Latest news with #BlueDemons
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Chase Stegall, DePaul University men's soccer player, dies at 20
DePaul University student athlete Chase Stegall, who played on the men's soccer team, has died at the age of 20, school officials said. The university announced his death Monday afternoon, writing that he died that morning. "We are heartbroken by the unexpected loss of Chase Stegall, a cherished member of our community, dedicated teammate and kind-hearted friend," wrote VP and Director of Athletics DeWayne Peevy and head men's soccer coach Mark Plotkin in a joint statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Chase's family, friends, teammates and all who loved him. In the coming days, we will support Chase's family and teammates through this devastating time. His loss will be deeply felt across our entire Athletics and university family and his memory will forever be a part of DePaul University." No details were given on what led to Stegall's death. Stegall was a junior who was originally from Atlanta, Georgia. He was a midfielder for the Blue Demons and played in all but one game in their 2024 season, when he was sophomore. He is survived by his parent, Milton and Darlene Stegall, and his brother Collin. School officials have not yet given any information about a memorial service, simply saying one is forthcoming. They ask the public respect the family's privacy at this time.
CBS News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
DePaul shot putter Kash Allen goes from walk-on to All-American
A record 11 DePaul track and field athletes have qualified for this week's NCAA West preliminary rounds. One of those athletes is shot putter Kash Allen. She is one of the top shot putters in the country, but her college athletics career started on the basketball court at Benedictine University in Lisle. "I actually tore my right meniscus in my freshman year, and so like, doing contact was a no-go for me after that. I was very scared and timid," Allen said. "I threw shot in high school — so like throwing was something that I already had a base in — so I was like, might as well try it again." Allen said she just walked onto the track team at Benedictine. "I actually reached out to the head coach at the time. I was like: 'Oh, these are my stats from high school, like, is it OK if I join?'" said Allen. "And he took a gamble. After becoming a two-time Division III All-American, Allen decided to push herself even more — eventually landing with the Blue Demons under track and field coach Brandon Murer as a graduate student. "At Benedictine University, by my senior year, I knew I wanted to do a master's in social work, but they didn't have that program," Allen said. "So one day I got bored, entered the portal just to see what would happen, and evidently, Coach Murer was actually the first coach to reach out to me." Allen ended up going from walk-on to All-American. "I actually qualified for D-III Nationals my first year walking on for that outdoor. I ended up scratching all three throws at that first Nationals. The second year I clinched it by a hair and made Indoor Nationals, and I was seeded like 16th and ended up finishing second, and then same thing for Outdoors, ranked lower and finished second," she said, "I guess that National is something I love doing. Allen just won her third career Big East shot put title at the conference outdoor championships. Earlier in the season, she broke her own distance record at 16.1 meters. But Allen has an even further goal in mind as she heads to the NCAA's. "I'm hoping to throw 17. If I can get my right foot under me and push through, that 17 is right there in the book," she said. "I know for a fact I can throw 17. My coaches believe in me. My teammates believe in me. It's there. I just also have to believe it." What is next for Allen when all is said and done at DePaul? "Getting my degree and master's in social work, and I will be a full-time therapist — licensed social worker," Allen said, "and my primary niche to work with is athletes, and how do we build that mental health with athletes?" Allen broke down some of the psychological and emotional challenges she went through in track and field. "Just a lot, like impostor syndrome was the biggest one. When you transfer from D-III to D-I it's hard sometimes. You get that little pushback of, 'Oh, am I good enough here? Like, how will I fit in?" Like, that transition is not as easy as I thought it was going to be," she said. "So I struggled a lot with just knowing like, if I was able to make it here, and really excel here, if my coaches were able to bring me here, then they believe in me too — so why should I not?"
NBC Sports
03-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
DePaul promotes Jill Pizzotti to replace longtime women's coach Doug Bruno
CHICAGO — DePaul promoted assistant Jill Pizzotti to take over for longtime coach Doug Bruno, who stepped down. Pizzotti was hired by DePaul in 2011 and served as interim coach with Bruno missing this season because of health issues. The Blue Demons went 13-19 overall and finished sixth in the Big East Conference at 8-10. 'This season, I had the opportunity to see Jill in a new light as Interim Head Coach, and I was especially impressed by her ability to teach, lead, and build consensus among the young women in our program,' athletic director DeWayne Peevy said in a statement. 'She knows exactly what it takes to compete at a championship level, and she has the recruiting ability, player development expertise, and motivational leadership to bring the best to Chicago and keep them here. Jill understands the direction this program needs to go, and I have full confidence in her ability to continue the championship standard we've come to expect for our women's basketball program at DePaul.' DePaul has made the NCAA Tournament 10 times and advanced to the Sweet 16 twice since Pizzotti's arrival. The Blue Demons have won six Big East regular-season championships and five conference tournaments in that time. She was elevated to associate head coach in 2014. 'Working to fulfill the vision of legendary coach Doug Bruno is an honor,' she said. 'We want to bring DePaul women's basketball back to national prominence and use the energy and momentum in our great sport now to reach new heights.' A Chicago-area product, Pizzotti has three decades of coaching experience. She was head coach at Saint Louis University from 1995 to 2005 after working as an assistant at Northern Kentucky and Indiana. From 2005 to 2010, she was Nike's manager of women's college basketball, serving as the liaison with the nation's top teams as well as the Women's Basketball Coaching Association and USA Basketball. She was an assistant at West Virginia for the 2010-11 season, when the Mountaineers finished 24-10 and made the NCAA Tournament. Pizzotti has big shoes to fill at DePaul. Bruno played for Naismith Hall of Fame coach Ray Meyer. He led the women's team to 786 wins, 25 NCAA Tournament berths and 19 conference titles over 39 seasons and two stints after initially being hired in 1977. He was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022. Bruno is staying at the school as the special assistant to the vice president/director of athletics for women's basketball.
