Corey Blake2020-08-11T12:00:03-05:00August 11th, 2020|
The Academy congratulates the following graduates who completed their degrees this month. Because of the Academy’s rolling enrollments and flexible online learning options, degrees can be conferred upon graduates throughout the academic year. Bachelor’s Graduates Carmen E. Ward (Pace, Fla.) – B.S.S. Sports Management Master’s Graduates Joshua Ross (Greeneville, Tenn.) – M.S.S. Sports Studies Kari Wiggins (Mobile, Ala.) – M.S.S. Sports Management
Corey Blake2020-08-11T11:44:03-05:00August 11th, 2020|
Umar Muhammad is an entrepreneur, professor, and a coach for the first cycling team at an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in the country. He’s also the United States Sports Academy’s latest Student of the Month. Muhammad, who teaches sport management at St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh, N.C., is pursuing his Doctor of Education degree in Sports Management from the Academy. At St. Augustine’s, Muhammad is coaching the cycling team with fellow Academy alumnus Dr. Mark Janas. “We’re excited to be the first HBCU to formally have a collegiate cycling team,” Muhammad said. “What many may not realize is that while cycling might be new to most HBCU’s, African Americans have made huge contributions to the sport of cycling. In fact, cycling’s first superstar, and arguably sport’s first international [...]
Corey Blake2020-08-11T11:42:50-05:00August 11th, 2020|
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 [...]
Corey Blake2020-08-11T11:41:14-05:00August 11th, 2020|
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 [...]
Corey Blake2020-08-07T15:22:52-05:00August 7th, 2020|
Dr. Thomas P. Rosandich, Founding President of the United States Sports Academy Academy founding president Dr. Thomas P. Rosandich, a long-time leader in sport and sport education around the world, was recently selected as the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Commendation Award from the Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. Rosandich will be recognized for the honor at the 2021 Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Ceremony in Montgomery, Ala. The Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame has honored and recognized Alabamians aged 60 or older for their outstanding contribution to the lives of older members in their local communities since 1983. Those selected as Permanent Members of the Hall of Fame are formally honored and recognized for their selfless advocacy and dedication of service to others at [...]
Corey Blake2020-08-06T15:04:08-05:00August 6th, 2020|
The United States Sports Academy is pleased to announce online voting is open for its Athlete of the Month ballot for the month of July, featuring 12 candidates from five countries who made an impact in their return to sport after a hiatus due to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone is encouraged to cast a vote. Voting will continue until 5 p.m. Central time on Thursday, 13 August 2020. Male nominees are Michail Antonio, football (soccer), England; Nick Castellanos, baseball, United States; Michael Norman, athletics, United States; Mauricio Ortega, discus, Colombia; Jon Rahm, golf, Spain; and T.J. Warren, basketball, United States. Female nominees are Ivona Dadic, heptathlon, Austria; Rachel Daly, football (soccer), England; Sylvia Fowles, basketball, United States; Shelby Houlihan, athletics, United States; Sandi Morris, pole vault, [...]
Corey Blake2020-07-28T09:40:08-05:00July 28th, 2020|
American painter Steven Lester will unveil a series of original Olympic-themed paintings during a solo exhibition at the prestigious Tokyo-American Club concurrent with the upcoming Summer Games in Tokyo in 2021. Known for his paintings that depict action sports themes that resonate with vibrant life and elicit a visceral and emotional response, Lester was named the United States Sports Academy’s 2019 Sport Artist of the Year. The artist’s latest series, titled “The Olympic Spirit,” depict the underdogs, scrappers and overcomers who defy the odds, deal with adversity, and make the impossible seem impossible. “While talent and technique are remarkable, the real contest is the test of the spirit – the divine spark – the ferocious fire that burns in the heart to be a true champion,” Lester said. “Champions may [...]
Corey Blake2020-07-23T10:35:54-05:00July 23rd, 2020|
Mike Moran The Academy is mourning the loss of longtime United States Olympic Committee (USOC) communications leader, Academy honoree and friend Mike Moran, who passed away from complications related to pneumonia on 7 July 2020. Born in Omaha, Neb., in 1942, Moran served the USOC as its chief communications officer and principal spokesman from 1978-2003 and during the Olympic games starting in Lake Placid in 1980 through Salt Lake City in 2002. A friend of the Academy, Moran was instrumental in working with the institution to organize the U.S. Olympic Sport Art Competition, which the Academy hosted for four consecutive summer Olympic cycles between 2000 and 2012. He earned the Academy’s 2006 Distinguished Service Award for his lifetime of dedication to the Olympic movement in the United States. [...]
Corey Blake2020-07-14T12:07:05-05:00July 14th, 2020|
Diego Real earned accolades for his work training young soldiers during his six-year stint as a Training Sergeant for the U.S. Army. In fact, many of his peers encouraged him to become a coach when he retired from the service. The United States Sports Academy’s latest Student of the Month, Real followed the advice from his peers and is pursuing a Bachelor of Sports Science degree in sports coaching from the institution. A native of Mexico and Iowa resident, Real hopes to use his Academy degree to become a soccer coach and aide the growth of the sport in the United States. “I would like to teach committed young people the skills I learned at the soccer academies in Mexico and other countries in order to improve the soccer culture [...]
Corey Blake2020-07-14T13:05:05-05:00July 14th, 2020|
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 [...]
Corey Blake2020-07-14T12:01:53-05:00July 14th, 2020|
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 [...]
Corey Blake2020-07-14T11:51:49-05:00July 14th, 2020|
The Academy congratulates the following graduates who completed their degrees this month. Because of the Academy’s rolling enrollments and flexible online learning options, degrees can be conferred upon graduates throughout the academic year. Doctoral Graduates Dr. Jessica M. Thomas (Albany, Ga.) – Ed.D. Sports Management, Sports Leadership emphasis Master’s Graduates Brian C. Roeder (Cornwall, NY) – M.S.S. dual degree Sports Coaching and Sports Health and Fitness, graduation with honors George A. Efthymiou (Engomi, Cyprus) – M.S.S. Sports Coaching Clayton J. Sullivan (Knoxville, Tenn.) – M.S.S. dual degree Sports Management and Sports Coaching
