WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – On Monday, December 22nd, 2025, University of Hartford Director of Athletics & Recreation Alicia Queally announced the hiring of Johan Dulfer as the 12th head coach of the Hartford volleyball program.

“We are excited to welcome Johan Dulfer as the next leader of the women’s volleyball program at the University of Hartford. Johan brings extensive head coaching and leadership experience with a proven track record of being able to build elite Division III volleyball programs that are successful both on and off the court. I’m excited to have him on board as we continue to build our championship culture here at Hartford.”

Dulfer brings more than two decades of collegiate coaching experience to Hartford, highlighted by success across multiple NCAA programs. Most recently, Dulfer served as head volleyball coach at Ithaca College from 2016- 2023, where he led the Bombers to eight consecutive NCAA Tournament selections. During his tenure, Ithaca would win back-to-back Liberty League championships in 2022 and 2023. Johan would also lead the Bombers into the sweet sixteen on three occasions in 2018, 2019, and 2023, an elite eight finish in 2018, and a final four appearance in 2017.

“I would like to thank the search committee and Director of Athletics Alicia Queally for the honor of becoming the next head coach at the University of Hartford. During my research and my visit to campus it became clear that I really could see myself as part of the UHart community. Coming back to coaching in the environment that I experienced when I visited, was a no-brainer decision. I was so impressed with everyone’s passion for their jobs and for the University, their care for the student-athlete experience, and the desire to be successful. I can’t wait to get started. Together we will take Hartford volleyball to the next level.”

Before his time at Ithaca, Dulfer spent ten seasons as head coach at Clarkson University (2006–2015), leading the Golden Knights to four consecutive NCAA Elite Eight appearances from 2012 through 2015 and posting a program-best 37-4 record in 2014.

Across 17 seasons as a head coach, Dulfer has compiled a career record of 431-173 (.714), earning seven Liberty League Coach of the Year honors and five American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Regional Coach of the Year awards.

Prior to joining Clarkson University, Dulfer was an assistant coach at Division I James Madison University, where he served as the first assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 2003-2005. While with the Dukes, Johan helped JMU make two CAA Championship appearances in 2003 and 2005. In addition, he spent seven years with USA Volleyball as a program coordinator for the IREVA High Performance program, evaluating and coaching athletes at national championships.

Dulfer also served as a regional chair of the Divison III National Volleyball Committee from 2017-2022. 

Dulfer holds a master’s degree in Kinesiology/Sport Psychology from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in International Organizations from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.

For the latest information on Hartford Athletics follow the Hawks on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

PROVO, Utah — BYU and Notre Dame today announced the two universities have agreed to a home-and-home football series that will bring the Fighting Irish to Provo in 2026 and take the Cougars to South Bend in 2027.

“We are excited to announce this home-and-home series between BYU and Notre Dame for the 2026 and 2027 seasons,” said BYU Director of Athletics Brian Santiago. “We have tremendous respect for Notre Dame, and appreciate Director of Athletics Pete Bevacqua, who has been great to work with in arranging this series. These will be competitive football games, and will highlight Kalani Sitake and Marcus Freeman, two of the best leaders and coaches in college football. As private, faith-based institutions, BYU and Notre Dame share many common values, and this series provides an exceptional opportunity to showcase two world-class universities. It’s a matchup that will resonate strongly with Cougar fans and college football fans everywhere.”

Notre Dame will be making its third appearance in Provo next season when it faces BYU in LaVell Edwards Stadium for the first time since 2004. When BYU travels to face the Irish in 2027, it will mark the first meeting in South Bend since 2013 and the seventh matchup overall in Notre Dame Stadium dating back to the start of the series in 1992.

Notre Dame owns a 7-2 advantage in the previous nine games played after winning the last outing in the series in 2022 by a 28-20 tally at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. That game, played on Oct. 8, 2022, was part of the Notre Dame Shamrock Series neutral site home games. BYU’s two victories came by a 21-14 tally in South Bend in 1994 during BYU head coach Kalani Sitake’s freshman season and later in the last contest in Provo when the Cougars earned a 20-17 win to open the 2004 season.