Chicago Tribune
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
DePaul promotes Jill Pizzotti to replace longtime women's basketball coach Doug Bruno
DePaul promoted assistant Jill Pizzotti on Thursday to take over for longtime coach Doug Bruno, who stepped down last week. Pizzotti was hired by DePaul in 2011 and served as interim coach with Bruno missing this season because of health issues. The Blue Demons went 13-19 overall and finished sixth in the Big East Conference at 8-10. 'This season, I had the opportunity to see Jill in a new light as Interim Head Coach, and I was especially impressed by her ability to teach, lead, and build consensus among the young women in our program,' athletic director DeWayne Peevy said in a statement. 'She knows exactly what it takes to compete at a championship level, and she has the recruiting ability, player development expertise, and motivational leadership to bring the best to Chicago and keep them here. Jill understands the direction this program needs to go, and I have full confidence in her ability to continue the championship standard we've come to expect for our women's basketball program at DePaul.' DePaul has made the NCAA Tournament 10 times and advanced to the Sweet 16 twice since Pizzotti's arrival. The Blue Demons have won six Big East regular-season championships and five conference tournaments in that time. She was elevated to associate head coach in 2014. 'Working to fulfill the vision of legendary coach Doug Bruno is an honor,' she said. 'We want to bring DePaul women's basketball back to national prominence and use the energy and momentum in our great sport now to reach new heights.' A Chicago-area product, Pizzotti has three decades of coaching experience. She was head coach at Saint Louis University from 1995 to 2005 after working as an assistant at Northern Kentucky and Indiana. From 2005 to 2010, she was Nike's manager of women's college basketball, serving as the liaison with the nation's top teams as well as the Women's Basketball Coaching Association and USA Basketball. She was an assistant at West Virginia for the 2010-11 season, when the Mountainers finished 24-10 and made the NCAA Tournament. Pizzotti has big shoes to fill at DePaul. Bruno played for Naismith Hall of Fame coach Ray Meyer. He led the women's team to 786 wins, 25 NCAA Tournament berths and 19 conference titles over 39 seasons and two stints after initially being hired in 1977. He was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.
Associated Press
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
DePaul promotes Jill Pizzotti to replace longtime women's coach Doug Bruno
CHICAGO (AP) — DePaul promoted assistant Jill Pizzotti on Thursday to take over for longtime coach Doug Bruno, who stepped down last week. Pizzotti was hired by DePaul in 2011 and served as interim coach with Bruno missing this season because of health issues. The Blue Demons went 13-19 overall and finished sixth in the Big East Conference at 8-10. 'This season, I had the opportunity to see Jill in a new light as Interim Head Coach, and I was especially impressed by her ability to teach, lead, and build consensus among the young women in our program,' athletic director DeWayne Peevy said in a statement. 'She knows exactly what it takes to compete at a championship level, and she has the recruiting ability, player development expertise, and motivational leadership to bring the best to Chicago and keep them here. Jill understands the direction this program needs to go, and I have full confidence in her ability to continue the championship standard we've come to expect for our women's basketball program at DePaul.' DePaul has made the NCAA Tournament 10 times and advanced to the Sweet 16 twice since Pizzotti's arrival. The Blue Demons have won six Big East regular-season championships and five conference tournaments in that time. She was elevated to associate head coach in 2014. 'Working to fulfill the vision of legendary coach Doug Bruno is an honor,' she said. 'We want to bring DePaul women's basketball back to national prominence and use the energy and momentum in our great sport now to reach new heights.' A Chicago-area product, Pizzotti has three decades of coaching experience. She was head coach at Saint Louis University from 1995 to 2005 after working as an assistant at Northern Kentucky and Indiana. From 2005 to 2010, she was Nike's manager of women's college basketball, serving as the liaison with the nation's top teams as well as the Women's Basketball Coaching Association and USA Basketball. She was an assistant at West Virginia for the 2010-11 season, when the Mountainers finished 24-10 and made the NCAA Tournament. Pizzotti has big shoes to fill at DePaul. Bruno played for Naismith Hall of Fame coach Ray Meyer. He led the women's team to 786 wins, 25 NCAA Tournament berths and 19 conference titles over 39 seasons and two stints after initially being hired in 1977. He was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022. Bruno is staying at the school as the special assistant to the vice president/director of athletics for women's basketball.
