Andrew Stallings almost never says no to a good opportunity, even if it’s something that — in his own words — is sink or swim.
He’s the founder and president of sports and influencer marketing agency Athelo Group. Though his roster isn’t as big as some superstar agents (he represents more than 20 athletes and 80 brands, leagues and properties), he believes he better expands his horizons and impact by focusing on athletes in nontraditional, niche and emerging sports, such as motorsports, surfing and competitive fitness.
Since Athelo’s founding in 2018, Stallings has managed names from all types of sports, such as actor and NASCAR driver Frankie Muniz, World’s Strongest Man champion Brian Shaw, CrossFit star Dani Speegle, World Armwrestling Champion Sarah Bäckman and dozens more.
“When I took a step back to look at the evolution of sports from an influencer standpoint, the first thing I asked is, ‘Where is sports evolving today?’ We kind of doubled down on surfing just because we had the connections there, and, lo and behold, five years later, surfing becomes an Olympic sport,” he said. “So we put ourselves at the forefront with some of the top talent there, at the right place and right time. It’s presented some great opportunity, but in sports like that, there wasn’t a lot of competition for us that was going to be much of a distraction.”
Early days
By the time he was 10 years old at minor league hockey games, Stallings had begun to wonder about how sporting events came together. So much so that school often took a backseat.
3 questions with Andrew Stallings
What’s one lesson you’ve learned from your athletes that you’ve applied to your own life? There’s truly a blessing in simplicity and those that can find solutions in the most simple and efficient manners. I’ve seen it with clients, that the ones that can work toward and be able to grasp those resolutions very quickly are the ones that typically thrive the most, rather than over-complication and spiraling.
You’re soon going to be an adjunct professor at Marymount University. What do you want students to take away from your courses?
I’m still youthful and I want them to be able to have that same mindset that I do. The world and school don’t owe you anything. It needs to get back to that mindset of where I was 10 years ago, which is the hustler mindset to do whatever it takes and keep pushing ahead.
You’ve said your dream is to own a minor league hockey team. What’s the first thing you’d do if you owned one? I’d want to walk into the arena during our first practice with no phone and just look around. Breathing in the cold air and analyzing all the possibilities, thinking about the branding elements and community activations, the way that we’re going to generate more revenue, the way that the players are going to be able to have side revenue streams.
After getting rejected by 15 colleges due to his low GPA, he eventually made the dean’s list at Marymount University. He needed an internship to graduate, and with the deadline one day away, SiriusXM Radio called to tell him it had an opening.
He ultimately spent five years there leading the production of NASCAR programs “The Morning Drive” and “SiriusXM Speedway.” He later made his way to Octagon, at which he was an account manager overseeing sponsorship consulting and business development for brands such as Sports Illustrated, Budweiser, Sunoco and Mastercard. It was there that he learned to combine sports and the essentials of experiential marketing, events, hospitality and sponsorship.
“I credit all of my success in my career to the apprenticeship that I had with Octagon,” Stallings said. “But I needed to transition into something new.”
About a year after leaving Octagon, in a conversation over a couple of beers with his friends, the topic of representing athletes came up as a joke. But Stallings wasn’t laughing. He stayed up that night looking up how to make it happen as a lucrative side hustle. He didn’t know it then, but he was about to be laid off from a “cushy job” as a field marketing manager at Constellation Brands and was going to need his new agency, Athelo Group, to become his lifeline.
“I was miserable that night at a hockey game. I was just like, ‘What am I doing?’” he said. “So I kind of gave myself a very aggressive three- to four-month window. I sat down and said, ‘OK, I’m going to set these goals out. if I can somehow accomplish this, we’ll be all right.’”
Finding success
Stallings’ time at Octagon showed him that brands wanted to have bigger involvement in lesser-known sports. As such, Stallings set out and got to work, cold calling and messaging athletes. One of his first success stories was professional surfer Brisa Hennessy. The pair have now been working together for five years, and Stallings has matched her with the likes of VISA and vegan ice cream brand Snow Monkey.
“He immediately felt like family to me, but also like a mentor and a big brother,” Hennessy said. “He’s someone that was able to bring my vision to life and really showcase my brand to find companies that align with me.”
Stallings has carved his own space by focusing on athletes in niche sports, such as CrossFit star Dani Speegle. Fury Photography
Representing such a broad swath of athletes makes it easier for some brands, since they have a sizable selection.
“We like to have a nice mix of athletes, and he has that right in his wheelhouse,” said Alana Horinko, senior manager of public relations and partnerships for NOW Foods. “We don’t have a huge budget, but we really wanted to work with athletes. But we found that those in his space were really a perfect fit for us.”
To date, Stallings said he’s negotiated more than $30 million in deals. Athelo Group, which is based out of South Norwalk, Conn., is also seeing “millions of dollars in revenue” annually, he said. It has about four full-time employees, 15 contractors and uses 12 to 15 interns every six months.
“We’ve turned down a few acquisition opportunities because I think we’re still trying to figure out where does this evolve next,” Stallings said. “I think we still need to take a look at our mirror and find our North Star. We’re never going away, but I think I just want us to find what’s next before we do anything else.”
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.
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.
When I saw that Kelly Sheffield’s Wisconsin Badgers had been stuck with a 3-seed, I was justifiably irritated. It seemed as if the NCAA Committee was not properly considering just how strong the Badgers had looked down the stretch. Drawing the No. 1 Texas Longhorns in one of the toughest places to play in college volleyball was also far from ideal.