BYU owns a 1-1 record against the Irish in LaVell Edwards Stadium, while Notre Dame boasts a 5-1 record against the Cougars in South Bend and a 1-0 mark in their neutral site Shamrock Series. The last time the two schools met in South Bend was a frigid, snow-flurry of a game in 2013 that the Fighting Irish won 23-13. BYU ran for 247 yards behind quarterback Taysom Hill in a one-score game heading into the fourth quarter but came up short in the end.

With the addition of the Notre Dame series, BYU has now finalized its scheduled opponents for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

BYU will play seven home games next season, hosting Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Cincinnati and Iowa State in Big 12 play along with nonconference matchups with Notre Dame and Utah Tech. The Cougars will travel to face Colorado State in nonconference and Kansas, TCU, UCF and Utah on their Big 12 slate.

In 2027, BYU hosts Big 12 games against Colorado, Kansas, Texas Tech and Utah along with Oregon State and Weber State in the nonconference, while traveling in league to Arizona State, Houston, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and West Virginia as well as to South Bend to meet Notre Dame.  

Game dates and times and television plans for all 2026 and 2027 games will be announced at a later date.  

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. –  Tyler Butler of B-CU Women’s Basketball and Jakobi Heady of B-CU Men’s Basketball have been named Wildcats of the Week for the week of December 15-21, 2025.

Tyler Butler was excellent for the Wildcats at the Stetson Hatter Invitational in DeLand. In two games against Stonehill and William & Mary, she totaled 23 points on an efficient 9-14 shooting with 18 rebounds, five blocks, and two steals.

Jakobi Heady starred in a road contest at the A10’s Saint Louis. He led all scorers with 23 on 8-14 showing with six rebounds, an assist, and three steals.

Each week, The Bethune-Cookman Office of Athletic Communications recognizes one male and one female student-athlete through the Wildcats of the Week award.

This award recognizes student-athletes who have excelled in competition, in the classroom, and in the community over the past week, exemplifying the Championship Culture of Wildcat Athletics. 

2025-26 Wildcats of the Week

December 15-21

W: Tyler Butler, Women’s Basketball

M: Jakobi Heady, Men’s Basketball

December 8-14

W: N/A (No Women’s Competition This Week

M: Jakobi Heady, Men’s Basketball

December 1-7

W: Daimoni Dorsey, Women’s Basketball

M: Sha’Nard Walker, Track & Field

November 24-30

W: Chanelle McDonald, Women’s Basketball

M: Jakobi Heady, Men’s Basketball

November 17-23

W: Jordan Brooks, Women’s Basketball

M: Timmy McClain, Football

November 10-16

W: Shayla Henry, Volleyball

M: Javon Ross, Football

November 3-9

W: Madison Molock, Tennis

M: Arterio Morris, Men’s Basketball

October 27-November 2

W: Amya Jennings, Volleyball

M: Andrew Kiplagat, Cross Country

October 20-26

W: Sthefany Carvalho, Volleyball

M: Jaylen Lewis, Football

October 13-19

W: Melissa Gonzalez, Volleyball

M: N/A (No Men’s Competition this Week)

October 6-12

W: Valencia Butler, Cross Country

M: Andrew Kiplagat, Cross Country

September 29-October 5

W: Amya Jennings, Volleyball

M: Ali Scott Jr., Football

September 22-28

W: Sierra Herndon, Volleyball

M: Javon Ross, Football

September 15-21

W: Zahara El-Zein

M: Maleek Huggins, Football

September 8-14

W: Nola Hemphill, Volleyball

M: Cam’Ron Ransom, Football

September 1-7

W: Reese Wilson, Women’s Golf

M: Stephen Sparrow Jr., Football

August 25 – 31

W: Kaleigh Williams, Volleyball

M: Andrew Kiplagat, Cross Country

For all the latest Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Facebook (Bethune-Cookman Athletics), X (@BCUAthletics), Instagram (@BCU_Athletics) and BCUAthletics.com. 

 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Four repeat honorees highlighted the 2025 Summit League Volleyball Academic All-League Team released by league officials Monday. There was a total of seven student-athletes named to the team that was voted on by the membership’s faculty athletic representatives and sports information directors.
 
