Connor Phelps, director of marketing and fan engagement, joins the podcast to talk about music, promotions, food and more as Shocker basketball season arrives. Phelps, a Wichita State graduate, discusses how the game-day staff organizes music and promotions, what’s new for fans at Koch Arena and what he learned from his time as a student working in the athletic department.
Wichita State men’s assistant coach Tyson Waterman is on the microphone to prepare fans for Thursday’s Shocker Madness scrimmages and skills contest. Waterman talks about Craig Porter Jr.’s progress as a senior point guard, off-season bonding work with the team and newcomers to watch. He also reveals, somewhat reluctantly, his picks for the dunk and three-point shooting contests.
Wichita State softball coach Kristi Bredbenner updates us at Wilkins Stadium over a bucket of Hi-Chew candy. We talk about the recent facility improvements and lessons from fall scrimmages against Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma State. Bredbenner discusses the rebuilt pitching staff, highlighted by fall performances from freshman Alex Aguilar and newcomer Lauren Howell. Freshman Sami Hood is playing second base and Bredbenner talks about a defensive comparison that should excite fans.
Episode description: In this episode of Wichita State University’s “Forward Together” podcast, President Rick Muma talks with Kevin Saal, who was hired as director of athletics at Wichita State University in June. Kevin is leading Shocker athletics during a time of significant change – name, image and likeness, the transfer portal and conference realignment top the list.
The “Forward Together” podcast celebrates the vision and mission of Wichita State University. In each episode, President Rick Muma will talk with guests from throughout Shocker Nation to highlight the people and priorities that guide WSU on its road to becoming an essential educational, cultural, and economic driver for Kansas and the greater good.
Shocker assistant Butch Pierre joins the podcast to get fans ready for basketball season. He discusses practices and why he thinks the Shockers will score more this season and the talents of newcomer Jaykwon Walton. He reminisces about his exposure to Shocker basketball in 2006 and 2007 when he coached at LSU and his impression of the atmosphere in Koch Arena. We also talk about playing in the SEC against Charles Barkley and Dominique Wilkins, a recruiting trip to Houston on a private plane and his love for fishing.
Shocker pitchers Robert Cranz and Matt Wilkinson update us on fall baseball. We discuss their uniform preferences, their path to Wichita State and how often it’s appropriate for a coach to call when recruiting. We also talk about teammates who are making a good impression this fall and why Cranz thinks he matured over the summer entering his sophomore season.
Wichita State softball’s dinner and auction is Saturday and the Shockers open their fall schedule with a scrimmage on Sunday. Associate head coach Elizabeth Economon is here to update fans on newcomers making a good impression this fall, how the program’s success changes recruiting and how the coaches challenge returners such as Addison Barnard and Sydney McKinney. We also discuss the opening at first base, Jessica Garcia’s career arc and the new batting cages built next to Wilkins Stadium. We wrap up by breaking down the accuracy of the “Coach E impressions” video directed by McKinney and featuring her teammates, sunglasses and a bucket hat.
Wichita State men’s tennis coach Darragh Glavin talks about his journey from Ireland to the United States to play college tennis and how youth sports differs in the two countries. He discusses why he missed tennis during a year away from the sport and why he chose coaching as his profession. Glavin, hired at Wichita State in June, also talks about his team, his coaching mentors and the importance of the connection between his program and the Wichita tennis community.
Shocker cross country gets rolling on Sept. 3 (Saturday) with the JK Gold Classic. Ben Flowers and Clayton Duchatschek discuss the expectations for the men’s team, favorite running paths in and around Wichita and their training routines for the summer. Flowers talks about how his teammates and coaches helped him work through an injury that cost him almost two years of running. Duchatschek takes us back to last spring’s clinching points in the American Athletic Conference outdoor track championships. We wrap up by choosing a favorite book about running.
Kevin Saal joins the podcast to talk about one of the biggest topics in college athletics – name, image and likeness. He discusses the specifics on how the policy works and how Wichita State is navigating the new environment. He describes how fans can get involved with Shockers of all sports through Armchair Strategies Collective, Opendorse Marketplace and direct connections. We talk about Shockers such as softball’s Sydney McKinney as an example of how NIL can work and the business and branding lessons student-athletes can learn.
