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She's Softball's First $1 Million Pitcher—and She Could Be the Last

The Texas Tech softball team is just two wins away from the Women’s College World Series for one spectacular reason. It has a pitcher worth $1 million. That’s not hyperbole. Texas Tech’s booster collective actually paid NiJaree Canady a cool million to transfer from Stanford, where she was already a star, and suit up for […]

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She's Softball's First $1 Million Pitcher—and She Could Be the Last

The Texas Tech softball team is just two wins away from the Women’s College World Series for one spectacular reason.

It has a pitcher worth $1 million.

That’s not hyperbole. Texas Tech’s booster collective actually paid NiJaree Canady a cool million to transfer from Stanford, where she was already a star, and suit up for the Red Raiders this season.

And it looks like money well spent. Canady is responsible for 58% of Texas Tech’s wins. She has posted 28 wins against just five losses and struck out 272 batters over 191 innings pitched through Tuesday.

“She’s one of the top women athletes, so in my mind she deserved what some of those male athletes are getting,” said Tracy Sellers, who funded an endorsement from the school’s donor collective with her husband, John, a former Red Raiders defensive lineman. “I hope it’s setting the stage for the next girl.”

But athletes like Canady are suddenly an endangered species. That’s because a new set of rules that would severely restrict how much boosters can pay college athletes is likely to be enacted in the coming days. The ripple effect could mean fewer softball players, golfers, sprinters and other athletes from lower-profile sports earning big paydays.

If and when Judge Claudia Wilken approves a settlement to a consolidation of three antitrust lawsuits brought by athletes against the major conferences and the NCAA, two big shifts are set to take place. First, each college athletic department will be allowed to share about $20 million of its annual revenues with athletes. But roughly 90% of that money is expected to go to the marquee sports of football and men’s basketball—leaving scraps for sports like softball.

Second, outside deals for athletes to profit from their name, image or likeness (NIL) would begin to go through a new clearinghouse overseen by Deloitte.

In that clearinghouse, deals by major companies like Nike or State Farm are likely to pass muster, said someone familiar with a committee set up by the Power 5 conferences and NCAA to implement the settlement. Deals like Canady’s, funded primarily by booster collectives, are not.

“Booster deals are going to be more difficult to pass,” the person familiar said, adding: “The system is set up to not allow third parties to pay for play.”

After Canady’s sophomore season at Stanford last year, the pitcher entered the transfer portal, where a handful of powerhouse schools lined up to woo her. But it was the last place she visited—Lubbock, Texas—that won Canady over.

The key piece of her move was an endorsement deal from the donor collective known as the Matador Club, worth just over $1 million.

Since the Sellers became billionaires by flipping oil and gas leases in West Texas’s Permian Basin, they’ve donated handsomely to their alma mater. The couple gave $11 million to Texas Tech athletics in 2022, including $1 million for softball facility upgrades.

Canady had six-figure offers from other schools, but nothing close to what the Matador Club offered. But John Sellers, who described himself as a “ready, fire, aim” kind of guy, wanted to make a statement.

But donors like the Sellers could soon become much less influential. That is down to college sports’ continued resistance to characterizing athletes as employees, a move that would require a slew of new rights and regulations.

“I think if people/donors want to invest in sports, specifically Olympic and female sports, they should be given that opportunity,” Canady said. “Oftentimes athletes in these sports don’t really have opportunities to make life-changing deals after college.”

The NIL clearinghouse won’t preclude athletes like Canady from signing endorsement deals, but it will bring considerably more oversight. The organization will want to know, for instance, how a booster club can get $1 million of value in marketing from a player with a profile like Canady, who has 34,000 followers on Instagram but is hardly a household name.

Colleges’ pot of revenue-sharing money won’t be subject to such scrutiny, meanwhile, as long as schools stay under the $20.5 million limit. So an offensive lineman, anonymous as he may be, could receive $1 million directly from his school. But a star lacrosse player would be hard-pressed to gain approval for a $1 million outside of an NIL deal bankrolled by a wealthy alum.

