GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota Director of Athletics Bill Chaves announced on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 that David Nguyen (pronounced WIN) has been named the 15th head coach of the North Dakota volleyball program..
 
“We are tremendously excited to announce David as our next head coach of UND volleyball,” said Chaves. “What he has been able to do at FDU was nothing short of remarkable in such a short amount of time. To be a two-time NEC Coach of the Year and leading the Knights into the NCAA tournament for the first time in their history is something that he and we believe can be replicated at UND.”
 
Nguyen comes to North Dakota following a successful run as the head coach at Division I Fairleigh Dickinson, where he helped the Knights set multiple program highs in his four years. He guided the Knights to their first NCAA Tournament appearance and captured both the 2022 NEC Tournament Championship and the 2023 regular season title, each a program first.

“I am excited and honored to be selected as the next head coach at UND,” said Nguyen. “I would like to thank Director of Athletics Bill Chaves, Deputy Director of Athletics Erik Martinson and the entire search committee for having the confidence in me to lead the volleyball program into future success.”

His leadership helped claim the program’s first 20-win season in the modern era and earned him back-to-back NEC Coach of the Year honors in 2022 and 2023. Under his direction, FDU reached three consecutive NEC Tournament finals and four straight conference semifinals.

 

“My mission is to provide our student-athletes a first-class experience by being competitive on-and-off the court,” Nguyen continued. “We are going to work together to build a legacy our student-athletes, alumni, fans and donors can be proud of. I am excited to take this next step in my career, and I look forward to building a volleyball family at North Dakota.”

His teams produced the NEC Player of the Year, an AVCA All-American, nine all-conference selections and multiple all-tournament honorees. The Knights also recorded the four winningest conference seasons in school history during his tenure.

Nguyen brings more than a decade of Division I experience, including assistant coaching roles at Coastal Carolina and William & Mary, as well as an operations role at Virginia and a student position at Virginia Commonwealth.

Nguyen holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences from Virginia Commonwealth University. He will be introduced to the media at a later date.

THE DAVID NGYUEN FILE

Position: Head Coach

Hometown: Glen Allen, Va.

Education: Virginia Commonwealth (2018)

Family: David and his wife, Kaylin, have two children

CAREER IN VOLLEYBALL

AS A COACH

2022-25: Fairleigh Dickinson (Head Coach)

2021-22: Coastal Carolina (Assistant Coach)

2019-21: William & Mary (Assistant Coach)

2018-19: Virginia (Director of Operations)

2013-18: Virginia Commonwealth (Manager)

For more information on North Dakota volleyball, follow on social media @UNDvolleyball or visit FightingHawks.com.

Springfield, Mass. – December 23, 2025 – Springfield College is excited to announce the 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame Class, which will be inducted on April 11.  The six individuals who have been chosen to the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame include:

Marisa Clapp ’04 – Women’s Cross Country

Nick Guerette ’00 – Men’s Track & Field

Damian Larkins ’01 – Men’s Track & Field and Football

Jackie Moscardelli ’12 – Women’s Soccer and Women’s Lacrosse

Nick Porillo ’76 – Wrestling

Steve Spagnuolo ’82 – Football

The Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame was established by the Class of 1933 in 1972 to honor members of the College community for outstanding achievement on the “playing field” or for service, dedication, and commitment to athletics, sport and related programs.  To date, over 200 individuals have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

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If it feels too good to be true, it usually is. The Kentucky volleyball team felt like a team of destiny, but that destiny did not manifest in a National Championship. Even though the Cats came up one game short of a second title, this special season did unquantifiable good for the program.

Volleyball culture is embedded in the Commonwealth, with successful clubs racking up national titles, but that world is unknown to most sports fans around the state. In 2025, Kentucky hit all the right notes to grow the game.

Casuals turned on their TVs when the Cats jumped out to a two-set lead over top-ranked Nebraska in the opening weekend of the season. Even though it ended with a loss, that performance got plenty of people interested enough to turn on their TVs a week later. They watched the Wildcats sweep Penn State on the night the Defending National Champions hung their title banner.

It was a gauntlet of a schedule, one that produced plenty of dramatic moments. After falling behind 2-1 against Louisville, Kentucky rallied for a five-set rivalry win.

Kentucky owned the SEC for years. When perennial title contender Texas arrived, that dominance was in question. The Cats went on the road and swept the No. 2 team in the country.

It’s not just that they won. This Kentucky volleyball team played an entertaining and inspiring style of volleyball. Brooklyn DeLeye and Eva Hudson created an explosive 1-2 punch on the outside, while Lizzie Carr’s length looked like Spider-Man in the middle. You didn’t have to know ball to have fun watching this team.

As the Cats picked up steam, BBN got behind them in a way that I didn’t think was possible. Craig Skinner stood on a table to ask fans to show up to Historic Memorial Coliseum. He climbed to the rafters of Rupp, went to the top of the tallest building in Lexington, and even hopped in a fighter jet to rally Kentucky fans to support this team.

They showed up in droves and packed Historic Memorial Coliseum to propel Kentucky to the Final Four for just the second time in school history. When fans couldn’t make it to the game, they packed KSBar for watch parties. It was surreal to hear a harmonica playing a fight song in front of a full restaurant late on a weeknight while Kentucky reverse-swept Texas in the SEC Tournament Title.

Just when you thought you couldn’t love this team any more, they did the unthinkable in the Final Four. It’s easy to become jaded by college athletics in the money-driven world of NIL and the transfer portal. This team sacrificed for one another and played together, no matter the circumstances.

Wisconsin looked destined to dominate. Carter Booth was possessed in the middle. A dozen blocks would be a great game for a middle, and she had nearly two dozen. The Cats only scored 12 points in the first set. It didn’t look much better in the second, yet somehow, some way, they rallied under pressure. Brooklyn DeLeye’s defense was outstanding, while Eva Hudson powered the Cats’ offense with nearly 30 kills in a gutsy, five-set win, a victory that will make lifelong Kentucky volleyball fans.

All good things must come to an end. Unfortunately, they could not capitalize on a hot start in the National Championship. After letting the first set slip away, Texas A&M took over. Kentucky did not have one more rally in the tank.

The season ended with a loss, but they won’t be losing much from this team. Eva Hudson was the star, but the only senior on the roster. After making countless new fans, the Kentucky volleyball team will surely give them more reasons to cheer in 2026.

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Lameria Thomas of Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Newcomer of the Week the league announced Monday. 

Thomas made her first start of the season against Illinois-Chicago on Saturday and had an 11-point, 14-rebound performance. The Montgomery, Alabama native shot five of six from the field while picking up one assist and one steal. 

The junior is averaging 5.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game this season, with her 11 points and 14 rebounds at UIC being career-highs. 

Thomas and the Govs are back home on Dec. 28 for a 2 p.m. matchup against Berry at F&M Bank Arena. 

Rowan Kage’s first three years at Gainesville High School each offered something different.

A losing record and injury struggles her freshman season. A district title for the first time in a decade with a Division I laden roster her sophomore year. The team lost in the region semifinals in an arduous region. Junior year brought a new coach and roster. It was a remarkable season with another district title, a No. 1 seed…and a first-round playoff upset.