Wichita State senior Morgan Stout, an All-American Athletic Conference middle blocker, joins the pod to discuss her career. We talk about her improvement from a raw, powerful athlete into a skilled volleyball player who leads the Shockers in categories such as kills, blocks and aces. We talk about growing up in Fowler and how parents, neighbors and coaches shaped her life. We discuss her famous on-court celebrations and enthusiasm and why that passion is so important to her. We get into her plans to play professionally and how the Shockers prepare for this weekend’s AAC Championship at Koch Arena.
Director of athletics Kevin Saal joins the podcast to discuss the changing landscape and where Wichita State fits as the pending House v. NCAA settlement nears. We discuss the three areas of the settlement and how they likely add a $7 million need to WSU’s annual athletic budget of around $27 million. How does not sponsoring football help Wichita State compared to peers? How is the athletic department working on revenue? How is Wichita State’s work on student-athlete satisfaction helping retention efforts. We also update fans on University Stadium and Wilkins Stadium construction projects.
Get set for the next week at your favorite Shocker venue with the Shocker Calendar podcast, the fastest five minutes in daily planning. Basketball gets started, volleyball is home on Sunday and the AAC will decide its cross country champion in Wichita on Friday. All that, plus promotions, ticket specials, Shocker trivia and Shocker history.
Wichita State junior pitcher Caleb Anderson talks about fall scrimmages and teammates to watch in the five-game fall series. We also talk about his journey from football punter who planned to play for Vanderbilt to college pitcher and how he kept a positive attitude during tough times.
Wichita State outfielder Lauren Lucas and first baseman Cam Compton update us on fall practices and their rebound seasons after injuries sidelined both in 2024. They talk about staying engaged as unofficial hitting coaches last spring and how they leaned on teammates and family while out of uniform. They discuss outfielder Ellee Eck, one of the newcomers making a strong impression this fall, and freshman Ava Sliger. We also dive into growing up in a family of athletes, restaurants in Southeast Kansas and their advice for the younger Shockers.
Voice of the Shockers Mike Kennedy and Tami Cutler, of strategic communications, join the podcast to reminisce about volleyball coach Chris Lamb as he enters his 25th season at Wichita State. We discuss Lamb’s passion for teaching the sport, educating fans and using baseball analogies. We talk about the first NCAA team in 2004, the 2017 AAC champions and NCAA hosts and why Lamb possessed the ability to turn Shocker volleyball into a force. Mike and Tami go through some of their favorite teams and do their best to pick their All-Lambo lineups. The Shockers open their home schedule vs. Cal Poly on Thursday in the Shocker Volleyball Classic.
Wichita State baseball coach Brian Green walks fans through some of the top newcomers, outfielder Jaden Gustafson’s strong summer and how the team’s style of play will look different in his second season. We talk about the return of Grant Adler and Jace Miner, both all-conference picks in 2023, and how those additions might shape the pitching rotation. We also discuss how the Wheat Shock Collective and NIL money helps build the roster in a sport with partial scholarships.
Emily Hiebert, general manager of Wheat Shock Collective, joins the podcast to talk about her role helping Wichita State with name, image and likeness efforts. We discuss how she is working with Shockers on the community engagement part of NIL and how businesses can work with the collective and the Shockers. We talk about the importance of NIL and how Shocker coaches explain its role in building and maintaining their programs. We also talk about her volleyball days as a Shocker, her favorite story from coach Chris Lamb and her advice for athletes navigating the new world of college athletics.
Wichita State basketball newcomers Corey Washington, Zane Meeks, AJ McGinnis and Justin Hill talk about their journey to Wichita State, early impressions of practices and favorite NBA players. They agree on the NBA’s GOAT, dispense advice to the youngsters and discuss football as a second sport. Washington is a 6-foot-6 forward from Little Rock, Arkansas. He transferred to WSU from St. Peter’s University in New Jersey. He has two seasons of eligibility at WSU. Meeks is a 6-foot-9 forward from Prairie Village, Kansas. He transfers to Wichita State from Arizona State, where an ankle injury limited him to five games. In 2023, he averaged 10.3 points while starting at the University of San Francisco. McGinnis is a 6-foot-4 senior guard who transfered from Lipscomb, where he averaged 13.2 points and 2.3 rebounds. Justin Hill is a 6-foot senior guard from Houston. He transfers to Wichita State after two seasons at Georgia, where he averaged 9.5 points and 3.2 assists in 2024.
Wichitan Patrick Harrison is the new assistant women’s basketball coach. We talk about playing at Campus High School for his father and a coaching journey through junior colleges, an NAIA stop, and other places before returning to WSU. Harrison, a Shocker graduate assistant under former coach Jody Adams, discusses lessons from those successful seasons and why he wants to work for Terry Nooner. We also discuss his favorite James Bond movies and favorite Bond actor.