Some in college sports say nixing such deals risks pushing booster money back under the table—where it was for decades.

For the moment, before the settlement is approved, athletes and booster collectives are scrambling to cut deals under the old regulations. The Matador Club has already signed Canady to a one-year extension worth another $1 million, according to a person familiar with the deal.

“Until we figure out exactly what they’re going to let go on,” Tracy Sellers said, “why not keep going?”

Write to Rachel Bachman at Rachel.Bachman@wsj.com and Laine Higgins at laine.higgins@wsj.com

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Sports on TV for June 21 – 22

(All times Eastern) Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts Saturday, June 21 AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL (MEN’S) 11 p.m. FS2 —… (All times Eastern) Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts Saturday, June 21 AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL (MEN’S) 11 p.m. FS2 — AFL: Gold Coast at Greater Western Sydney AUTO RACING 8:55 a.m. FS1 — FIM MotoGP: […]

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(All times Eastern) Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts Saturday, June 21 AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL (MEN’S) 11 p.m. FS2 —…

(All times Eastern)

Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts

Saturday, June 21

AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL (MEN’S)

11 p.m.

FS2 — AFL: Gold Coast at Greater Western Sydney

AUTO RACING

8:55 a.m.

FS1 — FIM MotoGP: The Brembo Grand Prix of Italy – Sprint Race, Tuscany, Italy

10 a.m.

FS1 — NXT IndyCar Series: Practice, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

11 a.m.

FS1 — NTT IndyCar Series: Practice, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

12:35 p.m.

PRIME VIDEO — NASCAR Cup Series: Practice, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.

1:30 p.m.

FS1 — NXT IndyCar Series: Qualifying, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

1:45 p.m.

PRIME VIDEO — NASCAR Cup Series: Qualifying, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.

2:30 p.m.

FS1 — NTT IndyCar Series: Qualifying, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

3:30 p.m.

CW — NASCAR Xfinity Series: The Explore the Pocono Mountains 250, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.

9 p.m.

FS2 — ARCA Menards Series: The Shore Lunch 250 presented by Dutch Boy at Elko Speedway, Elko Speedway, Elko New Market, Minn.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

1 p.m.

CW — AVP League: Week 4 – Day 1, East Hampton, N.Y.

CFL FOOTBALL

4 p.m.

CBSSN — Ottawa at Calgary

7 p.m.

CBSSN — Winnipeg at B.C.

COLLEGE BASEBALL

7 p.m.

ESPN — Men’s College World Series – Final: Coastal Carolina vs. LSU, Game 1, Omaha Neb.

ESPNU — Men’s College World Series – Final: Coastal Carolina vs. LSU, Game 1, Omaha Neb. (UmpCast)

FOOTBALL (WOMEN’S)

3 p.m.

ESPN2 — 2025 WNFC IX Cup Championship: Washington vs. Texas, Frisco, Texas

GOLF

1 p.m.

GOLF — PGA Tour: The Travelers Championship, Third Round, TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn.

1:30 p.m.

NBC — LPGA Tour: The 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship: Third Round, Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco, Frisco, Texas

3 p.m.

CBS — PGA Tour: The Travelers Championship, Third Round, TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn.

GOLF — PGA Tour Champions: The Kaulig Companies Championship, Third Round, Firestone Country Club South Course, Akron, Ohio

HORSE RACING

9 a.m.

NBC — Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: The Royal Ascot, Ascot Racehorse, Ascot, United Kingdom

12:30 p.m.

FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races

1:30 p.m.

FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races

LACROSSE (MEN’S)

4 p.m.

ESPN — PLL: New York vs. Philadelphia, Baltimore

7 p.m.

ESPN2 — PLL: Boston vs. Maryland, Baltimore

MIXED MARTIALS ARTS

Noon

ESPN — UFC Fight Night Prelims: Undercard Bouts, Baku, Azerbaijan

3 p.m.