But I eventually found a silver lining, at least for me: I’d be able to attend a Badger Volleyball match in Austin. Suddenly, I didn’t hate Wisconsin’s draw nearly as much.
There were several moments that made this night special, not the least of which was that I was able to experience it with my son. Another massive part of the amazing vibes was the incredible atmosphere at Gregory Gymnasium, an ancient 4,000-seat sardine can of noise and manic energy, where the fans are almost as close to the action as in Cameron Indoor at Duke.
A DJ kept up a steady mix of dance club jams, while two dueling bands–Wisconsin’s and Texas’s–were each trying to outdo the other (along with the cheerleaders and mascot, which was Bucky with no Bevo in sight). And make no mistake, the Horns fans came to play. They were as loud and engaged as anything I’ve seen at the Field House, right down to the National Champion Texas Men’s Swim Team disrobing one new layer the better Texas did in a given game, until it was a full-on, PG-13 Speedo show.
While Texas always felt like they were prowling and just about to steal things back–most notably by taking a 4-0 lead at the beginning of the fourth set after having won the third–Sheffield’s crew, led by stalwarts Mimi Colyer (23 kills), Charlie Fuerbringer (57 assists), and Carter Booth (11 kills, two blocks), stayed calm and collected, always had an answer, and were simply the better volleyball team on this magical night 1,183 miles from the Kohl Center.
After the furious final point sealed the deal for Bucky, I hightailed down a level to where a wild Badger celebration was unfurling. Getting the chance to sing Varsity and polka joyfully to The Bud Song on the floor of an SEC team’s barn was incredible and I will never forget it, even if me yelling to Coach that he’s ‘the best Sheffield ever in Wisconsin’ (in hindsight, an overly arcane Wisconsin sports reference involving a long ago Brewer) was a middling riff at best.
Yes, a horrifying Packers loss had ruined my day, but the Wisconsin Volleyball team soon sent my beaten-down sports fan soul soaring again on a cold but perfect night in the capital of Texas.
The Wisconsin Badgers were headed back to the Final Four. And everything in the world, for just a brief moment, felt right.
The Wisconsin Badgers wore black for a reason on Sunday: they went to a Texas Funeral.
The No. 3 Badgers upset the No. 1 Texas Longhorns 3-1 on Sunday, sending them to the Final Four against the No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats in an impressive win.
Wisconsin, facing the team that swept them earlier in the season, came ready to play. Falling behind 10-7 in the first set, the Badgers went on a four-point run before the two sides engaged in a back-and-forth battle, with neither side leading by more than two before Wisconsin had a monster end to the set.
Leading 18-17, the Badgers had an impressive 6-0 run thanks to a trio of Texas attack errors, a Mimi Colyer kill, a Kristen Simon service ace, and a Carter Booth kill. The Longhorns tried to mount a comeback, scoring five straight points, but Colyer got the set-winning kill, and Wisconsin started up 1-0.
The Badgers got off to a good start in the second half, starting off with a 10-6 lead. After the Longhorns went on a 4-1 run to cut the lead to one, the Badgers controlled the remainder of the set, starting with a 3-0 run of their own. From there, Wisconsin led by at least three for the rest of the set, with Carter Booth and Mimi Colyer having a flurry of kills, and they ultimately took the second set 25-21 to go up 2-0.
But, the work wasn’t done just there. The Longhorns were still a big threat, and they showed that in the third set, taking an early 8-6 lead after going on a 4-1 run. Wisconsin fought back with a 4-1 run of their own moments later, retaking the lead 12-11, with Colyer recording four straight kills.
However, a five-point Texas run right after proved to be the difference in the set, as the Longhorns took a 16-12 lead and never relinquished it, despite Wisconsin fighting to cut the deficit to one at 20-19. Texas closed out the set on a 5-1 run, taking the third set and we had a ballgame.
Things did not look good at the start of the fourth set, as the Longhorns started the set on a 4-0 run, picking up where they left off in the third set. That’s when the tables turned. Wisconsin completely flipped the script on a 13-4 run to take a five-point lead, with reserve Trinity Shadd-Ceres having two clutch back-to-back kills.
Moments later, that lead was extended to 18-11, thanks to a Colyer kill and two more attack errors from Texas. The Longhorns had a four-point run, but the deficit was too much to overcome, as the Badgers closed the set on a 6-3 run to win the fourth set 25-19 and take the match.
Colyer had another impressive game, following her 27-kill performance against Stanford with a 23-kill performance on Sunday. Una Vajagic came up huge in the end, getting 15 kills while hitting .458, while Booth had 11 kills of her own.
Elsewhere, Charlie Fuerbringer followed her 61-assist game on Friday with 57 assists on Sunday, while Alicia Andrew had a team-high five blocks. Wisconsin had 25 attack errors and 10 service errors, but they were still too much for Texas to handle.
Now, they’re heading back to the Final Four, with the Kentucky Wildcats up next on Thursday.
CLEVELAND, Ohio—Six members of the Northern Illinois University Huskies volleyball team have earned spots on the Mid-American Conference (MAC) All-Academic team following the 2025 season.
The Huskies volleyball team has had six or more honorees on the Academic All-MAC in each of the last ten seasons.
The Academic All-MAC honor is awarded to a student-athlete who has excelled in both athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests in that sport.
A total of 78 athletes from around the conference were honored.
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