Photo courtesy of Jorden Pompey
By Jorden Pompey
Baseball welcomes new coach after transitional season, alumni pitchers ink pro deals
The Bulls are running under new leadership in the baseball program. Former head coach Billy Mohl’s seven-year tenure came to an end after a late season push to make the American Athletic Conference (AAC) tournament came up short, finishing the season 26-29 and 11-16 in conference play. As his replacement Mitch Hannahs from Indiana State University will take the reins of the Bulls baseball program.
Additionally, alumni pitcher Hunter Mink signed a deal with the Florence Yall’s of the Frontier League, outfielder Drew Brutcher with the Oyden Raptors of the Pioneer League and Joaquin Monque with the Trenton Thunder, a team part of the MLB Draft League for draft-eligible prospects.
Men’s track and field dominates AAC outdoor championship; record number of athletes compete at NCAA nationals
The men’s track and field team secured the AAC outdoor championship with 217 points and winning 10 events. It is the first time since 2019 the university has swept the indoor and outdoor championships. The women’s team placed third.
Following the conference championship, USF sent a program record of 12 athletes to participate in the NCAA national championship in Eugene, Ore. Sophomore Abdul-Rasheed Saminu finished third in the 200-meter dash and fifth in the 100. Saminu earned First Team All American for both races and sophomore Goodness Iredia earned a First Team All American for his seventh-place finish in the long jump.
Men’s golf celebrates sixth AAC title as Jake Peacock shines; women’s team makes back-to-back NCAA appearances
The men’s golf team captured their sixth AAC championship led by junior Jake Peacock winning the individual title. Peacock shot a 199 (-11) which is a career best and added some accolades to his resume, including AAC player of the year, Division I Ping All-Region Team, Second-consecutive CSC Academic All-District accolade and Cobalt Golf All-American Scholar. Additionally, head coach Steve Bradley earned AAC coach of the year.
The women’s golf team finished its season eighth in the NCAA Bermuda Run Regional making back-to-back appearances for the first time since the 2001-02 season. However, former head coach Erik Brennan said goodbye to the Bulls and accepted a coaching position at the University of Georgia. Former University of Michigan assistant coach and LPGA Tour player AJ Newell will be leading the team. Newell led the Wolverines to three-straight NCAA Regional appearances, a 2022 Big Ten title and the 2022 NCAA Championship Finals.
Alumni Melanie Green was named the AAC Women’s Golf Player of the Year and was selected to the 2024 Arnold Palmer Cup. In Green’s amateur debut, she became the first American to win the R&A Women’s Amateur Championship since 1996.
Anticipation builds as football prepares for upcoming season, alumni secure NFL opportunities
Anticipation has increased as the long-awaited football season approaches as USF was selected fourth in the AAC preseason polls.
Sophomore quarterback Byrum Brown, graduates Sean Atkins, Rashad Cheney, Jhalyn Shuler and freshman Nico Gramatica were selected to the Preseason All-AAC Second Team along with other award watch lists:
- Brown:
- Maxwell Award (Best player in college football)
- Davey O’ Brien Award (Most prestigious quarterback)
- Walter Camp Award (College football player of the year).
- Manning Award (Best collegiate quarterback)
- Johnny Unitas Award (Nation’s top upperclassman quarterback)
- Maxwell Award (Best player in college football)
- Atkins: Bilentnikoff award (Most outstanding receiver).
- Jason Vaughn: Comeback Player of the Year (Missed last season with knee injury).
- Nay’Quan Wright: Doak Walker award (Most outstanding college running back).
- Zane Herring: Outland Trophy (Best interior lineman)
Alumni Donovan Jennings and Bayron Matos signed with the Green Bay Packers and Miami Dolphins respectively as undrafted free agents. Braxton Clark was invited to rookie minicamp by the New York Jets.
Amir Abdur-Rahim’s extends contract; Marreese Speights joins staff and Bulls reload with transfers and new talent
Michael Kelly was not done with contract negotiations as he extended men’s basketball head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim’s through the 2029-30 season. Abdur-Rahim strengthened his staff by adding St. Petersburg native and former NBA champion Marreese Speights as director of player development.
As for the players, former USF guard Selton Miguel transferred to the University of Maryland, forward Kasean Pryor has transferred to Louisville University and guard Chris Youngblood to the University of Alabama.
However, the Bulls have added junior transfer De’Ante Green, senior transfer Jamille Reynolds, sophomore transfer Jimmie Williams, graduate transfer Quincy Ademokoya, freshmen Kameren Wright, CJ Brown, MaTaj Glover and Jaylen Wharton.
During offseason preparations, USF took a tour to Spain to play three exhibition games in Barcelona, Madrid and Malaga against the Spanish Select Team from Aug. 2 to the 11.
Women’s basketball coach leads U18 national team to gold; Bulls set to face reigning national champions
USF women’s basketball head coach Jose Fernandez led the USA Basketball’s Women’s U18 National Team to the gold medal in the FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup defeating Canada 80-69.
Additionally, the Bulls have announced the commencement of a home-and-home series against the current national champions, the South Carolina Gamecocks, starting on December 15, 2024. The follow-up game in this series is scheduled to take place at the Yuengling Center in 2025.
Bulls shine in Paris Olympics, with athletes representing various nations across multiple sports
Six Bulls represented their country in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Senior Zahria Allers-Liburd finished eighth in the first round of the 100-meter dash representing Saint Kitts and Nevis. Saminu represented Ghana in the 100 and 4×100-meter relay. Saminu finished seventh in the semifinal of the 100 and Ghana was disqualified in the 4×100 relay.
Graduate Katie Kitching played for New Zealand in women’s soccer, however the team did not make it out of group play. Bethy Mununga played for Belgium in women’s basketball finishing fourth. Evelyne Viens played for Canada in women’s soccer losing in the quarterfinal to Germany. Romaine Beckford represented Jamaica in the high jump finishing 10th.