ABC — UFC Fight Night Main Card: Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. (Light Heavyweights), Baku, Azerbaijan

MLB BASEBALL

Noon

MLBN — Regional Coverage: Detroit at Tampa Bay (12:10 p.m.) OR Baltimore at N.Y. Yankees (1:05 p.m.)

4 p.m.

FS1 — Texas at Pittsburgh

7 p.m.

FOX — Regional Coverage: Kansas City at San Diego OR N.Y Mets at Philadelphia

10 p.m.

MLBN — Regional Coverage: Washington at L.A. Dodgers (10:10 p.m.) OR Cleveland at Athletics (10:05 p.m.)

RUGBY (MEN’S)

5:30 a.m.

FS2 — NRL: Melbourne at South Sydney

1 p.m.

ESPN2 — MLR Eastern Conference Final: Chicago at New England

9 p.m.

ESPN2 — MLR Western Conference Final: Houston at Utah

SOCCER (MEN’S)

7 p.m.

FS1 — CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage: Curacao vs. Canada, Group B, Houston

9 p.m.

TBS — FIFA Club World Cup Group Stage: CA River Plate vs. CF Monterrey, Group E, Pasadena, Calif.

TRUTV — FIFA Club World Cup Group Stage: CA River Plate vs. CF Monterrey, Group E, Pasadena, Calif.

10 p.m.

FS1 — CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage: Honduras vs. El Salvador, Group B, Houston

SOCCER (WOMEN’S)

7:30 p.m.

ION — NWSL: Bay FC at NJ/NY Gotham FC

10 p.m.

ION — NWSL: Chicago at Portland

SOFTBALL

5 p.m.

ESPNU — Athletes Unlimited: Talons vs. Volts, Norman, Okla.

7 p.m.

MLBN — Athletes Unlimited: Bandits vs. Blaze, Wichita Kansas

TENNIS

6 a.m.

TENNIS — London-ATP, Halle-ATP, Berlin-WTA, Nottingham-WTA Semifinals

6 a.m. (Sunday)

TENNIS — London-ATP, Halle-ATP, Berlin-WTA, Nottingham-WTA Finals

VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)

10:30 a.m.

CBSSN — FIVB Nations League Pool Play: Netherlands vs. U.S., Pool 6, Belgrade, Serbia

WNBA BASKETBALL

1 p.m.

ABC — Phoenix at Chicago

8 p.m.

NBATV — Los Angeles at Minnesota

_____

(All times Eastern)

Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts

Sunday, June 22

AUTO RACING

7:30 a.m.

FS1 — FIM MotoGP: The Brembo Grand Prix of Italy, Tuscany, Italy

10 a.m.

FS1 — NTT IndyCar Series: Warmup, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

11 a.m.

FS1 — NXT IndyCar Series: The Grand Prix at Road America, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Noon

CBS — ABB FIA Formula-E: The Jakarta Grand Prix – Round 12, North Jakarta, Indonesia (Taped)

NBC — IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship: The Saleh’s Six Hours of Glen, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.

1:30 p.m.

FOX — NTT IndyCar Series: The Xpel Grand Prix at Road America, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

2 p.m.

FS1 — NHRA: Qualifying, Virginia Motorsports Park, North Dinwiddie, Va. (Taped)

PRIME VIDEO — NASCAR Cup Series: The Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VISITPA.COM, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.

4 p.m.

CBSSN — FIM Motocross: The MX2, Matterly Basin, Great Britain (Taped)

FOX — NHRA: The Virginia NHRA Nationals, Virginia Motorsports Park, North Dinwiddie, Va.

5 p.m.

CBSSN — FIM Motocross: The MXGP, Matterly Basin, Great Britain (Taped)

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

1 p.m.

CBSSN — AVP League: Week 4 – Day 2, East Hampton, N.Y.

BIG3 BASKETBALL

1 p.m.

