Wichita State assistant coach Easton Herring debuts on the podcast to talk about his journey from Pratt High School to Shocker baseball and into college softball. He talks about playing catch the right way, building relationships and the progress of fall softball. We also dive into his place in the Kansas high school baseball record book and what Sami Hood is working on as she moves to shortstop.
Wichita State men’s basketball assistant coach TJ Cleveland updates fans on the trip to Greece, what the Shockers accomplished and who stood out. We discuss Dalen Ridgnal’s immediate impact after joining the team right before the trip. We also talk about playing for Nolan Richardson at Arkansas and a career journey that started with a job at Blockbuster Video.
Wichita State softball pitching coach Courtney Oliver is at the microphone to talk about facing Shocker hitters from the opposite dugout, how her time as an athlete at Hofstra shaped her career and her pitching philosophy. Oliver, hired in June, came to Wichita State from Houston and also coached at ECU.
FAU is one of six schools which will join the American Athletic Conference on July 1. Ken LaVicka, radio voice of FAU football and men’s basketball, updates us on the Owls after a run to the Final Four and their expectations for 2024. LaVicka discusses how coach Dusty May built the Owls and how a football school is learning to love hoops. We talk about how FAU baseball succeeds in spite of modest facilities and why LaVicka thinks the incoming schools from CUSA bring considerable pop to the American.
Charlotte is one of six schools which will join the American Athletic Conference on July 1. Hunter Bailey of the Hwy 49 podcast and Charlotte Observer joins the podcast to discuss recent upheaval in the basketball program, the potential for a growing rivalry with ECU and fighting for attention in a pro city. Bailey talks about the growing football program and Charlotte’s strong basketball success in its early days as an NCAA Division I program.
UAB is one of six schools which will join the American Athletic Conference on July 1. Evan Dudley covers UAB athletics for the Alabama Media Group. We discuss the work of Blazers AD Mark Ingram putting the school in a good position as it joins the American, the barbecue-based trophy at stake when UAB plays Memphis and the school’s relationship with Alabama and Auburn. Dudley also talks about basketball coach Andy Kennedy and his success building through the transfer portal. The legacy of former coach Gene Bartow and the importance of basketball at UAB are also topics.
UTSA is one of six schools which will join the American Athletic Conference on July 1. Greg Luca covers UTSA athletics for the San Antonio Express-News. We talk about football’s fast rise and basketball’s facility challenges. We discuss the tenure of McPherson’s Steve Henson as men’s basketball coach, the university’s growing support of athletics and the challenge battling the Spurs and the Dallas Cowboys for attention.
Rice is one of six schools which will join the American Athletic Conference on July 1. Matthew Bartlett, director and managing editor of The Roost, talks about renewing old rivalries, the state of Owls basketball and resurrecting Rice baseball under coach Jose Cruz Jr. We discuss the best Owl in the new conference and the strength of women’s basketball and volleyball at Rice.
North Texas is one of six schools which will join the American Athletic Conference on July 1. Brett Vito of the Denton Record-Chronicle discusses Mean Green basketball under new coach Ross Hodge after an NIT title, the history of the “Mean Green” nickname and the school’s great golf history. He describes the school’s excitement at joining a conference with several Texas rivals, its journey as a member of several conferences and the success of the softball program in recent years.
Wichita State women’s basketball assistant coaches Brooke Costley and Nick Bradford update fans on summer workouts, team building and bowling. We discuss Costley’s rise through NCAA Division II to Wichita State and her hobby as an artist. Bradford talks about his long friendship with coach Terry Nooner and how he learned to root for the Kansas City Chiefs and leave behind the Dallas Cowboys.