South Dakota State’s Joslyn Richardson, a two-time Summit League Scholar of the Championship presented by JLG Architects, collected the second all-academic honor of her career. 

South Dakota’s Avery Van Hook also earned her second honor and was joined by teammates and first-time honorees Kamryn Farris and Amanda Loschen.

 

First team All-Summit Leaguer Kali Jurgensmeier of Omaha added a second all-academic award to her list of honors this season. 

 

North Dakota’s Lauren Perugini rounded out the quartet of repeat honorees while North Dakota State’s Ally Barth earned her first honor for the Bison.

 

To be eligible for the Academic All-League team, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.30 (on a 4.0 scale), completed at least one full academic year at the current institution and participated in 50 percent of their team’s competitions.

 

Nominations are brought forth by sports information directors from the league’s ten institutions and voting is conducted by both the SIDs and facility athletic representatives (FARs). The team is made up of the seven student-athletes receiving the most votes with all ties standing.

 

2025 Summit League Volleyball Academic All-League Team

 *Career Academic All-League honors
 
#SummitVB
 

HAMMOND, La. – Former All-American Angie Simpson has been named the new head volleyball coach at Southeastern Louisiana University, SLU Director of Athletics Jay Artigues announced Monday.
 
Simpson’s hire is pending approval from the University of Louisiana System’s Board of Supervisors.
 
“I’m extremely excited to be able to bring in a coach of Angie’s caliber,” Artigues commented. “She is well-renowned in the beach volleyball community and is a huge addition to our department. Angie is the type of coach that will make our program a consistent contender. We are very fortunate to have her in Hammond and I’m excited about the future of our beach volleyball program.”
 
Simpson is excited to be taking over a young Southeastern program that was established in 2020.
 
“Southeastern already has the infrastructure in place and the support from the administration to evolve into a nationally recognized program,” Simpson commented. “I’m eager to hit the ground running, because with the facilities, community culture and institutional support already in place, the expectation is to win the conference and earn an NCAA (Championships) bid.”
 
Simpson grew up in Muncie, Ind., where she helped Muncie Burris to three state championships during her prep career. The Owls were the No. 1 ranked team in the USA Today national high school ranks in three of Simpson’s four seasons and finished 162-1 during her time at MBHS.
 
Simpson played outside hitter on the indoor volleyball team at Penn State, where she was named an All-American as a senior and was a two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection. During her collegiate career with the Nittany Lions, Penn State made two Final Four appearances and won a pair of conference championships.
 
Simpson’s collegiate career was prior to the NCAA’s sponsorship of beach volleyball, but Simpson spent several years on the AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) Tour. One of Simpson’s most frequent partners was Jennifer Kessy, who earned a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
 
“When I met with the team it felt so comfortable, because I’ve been in their shoes before,” Simpson said. “Our administration is dedicating a full-time coach to our beach volleyball program and we’re going to be in it together. I feel with my playing experience I have a unique knowledge base to share and pass forward with this generation of players and I’m completely committed to the process.”
 
Following her beach volleyball career, Simpson spent two decades working in the Biotech and health care leadership field in California. She kept involved in the volleyball community, serving as a broadcaster for Fox Sports Net, ESPN and other outlets.

 

As her son, Colby, a tight end signed to play football next fall at Tulane, reached high school, many of his friends requested Simpson come lend her vast knowledge to the Oaks Christian High School beach volleyball team. In her first season, OCHS won the CIF D2 championship and Simpson also led the program to back-to-back Marmonte League titles.

 

“With my son finishing up high school and set to head off to college, I thought this was a perfect time to return to my passion of coaching volleyball,” Simpson said. “Once I started with Oaks Christian and we won that CIF D2 championship, I just thought ‘I’m back’.

 

“I feel really confident that I know how to win,” Simpson continued. “I’ve been winning on and off the court and throughout my professional career. I’m going to pass that knowledge on to this team.”

 

The Southeastern beach volleyball team will open the 2026 season in February.

 

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CLEAR BAG POLICY

Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.