CBS — Week 2: Detroit Amps vs. Miami 305, Boston Ball Hogs vs. DMV Trilogy, Houston Rig Hands vs. Chicago Triplets, L.A. Riot vs. Dallas Power, Baltimore

COLLEGE BASEBALL

2:30 p.m.

ABC — Men’s College World Series – Final: LSU vs. Coastal Carolina, Game 2, Omaha, Neb.

ESPNU — Men’s College World Series – Final: LSU vs. Coastal Carolina, Game 2, Omaha, Neb. (UmpCast)

GOLF

1 p.m.

GOLF — PGA Tour: The Travelers Championship, Final Round, TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn.

3 p.m.

CBS — PGA Tour: The Travelers Championship, Final Round, TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn.

GOLF — PGA Tour Champions: The Kaulig Companies Championship, Final Round, Firestone Country Club South Course, Akron, Ohio

NBC — LPGA Tour: The 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship: Final Round, Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco, Frisco, Texas

HORSE RACING

12:30 p.m.

FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races

2 p.m.

FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races

4 p.m.

FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races

LACROSSE (MEN’S)

Noon

ABC — PLL: Utah vs. Denver, Baltimore

MLB BASEBALL

1:30 p.m.

MLBN — Regional Coverage: Texas at Pittsburgh (1:35 p.m.) OR Atlanta at Miami (1:40 p.m.)

4:30 p.m.

MLBN — Regional Coverage: Kansas City at San Diego (4:10 p.m.) OR Boston at San Francisco (4:05 p.m.)

7 p.m.

ESPN — N.Y. Mets at Philadelphia

ESPN2 — N.Y. Mets at Philadelphia (StatCast)

NBA BASKETBALL

8 p.m.

ABC — NBA Finals: Indiana at Oklahoma City, Game 7

SOCCER (MEN’S)

3 p.m.

TNT — FIFA Club World Cup Group Stage: Real Madrid vs. CF Pachuca, Group H, Charlotte, N.C.

TRUTV — FIFA Club World Cup Group Stage: Real Madrid vs. CF Pachuca, Group H, Charlotte, N.C.

7 p.m.

FOX — CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage: U.S. vs. Haiti, Group D, Arlington, Texas

FS1 — CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage: Saudi Arabia vs. Trinidad and Tobago, Group D, Las Vegas

9 p.m.

TNT — FIFA Club World Cup Group Stage: Manchester City vs. Al Ain FC, Group G, Atlanta

TRUTV — FIFA Club World Cup Group Stage: Manchester City vs. Al Ain FC, Group G, Atlanta

10 p.m.

FS1 — CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage: Mexico vs. Costa Rica, Group A, Las Vegas

FS2 — CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage: Dominican Republic vs. Suriname, Group A, Arlington, Texas

SOCCER (WOMEN’S)

10 p.m.

CBSSN — NWSL: Washington at San Diego

SOFTBALL

7 p.m.

ESPNU — Athletes Unlimited: Talons vs. Volts, Norman, Okla.

TENNIS

6 a.m.

TENNIS — London-ATP, Halle-ATP, Berlin-WTA, Nottingham-WTA Finals

11:30 a.m.

TENNIS — Bad Hoburg-WTA Early Rounds

5:30 a.m. (Monday)

TENNIS — Eastbourne-ATP/WTA, Mallorca-ATP, Bad Homburg-WTA Early Rounds

6 a.m. (Monday)

TENNIS — Eastbourne-ATP/WTA, Mallorca-ATP, Bad Homburg-WTA Early Rounds

VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)

10:30 a.m.

CBSSN — FIVB Nations League Pool Play: France vs. U.S., Pool 6, Belgrade, Serbia

WNBA BASKETBALL

3 p.m.

ESPN — Indiana at Las Vegas

7 p.m.

NBATV — New York at Seattle

_____

Copyright
© 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.



