individual and pair wins in a single season. The duo earned All-Conference USA First Team honors and AVCA Top Flight Award recognition as the Sandy Panthers claimed their first Conference USA Championship and advanced to the NCAA Round of Six, including a victory over No. 2 TCU. Georgia State’s No. 7 final AVCA ranking marked the highest finish for any athletic program in school history in a Division I national poll.

As a freshman in 2021, Ferary led the team with a 24-9 record, earned a spot on the CCSA All-Tournament Team and helped the Sandy Panthers secure wins over multiple nationally ranked opponents.

Ferary also excelled in the classroom, earning CSC All-District At-Large honors in 2023 and multiple appearances on the President’s List and Dean’s List. She graduated with a degree in criminal justice with a concentration in legal studies and continues her education in graduate school at Georgia State.

Prior to her collegiate career, Ferary was named an AVCA High School First Team All-American in 2020. A multi-sport athlete at Mount Paran Christian School, she was part of state championship teams in indoor volleyball and track and field and also lettered in basketball.

A native of Kennesaw, Ga., Ferary is the daughter of Joseph and Lisa Ferary. Her twin sister Angel, also a standout for Georgia State Beach Volleyball, remains a long-time teammate and partner on the sand.

Ferary brings extensive competitive experience, deep institutional knowledge and a championship pedigree into her new role, where she will support coaching efforts and program operations as the Sandy Panthers continue to compete at the national level.

MADISON, Wis. – After a prolific season with the Wisconsin volleyball team, outside hitter Mimi Colyer has been named a finalist in volleyball for the 2026 Honda Cup – the Collegiate Women Sports Award presented by Honda, announced by the CWSA Wednesday afternoon.

The four-time All-American played a significant role for the Badgers throughout the 2025 season where she capped off her collegiate career with a AVCA First Team All-America honor, AVCA Outside Hitter of the Year, AVCA All-Region North Player of the Year, and a First Team honoree in the Big Ten.

Colyer concluded the season with a .340 hitting percentage and racked up the most kills in the UW history with 598, leading the Badgers to their highest hitting percentage in the rally scoring era (since 2008) at .327. She finished ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in the NCAA in kills per set (5.44) and point per set (5.99). She also totaled 659.0 total points which finished No. 5 in the NCAA.

The California native eclipsed both the 2,000 career kill and 1,000 career dig totals this season, while also collecting 15 matches with 20 or more kills, including a career-high 32 kills at the National Semifinals against Kentucky. Colyer totaled double0-figure kills in every match but one this season, including 10 double-doubles (kills and digs).

Joining the list of volleyball finalists with Colyer are Olivia Babcock (University of Pittsburgh), Eva Hudson (University of Kentucky), and Bergen Reilly (University of Nebraska).

Colyer will look to become the second Badger in program history to win the award. In 2021-22, Badger volleyball great, Dana Rettke, became the first in program history to win the award. Outside hitter Sarah Franklin was also nominated in 2023 and 2024.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont Volleyball and head coach Fritz Rosenberg announced the addition of Butler transfer Lauren Evans on Wednesday morning. 

The sophomore defensive specialist from Carmel, Indiana, will wear jersey No. 0, becoming Belmont Volleyball’s second spring 2026 transfer. 

Evans arrives in Nashville after spending her first two collegiate seasons at Butler, competing in the BIG EAST Conference. During the 2025 season, she appeared in all 29 matches, totaling 448 digs while averaging 3.57 digs per set and adding 93 assists. She posted a season-high 26 digs at St. John’s on Oct. 25 and played a key role in Butler’s defense throughout the season. 

As a freshman in 2024, Evans appeared in 29 matches and 96 sets, collecting a team-high 270 digs. She finished the season with 59 assists and 31 service aces, ranking ninth in the BIG EAST. 

Prior to Butler, Evans was a standout at the high school level in Indiana. She was ranked as the fourth-best player in the state by PrepDig and was a four-year starter, competing primarily as an outside hitter. 

Evans joins the Bruins’ Class of 2028, bringing proven defensive versatility and experience to Belmont’s back row. 

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Scarlet Knights resumes the 2025-26 season in the New Year, a schedule that will test them across some of the nation’s most competitive stages.
 
Rutgers got the season started with a select group of distance runners traveling to Boston for the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. The meet saw Lucas Reguinho and Kelsey O’Neil break the men’s and women’s indoor 5,000-meter school records, respectively.
 
The Scarlet Knights return several top performers from a year ago, including Charlee Crawford and Sincere Robinson who were each named to the Big Ten Indoor Athletes to Watch list.
 

Rutgers will continue the indoor season with back-to-back meets in Philadelphia, first at the Penn Select (Jan.10), followed by the Quaker Invitational (Jan. 17). The Scarlet Knights will compete in a split weekend with members of the squad traveling to Boston for the Scarlet and White Invitational (Jan. 24) and the Hokie Invitational (Jan. 24) in Blacksburg, Va. They return to familiar territory in Philadelphia for the Penn Invitational (Jan. 30) and head to New York to host the Scarlet Knights Open (Feb. 6).

 

From there, the Scarlet Knights continue to build their momentum at the Valentine Invitational (Feb. 13) in Boston, followed by a trip to Fayetteville, Ark., for the Tyson Invitational (Feb. 13-14). The indoor stretch concludes on a championship stage at the Big Ten Championships (Feb. 27-28) in Indianapolis, Ind. The NCAA Championships conclude the indoor season back in Arkansas on March13-14.

 

With winter behind them, the team transitions to the outdoor season, beginning with warm-weather competitions in Florida at the USF Alumni Invitational (March 20-21) in Tampa and the Miami Invitational. The group splits again the following weekend to participate in the Raleigh Relays (March 26-28) and UCF Knights Invitational (March 27-28).

