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. Master’s Graduates Wiley C. Branch (Durant, Miss.) – M.S.S. dual degree Sports Health & Fitness and Sports Medicine Derrick Burroughs (Villa Rica, Ga.) – M.S.S. Sports Management Warren A. Patterson (Malone, N.Y.) – M.S.S. Sports Coaching Bachelor’s Graduates Rafael Gutierrez (Heartland, Texas) – B.S.S. Sports Strength & Conditioning, Magna Cum Laude Frederick A. Koeller (Warrensburg, Mo.) – B.S.S. Sports Management James E. Pressler (Emmaus, Pa.) – B.S.S. Sports Management, Recreation Management emphasis

The United States Sports Academy recently recognized five employees for longevity and meritorious service during a ceremony on the school’s campus in Daphne, Ala. Academy President and CEO Dr. T.J. Rosandich presented a 10-year meritorious service award to finance coordinator Mindy Malinowski and five-year awards to student information systems coordinator Rich Frank, director of communications and marketing Eric Mann, director of recreation management and sports studies Dr. Sandra Geringer, and web master Corey Blake.

The United States Sports Academy is mourning the loss of legendary college football coach Bobby Bowden, winner of the institution’s 1992 Amos Alonzo Stagg Coaching Award and 2009 Distinguished Service Award. Bowden, the longtime head football coach at Florida State University, passed away in Tallahassee, Fla., on 8 August 2021 at age 91. A native of Birmingham, Ala., Bowden coached his teams to 377 wins in 40 seasons and turned Florida State into one of college football’s great dynasties with two national championships in 34 seasons there. His Seminoles won 12 Atlantic Coast Conference titles and won the national championship in 1993 and 1999.

United States Sports Academy 2003 Sport Artist of the Year Roald Bradstock, a two-time Olympian, recently took part in his fourth Olympic Games in Tokyo. Only this time, the javelin thrower did so as a painter working as an Olympian Artist in Residence as part of the first-ever Olympic Agora, a unique cultural hub in the host city. Bradstock’s art was part of a series created by current and past Olympians and a Paralympian who are “now renowned artists,” according to organizers. In addition to Bradstock, the Academy’s 2016 Sport Artist of the Year Gregory Burns also participated in the program. Burns is a world champion Paralympic swimmer who has won five gold and silver medals and broken four world records in three Paralympic Games. The Olympian Artists in Residence [...]

The United States Sports Academy recommenced the delivery of its International Certification in Sports Management (ICSM) and International Certification in Sports Coaching (ICSC) with the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) virtually in June 2021. The program culminated with a virtual closing ceremony in August. The post-secondary, non-degree programs, traditionally taught in person on the ground in Bangkok, were delivered 100 percent online in Zoom sessions throughout the summer. Approximately 60 Thai students - 30 in ICSM and 30 in ICSC - participated in the courses, which were delivered in five sessions. The sessions covered elite sports and athlete management, as well as sports coaching and management topics. The closing ceremony featured remarks from SAT Governor Dr. Gongsak Todmani and Academy President and CEO Dr. T.J. Rosandich. Sports education cooperation between [...]

After their impressive performances in the pool at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, American swimmers Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky were voted the United States Sports Academy’s Athletes of the Month for July. Dressel became just the fourth man in history to win five gold medals in a single Olympics after finishing with wins in the 100-meter freestyle, 100-meter butterfly, 50-meter freestyle, 4x100-meter freestyle and 4x100-meter medley events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in July. He broke his own world record in the 100-meter butterfly with a time of 49.25 seconds and set Olympic records in both the 100-meter freestyle (47.02 seconds) and 50-meter freestyle (21.07 seconds). Ledecky won two gold and two silver medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in July. Ledecky won her third consecutive 800-meter freestyle Olympic gold [...]