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Thomas Named Big West Men’s Field Athlete of the Year

Story Links IRVINE, Calif. – The Big West announced its 2025 Track & Field Awards on Friday. To no surprise, decathlete Brad Thomas was named Men’s Field Athlete of the Year.   After his record performance at the Big West Championships Multis, it was only fitting that Thomas received this honor. With […]

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IRVINE, Calif. – The Big West announced its 2025 Track & Field Awards on Friday. To no surprise, decathlete Brad Thomas was named Men’s Field Athlete of the Year.
 
After his record performance at the Big West Championships Multis, it was only fitting that Thomas received this honor. With a podium finish in nine of the 10 events, including four first-place finishes, he ended with 8,108 points—a school, meet, and overall conference record. Naturally, he finished first in the Decathlon and was named Men’s Field Athlete of the Meet.
 
Outside of the Big West, Thomas wrapped up his phenomenal senior season last week at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon. His second-place finish of 7,888 points etched his name in history as UC Santa Barbara’s highest-placing decathlete ever. With the top-eight finish, he also earned All-America First Team distinction.
 

Thomas becomes the first Gaucho Men’s Track & Field member to receive a Big West end-of-season individual award since Shyan Vaziri won Track Athlete of the Year in 2016. He is the first Gaucho to ever win Big West Men’s Field Athlete of the Year.
 



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Spartans win boys state volleyball championship | Sports

De Smet Jesuit beat St. Louis University High at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau to win the state volleyball championship. (Photo provided) Photo provided The De Smet Jesuit Spartans ended a 34-1 season by winning the Missouri boys volleyball championship. De Smet swept St. Louis University High in straight sets 25-14, 25-19, 25-19 […]

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DeSmet state champs

De Smet Jesuit beat St. Louis University High at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau to win the state volleyball championship. (Photo provided)




The De Smet Jesuit Spartans ended a 34-1 season by winning the Missouri boys volleyball championship.

De Smet swept St. Louis University High in straight sets 25-14, 25-19, 25-19 at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

It also was the 200th career victory for coach Tim Haffner.

This was the first state-recognized championship for De Smet. Last season was the first year the Missouri State High School Activities Association officially recognized volleyball as a sport for boys. Before, it was a club sport featuring mainly teams in the St. Louis area.

As a club team, the Spartans won three state titles, with the last one happening in 2023.

“This year the players and I knew that we were going to have a good team,” Haffner said. “We only graduated two guys last year, so we had a lot returning that saw a lot of playing time last season. I knew that experience would serve us well this year. 

“For me, the question wasn’t if we would be good. The question was just how good we would be. I knew we had a high ceiling.”

The Spartans featured eight seniors this spring.

The lone loss came April 2, at Marquette in five sets.

“The Marquette match was a good one. I thought we played well overall,” Haffner said. “Marquette was also a senior-heavy team that had a lot of experience.”

When postseason play began, the Spartans rolled everyone. De Smet didn’t lose a set.

“On paper, it certainly looked like we were dominant with the way every match was 3-0 in the postseason,” Haffner said. “But the reality was that we played well in the first set in only one playoff game, which was the state final.”

In topping SLUH, the Spartans also defeated a conference rival. 

“The players on the two teams know each other so well through club volleyball. The stage was set for a massive game,” Haffner said. “The team came out with a ton of confidence and executed the game plan so well. 

“We were all happy to win the title, but I think we were also so happy with the way we won it.  It was our best game of the season.”

Getting win No. 200 was important for Haffner.

“It’s special to get to a big number no matter what it is. And I reached 100 when this senior class were freshman,” Haffner said. “Riley (Massey) and Evan (Strahlendorf) were on that team. It is special to have the memory of 100 and 200 with them.”

Haffner now has coached two teams to state titles. He won state in 2021 leading Cor Jesu and now with the boys in 2025. 

“I am really proud of the way those teams bought in on caring about their teammates on and off the court. They were great friends,” Haffner said. “And there is no doubt that led to our success. 