 

The Scarlet Knights are back North for the Sam Howell Invitational (April 4) in Princeton, N.J. The Scarlet Knights then return to their home track for the Rutgers Relays (April 11) in Piscataway. Rutgers travels West for the Bryan Clay Invitational (April 16-18) in Azusa, Calif., before returning East for the IC4A/ECAC Championships (April 17-19) in Fairfax, Va.

 

Next up are the historic Penn Relays (April 23-25) in Philadelphia, followed by the Larry Ellis Invitational (May 1-2) in Princeton. A trip to Baton Rouge, La. for the LSU Invitational (May 2) closes out the regular outdoor season before the Big Ten Championships (May 15-17) in Lincoln, Neb. The NCAA East First Round will take place in Lexington, Ky, followed by the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., where Hayward Field sets the backdrop for a highly competitive finale. Rutgers sent a program-record eight Scarlet Knights to last year’s NCAA Championships.

MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State head volleyball coach Jason Mansfield announced the additions of UTEP transfer Fuka Sekita and Tennessee transfer Camdyn Stucky to the 2026 roster Wednesday morning.
 
Sekita, a 5-foot-1 libero/defensive specialist from Hyogo, Japan, comes to Manhattan for her senior season after a one-year stint at UTEP, where she helped the Miners to a 25-5 overall record and first-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
 
“We are so excited to welcome Fuka to our K-State Volleyball family,” Mansfield said. “She is a quick, fearless defender who is incredibly skilled as a passer, server, and setter. Fuka is driven to be the best she can be, has a deep love for the game of volleyball and will bring a great deal of experience and passion to our team.”
 
In her lone season at UTEP, Sekita anchored the Miners’ defense with a team-leading 364 digs (3.64 digs per set) – the seventh-best mark in the Conference USA – and reached double-figure digs in 23 matches. She produced a season-best 24 digs against Missouri State on November 1, while also adding 99 assists and 19 service aces.
 
“I chose K-State because it will be a great experience to play in one of the best conferences,” Sekita said. “The people were so positive, and I felt very comfortable with them. Also, K-State has amazing facilities. These are the reasons why I chose K-State.”
 
Prior to her time at UTEP, Sekita posted two standout seasons at New Mexico Military Institute, earning NJCAA First Team All-American and AVCA Second Team All-American honors. At NMMI, Sekita competed in 243 sets across 69 matches and tallied an impressive 1,297 digs, averaging 5.34 digs per set, while also contributing 191 assists and 65 service aces. 

In addition to her All-American honors, Sekita named the 2023 Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC) Defensive Player of the Year and 2024 WJCAC Conference Most Valuable Player. She also earned 13 WJCAC Player of the Week honors and was a four-time NJCAA Defensive Player of the Week.

 

Sekita is the daughter of Yumiko Sekita and has two siblings, Nodoka and Akari. She plans to study kinesiology during her time at K-State.

 

Stucky, a 6-foot-3 setter, returns to her home state of Kansas following her redshirt-freshman campaign at Tennessee, where she appeared in seven matches and recorded five kills, three assists, and two blocks.

 

“We are so excited to welcome Camdyn to our K-State Volleyball family,” Mansfield said. “She is a long, dynamic athlete with great hands who can play the entire game at a high level. Camdyn is strong in her faith, and family means everything to her. We love having another Kansas kid in our program.”

 

Prior to her commitment to Tennessee, Stucky was a two-sport athlete and letterwinner at Maize South High School in Wichita, also pitching for the Mavericks’ softball team.

 

“I was looking for a place near home where I could thrive, and that’s exactly what I found,” Stucky said. “I am so grateful.”

 

She capped her senior campaign with 935 assists, 207 digs, 173 kills, 57 aces and 54 blocks to lead Maize South to its third-place finish in the Kansas 5A State Tournament and a 38-5 overall record. Her performance at the tournament earned her a spot on the All-State Tournament Team.

 

Stucky also recorded five matches with 30 or more assists and posted one double-double, finishing with 37 assists and 11 digs. She led the squad in assists and aces, ranked second in blocks and digs, and tallied five or more kills in 17 matches. She finished third on the team in kills and led the Mavericks with a .435 hitting percentage on the season.

During her junior campaign, Stucky tallied 790 assists, 165 digs, 123 kills, 49 aces and 41 blocks en route to earning First Team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division I and Second Team All-Class 5A honors.

 

She is the daughter of Casey and Cody Stucky, and has four siblings: Caiya, Cy, Cohen, and Channing. She plans to major in business while attending K-State.

 

The Wildcats finished the 2025 season with an 18-10 overall record and a 10-8 mark in Big 12 play, earning the program’s first at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship since 2021.

 

2026 K-State Volleyball Signing Class

Name	Yr.	Pos.	Ht.	Hometown / High School / Club
Skylar Brady	Fr.	OH	6-1	Bethany, Okla. / Bethany HS / Oklahoma Peak Performance
Ellah Derrer	Fr.	MB	6-4	Davenport, Iowa / Davenport Assumption / Iowa Select VBC
Addison Massey	Fr.	OH	6-1	Las Cruces, N.M. / Las Cruces High School / Texas Performance
Reese Resmer	Fr.	MB	6-0	Noblesville, Ind. / Noblesville HS / Boiler Juniors Volleyball Club
Fuka Sekita	Sr.	L/DS	5-1	Hyogo, Japan / Mukogawa Women’s University Senior HS / UTEP
Camdyn Stucky	R-So.	S	6-3	Wichita, Kan. / South Maize HS / Tennessee