Intercollegiate Athletics at the Academy
The United States Sports Academy launched their first ever intercollegiate athletic team in the fall of 2023 with men’s soccer. This upcoming academic year, USSA will be home to five new intercollegiate sports teams, adding more opportunities for students to pursue their athletic passions. Among the new sports additions are baseball, softball, women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s track and field. The university anticipates adding women’s volleyball and cross country for the 2025-2026 academic year. This expansion of USSA’s intercollegiate athletic program underscores the university’s commitment to excellence in sports education, while allowing students to continue in their athletic careers.
USSA Athletics has hired five highly successful coaches that have coached at the highest levels. From NAIA National Championship to Division I powerhouse coaches, USSA’s athletic coaching roster is one to impress: Peter Fuller (men’s soccer), Ray Leone (women’s soccer), Michael Neal (baseball), Morgan Cinello (softball), and Andy Canegitta (track and field).
With approximately 100 student-athletes anticipated on campus in the fall, USSA is preparing the campus facilities for in-person course offerings and athletic training. USSA has invested in the athlete experience with the renovations of our locker rooms, student lounge, two weightrooms, and athletic training center and performance lab. We will continue to invest as we launch a new athletic website, useaagles.com, and hire a full-time athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach.
As these new teams embark on their journey at the United States Sports Academy, they join a legacy of excellence that spans over four decades. With a commitment to pushing the boundaries of sports education and development, USSA remains at the forefront of shaping the future of athletics in the United States and beyond. We are proud to welcome these students to campus and are excited to see them excel in the classroom and on the playing field!
Alumni Spotlight: Scott Schumacher
Scott Schumacher is a 1989 graduate of the United States Sports Academy with a master’s degree in Sports Management. For more than 30 years, Scott Schumacher has been a staple in the NJCAA basketball community. He is serving his 12th year as the Director of Athletics and Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas.
Schumacher decided to pursue a master’s degree in sports management in the United States Sports Academy after seeing an ad in the YMCA paper during his first year of college. He recalls knowing right away that he wanted to attend USSA for sports management, and 5 years later, he did. Schumacher made lifelong friends at the Academy during summer semesters and feels an enthusiastic sense of camaraderie to this day. He is thankful for the connections he made through his time during summer courses on campus and still stays in contact with classmates. Schumacher believes that USSA’s curriculum prepared him for success in his career. Thanks to the athletic facilities course he took, Schumacher went on to build brand new facilities including a fitness center, baseball field, and gymnasium. He is thankful to have taken courses which prepared him for success in his career as an athletic director. Schumacher encourages current students to take advantage of everything that the Sports Academy has to offer and make the connections now. The contacts made while in school will propel you into a professional career and help you get your foot in the door. He credits his decision to get a master’s degree at USSA to be one of the best decisions he has ever made, and he would not be where he is today without it.
Schumacher’s career highlights include starting as an assistant coach at Sheridan Junior College following his graduation from the Sports Academy. He then went on to coach at Sam Houston State, Paris Junior College, Kilgore College, North Dakota State College of Science, and Boynton Community College before his current position at Blinn College. Under his leadership, the Blinn Buccaneers’ athletic department has won 16 national championships in various sports. Schumacher was recently inducted into the NJCAA Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame and the Kilgore College Hall of Fame. Additionally, a team he was head coach of was inducted into the Kilgore College Hall of Fame. Schumacher served as president of the NJCAA Basketball Coaches Association for 2 years and is on the USA Men’s Basketball National Team Head Coach Selection Committee.
Interested in being next month’s spotlighted alumni? Please email alumni@ussa.edu with interest.
Commencement this June Honoring Recent Graduates
Congratulations to all United States Sports Academy graduates! Commencement at America’s Sports University will be held on June 22, 2024, starting at 10 a.m. If you have earned your degree from USSA and would like to visit the university’s campus on the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast, now is the time! Meet our faculty, staff, and coaches, tour our amazing facility, and take part in the full graduation experience at this special event. The Academy campus is in Daphne, Alabama, on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay and just a few miles from gorgeous beaches, vacation spots, and plentiful shopping and food choices.
The Academy invites all graduates to participate in this year’s commencement ceremony. This includes graduates from the 2023-2024 academic year, previous graduates who were not able to walk in a commencement ceremony, students in “good standing” who will graduate in 2024, and students who will defend his/her final thesis/dissertation by December 31, 2024.
If you would like to attend the commencement ceremony as a graduate, please visit Commencement – United States Sports Academy (ussa.edu).
Stay Connected!
Help USSA stay connected with our alumni by filling out our quick alumni contact survey. Your information ensures we can keep you in the loop about exciting updates, events, and opportunities. Plus, don’t forget to join our alumni social media pages to stay connected with fellow alumni. Click the links to fill out the survey and join our social media pages today.