“I have been really lucky to be at the schools, coaching at the right time to have those players.”



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Michael Kelly departs USF for Navy athletic director role

Michael Kelly, who has led the University of South Florida Athletics since 2018, is stepping down to become the athletic director at the United States Naval Academy. During his seven years at USF, Kelly expanded the program to 21 varsity sports and led the Bulls to 21 American Athletic Conference team championships. Under his leadership, […]

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Michael Kelly, who has led the University of South Florida Athletics since 2018, is stepping down to become the athletic director at the United States Naval Academy.

During his seven years at USF, Kelly expanded the program to 21 varsity sports and led the Bulls to 21 American Athletic Conference team championships. Under his leadership, the school saw the addition of women’s lacrosse and beach volleyball, and several national accolades, including two NCAA championships and more than 30 NCAA postseason appearances.

Michael-Kelly-usf
Michael Kelly

Kelly also spearheaded the launch of USF’s on-campus stadium, a $348.5 million project slated to open in 2027, while nearly doubling the athletic department’s budget and securing over $100 million in philanthropic gifts, according to a statement.

“This isn’t about leaving South Florida, it’s about the chance to serve a place that’s long been meaningful to me,” Kelly said. “I’m deeply proud of what we’ve built together.”

USF President Rhea Law praised Kelly’s legacy: “He supported our students, coaches, alumni and fans like a family. That culture of success is among the highlights of his leadership.”

Jay Stroman, chief executive officer of the USF Foundation and co-chair of the stadium project, will serve as interim vice president for athletics.

Further details on the search for a permanent successor are expected in the coming weeks.



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210 fall athletes to watch over 70 days – Monterey Herald

Laird Welch, Stevenson water polo: Having produced over 100 goals in each of the last two years, the senior will look to make it three straight seasons over the century mark. Blessed with a powerful arm outside the 2-meter position, Welch is a two-time Gabilan Division co-Offensive Player of the Year, and one of the […]

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Laird Welch, Stevenson water polo: Having produced over 100 goals in each of the last two years, the senior will look to make it three straight seasons over the century mark.

Blessed with a powerful arm outside the 2-meter position, Welch is a two-time Gabilan Division co-Offensive Player of the Year, and one of the Pirates better defenders.

Kevin Azpeitia, Marina cross country: The Mariners historic run to the program’s first Gabilan Division and Central Coast Section titles last fall started with Azpeitia.

The distance ace was the runner-up at the Gabilan Division finals, then led a parade of Mariners across the finish line in capturing the CCS Division IV team championship.

Harper Szpur, Pacific Grove golf: Finishing in the upper third of the Central Coast Section finals last fall, Szpur is a returning all-leaguer for the Breakers.

The senior earned medalist honors for Pacific Grove throughout the season, improving her range and accuracy in the off-season.



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Harrison Adds Four to Sports Performance Staff

Story Links CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Performance Medgar Harrison added Assistant Sports Performance Coaches Austin Van Buskirk and Michael Fiorito and graduate assistants Alan Anderson and Austin Okruta to his staff ahead of the 2025-26 academic year. “In the ever-evolving landscape of college athletics, […]

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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Performance Medgar Harrison added Assistant Sports Performance Coaches Austin Van Buskirk and Michael Fiorito and graduate assistants Alan Anderson and Austin Okruta to his staff ahead of the 2025-26 academic year.

“In the ever-evolving landscape of college athletics, change is both constant and necessary,” said Harrison. “Over the past 30 days, we’ve seen the departure of six valued staff members, each of whom contributed significantly to the development of our student-athletes and the success of our programs. We thank them for their dedication and wish them continued success in their next chapters. At the same time, I’m excited to announce the addition of four dynamic new professionals to our sports performance team. Each brings unique experiences, fresh energy, and a shared commitment to helping our student-athletes thrive both on and off the field. Their arrival marks a new chapter for our department—one filled with innovation, collaboration, and an unwavering focus on performance, health, and development.

