Featured Alumni

Appalachian State University associate athletics director for internal operations John Welch said his master’s degree from the United States Sports Academy laid a firm foundation upon which he has built a career in higher education athletics administration. Welch earned his Master of Sports Science degree in sports management from the Academy in 2011, while he was already working within the Appalachian State athletics department. Like many Academy students, Welch took advantage of the institution’s flexible scheduling options to continue working in the field while boosting his career through education. “The Academy provided a chance for me to enroll in relevant courses taught by quality faculty and I was able to study on my own pace outside of work hours,” Welch said. “That flexibility was extremely important in my decision to [...]

Even when he was starring on the football field for the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) as a co-captain and two-time letter winner, Joseph Arnold knew his path would probably lead to a career in sport off the field. A native of Prichard, Ala., Arnold earned his Master of Sports Science degree in sports management with an emphasis in NCAA compliance in 2013. Today, he uses his Academy education in his work as the assistant athletics director for compliance at Dartmouth College. He was intrigued by NCAA compliance after working as an intern in the compliance office in the UAB athletics department. After his UAB graduation, he interned in the compliance office with the Southwestern Athletic Conference in Birmingham, Ala. “After UAB, while I was working in Birmingham, my brother gave [...]

Kim Ensey has known she wanted to work with young athletes since she was a teenager. Armed with her master’s degree from the United States Sports Academy, Ensey has now built a career around the sport of softball in sunny Southern California. Ensey earned her Master of Sports Science degree in sports management from the Academy in 2011. She was recently hired as the head softball coach at Chino Hills (Calif.) High School. She’s also the recruiting coordinator for the So Cal Choppers club softball organization. “During my education journey, I found myself wanting to stay at the youth levels of our sport,” Ensey said. “Through my Academy courses I learned so much about management and marketing. I believe my degree has allowed me to be better prepared for the [...]

When Mike Leach was hired to be the head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs football team, the college football world knew it was only a matter of time until the offensive mastermind’s brand of pass-heavy football made its mark on the Southeastern Conference. But few people expected it to happen so quickly. Leach, a two-time national coach of the year and former United States Sports Academy Alumnus of the Year, led the Bulldogs to a stunning 44-34 win over the defending national champion LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge, La., in the first game of the season on 26 September. “Our team – offensively, defensively and on special teams – had each other's backs,” Leach told media after the win. “We had our share of adversity and slugged through it. [...]

A sports administrator with one of the most diverse resumes in the collegiate ranks, Dr. Kristene Kelly has been named the United States Sports Academy’s 2020 Alumna of the Year. Kelly, an Academy doctoral degree holder, joined the Vanderbilt University athletic department this year as the deputy athletic director for internal affairs, senior woman administrator, and member of the department’s executive team. She is also the athletic department’s liaison to the Title IX office and to the Dean of Students. A native of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Kelly has worked in each of the NCAA’s three divisions and boasts one of the most diverse resumes of any college administrator as one of the few to hold the titles of sports information director, associate athletic director, senior associate athletic director, executive [...]

After serving the United States Air Force on active duty, starring on the Air Force Academy’s winningest men’s basketball team, and coaching the Academy’s preparatory team for 13 seasons, Maj. Marc Holum was recently promoted to be an assistant coach for Air Force’s men’s basketball team. A native of Hellertown, Pa., Holum is a graduate of the United States Sports Academy, having earned his Master of Sports Science degree in sports coaching in 2011. Holum was a four-year letter winner at Air Force, captaining the Falcons’ 2005-06 NCAA Tournament Team that finished 24-7, the best record in program history. Holum helped the Air Force Academy’s Preparatory School basketball team to a 268-93 record as associate head coach. He was also selected to be the head coach of the 2020 All-Air [...]

University of Wyoming Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator Dr. China Jude was recently named to the 10th annual Sports Business Journal (SBJ) Game Changers: Women in Sports Business class. Jude earned her Master of Sports Science degree in sports management from the United States Sports Academy in 1996 and was recognized as the institution’s distinguished Alumna of the Year in 2011. The 10th anniversary Game Changers class was announced in the SBJ print edition in August 2020 and will be featured in more detail in its 19 October edition. The class will be honored during a virtual conference on 27 October. "To be included in this outstanding group of women in sports is very humbling," said Jude.  "I want to thank the Sports Business Journal for recognizing [...]

Melody Webb made history when she earned her latest promotion in the sports field. Webb, who is pursuing her Doctor of Education degree from the United States Sports Academy, became the first female athletic director at Norfolk (Va.) State University when she was promoted to replace longtime department leader Marty Miller in June 2020. Webb previously served as the school’s senior associate athletic director and senior women’s administrator at the school for six years. “I aspired to become an Athletics Director because I wanted to provide leadership and vision from an administrative perspective that would offer a comprehensive range of programs and services for student-athletes and create a culture that promotes academic achievement, personal development and championships,” Webb said. “I have been a student-athlete, a coach and an administrator, and [...]

After leading the Voorhees College (S.C.) men’s basketball program to great heights for six seasons, United States Sports Academy alumnus Derrick Mitchell was hired to build on that success at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. Mitchell earned a Master of Sports Science dual degree in Sports Coaching and Sports Studies from the Academy in 2009. “I appreciate the Academy because of what it did for my career and for what it has done for so many coaches like me,” Mitchell said. “My Academy degree made me qualified to coach at the college level. I can’t say enough about how the Academy helped me and how it has given so many other people an avenue to prepare themselves for careers as coaches. “When I studied with the Academy, I was so [...]

United States Sports Academy master’s degree program alumnus Rick Tice joined the Great Midwest Athletic Conference as assistant commissioner in January of 2020. Tice earned his Master of Sports Science degree in sports coaching from the Academy in 1989 at a time when the institution held on-campus instruction. He said the Academy’s well-rounded coursework and networking opportunities have been beneficial throughout his career in athletics coaching and administration. “My degree for the Academy has helped a tremendous amount throughout my career,” Tice said. “The education and experience from by time on campus was a great asset early in my career and gave me some opportunities to advance my career. My time on campus was a great experience early in my career. Good relative coursework, professors, and I was able to [...]

Dr. Tessie Bradford said her doctoral education from the United States Sports Academy helped her find her voice and led to her career as the Dean of Student Services at Lamar State College Port Arthur in Texas. A native of Mobile, Ala., Bradford earned her Doctor of Education degree in sports management in 2009. She was introduced to student services work through her Academy doctoral mentorship at Coppin State University in Baltimore, Md. “In my mentorship I taught some sports management courses but I also worked with student athletes to help them be successful off the field in the classroom,” Bradford said. “It was there where I realized that I enjoyed working on the student affairs side of higher education. After that, my first education leadership role was at the [...]