“We are moving forward with great momentum, and I am confident that this team will not only meet the demands of our growing programs but will also help shape the future of sports performance department at APSU.”

Van Buskirk remains on Harrison’s staff after serving as a volunteer assistant last season while working with the Governors. baseball and track programs.

In addition to his duties for APSU in 2024-25, Van Buskirk also served as a strength and conditioning coach for the 101st Airborne Division on Fort Campbell since July 2023, where he was attached to 1st Brigade, working alongside the 2-32 field artillery regiment and the 2-327 infantry battalions. He helped develop and coach platoon-sized element strength and conditioning programs and supported physical training leaders in managing a battalion of 600-plus soldiers, collaborated with health professional staffs, created and ran Air Assault Prep Academy within the battalion, and more.

Prior to arriving at Fort Campbell, Van Buskirk was a strength and conditioning intern at Ohio State, Aug. 2022-Jan. 2023, working with the 12 Buckeyes programs, where he led team warms ups, recovery sessions, and worked with injured student-athletes’ rehabilitation.

Van Buskirk began his career as an Air Force ROTC in Bowling Green, Ohio, where he completed a semester’s worth of coaching and programming for 80 cadets.

Van Burskirk earned his bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green in 2021 and graduated with his master’s from Concordia of Chicago in 2023.

Fiorito comes to Clarksville after serving as a Strength and Conditioning Assistant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since April 2024, working alongside the Buccaneers’ head of strength and conditioning, Anthony Piroli, in Tampa Bay’s performance rehab department.

In addition, Fiorito also assisted with practice and pregame dynamic warm-up groups, utilized key performance indicators to prescribe and implement programming at the positional and individual levels, and more.

Prior to his time in Tampa, Florida, Fiorito was an Assistant Strength Coach and Recreational Center Coordinator at the New Mexico Military Institute, Jan.-April 2024, where he was responsible for the direct development and implementation of year-long performance training programs for the Broncos’ baseball, basketball, and cross country teams. He also assisted the head strength coach in the programming and execution of training programs for the football and volleyball programs. 

Fiorito’s first postgraduate experience came as an NFL Bill Walsh Fellowship Strength Intern for the Buccaneers, July-Sept. 2023, where he met daily with the Director of Sports Performance Rehab, led groups through gameday and pre-game warmups and activations, and more.

He served as a graduate assistant for Toledo’s football team, Aug. 2021-June 2023, leading in-season lifts for developmental groups, trained incoming freshman and pro day athletes, and created and led high needs program for athletes to achieve better exercise technique and general mobility. He began his career as an intern for Cincinnati’s football team.

Fiorito earned his bachelor’s degree from Illinois State in 2021 and his master’s from Toledo in 2023. 

Okruta joins Harrison’s staff after previously serving as a strength and conditioning intern for Pittsburg’s football team since Jan.

While with the Panthers’ he helped to set up and break down daily lifts, direct injured student-athletes through their return-to-play progression, demonstrating lifts and drills, and assisted in Pro Day training.

 Okruta began his strength and conditioning career at the NST Sports Performace in Twinsburg, Ohio as an intern where he assisted in training, ran drills, and more.

Okruta graduated from Kent State in Aug. 2024 and currently is working towards his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification.

Anderson remains on Harrison’s staff after previously serving as a strength and conditioning coaching intern since July 2024, where he primarily worked with the Governors’ baseball, softball, and track and field programs.

Anderson served in the 101st Airborne Division, 2021-25. During his time in the Army, Anderson served as a Brigade Innovations Officer, DSSB Battalion Adjutant, TC Executive Officer, and a Maintenance Platoon Leader/Battalion Maintenance Officer. 

Prior to his time on Fort Campbell, Anderson was a member of the Auburn Army ROTC, July 2019-21.

Anderson earned his bachelor’s degree in physical activity and health in May 2021



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