Latest news with #Bobcats
Miami Herald
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Newly-hired assistant coach's recruiting skills figure to benefit STU basketball program
It looks like St. Thomas University men's basketball coach Zach Moss has made a genius move. Moss recently hired Jacob Shaw, 44, as associate head coach at STU, which is an NAIA program. Shaw, who has been a head coach at Miami Beach High and an assistant at Florida Memorial University, is perhaps best known as the creator of a free website ( is highly popular among college coaches all across the country. Largely due to that website, Shaw has been able to forge connections with players and coaches throughout South Florida. Just ask Lawton Williams III, the highly-respected boys' basketball coach at Miami Norland. '(Shaw) is an excellent recruiter,' Williams said. 'He's a great judge of talent, and he's pretty good at skill development. 'His connections allow him to get to know a lot of players. He's a relentless worker. He's always on the phone, and that's what college coaching is all about. You've got to get players.' Southridge High coach Robert Doctor said Shaw is a player's coach. 'He also has a vast knowledge of the game,' Doctor said. 'He has the support of a lot of coaches in South Florida, and that's going to help him get players.' SLAM coach Alex Garcia is also high on Shaw. 'He has a feel for all the players in Miami, and we need that,' Garcia said. 'There's a lot of talent down here that doesn't get recruited locally.' Moss, a 42-year-old Naples native, can certainly use the help. Last season, in Moss' first year as a head coach, the Bobcats went 10-16. In the previous two seasons – with Moss as associate head coach under Patrick Crarey – the Bobcats went 22-9 and 26-8, making the NAIA national playoffs each time. Crarey, though, left STU for Florida A&M, and he is now the head coach at Grambling State. Meanwhile, Moss admits last season could've gone smoother, especially when it came to key injuries that tested STU's depth. 'There are a lot of things I need to do better,' Moss said humbly. 'I was a really good assistant coach, but that was my first year as a head coach, and I had a lot to learn. 'I had a lot of growth this summer, which I spent reflecting and watching film.' Moss also corrected what may be considered a mistake. Prior to his first year as the head coach, Moss offered Shaw a job as a part-time coach. Shaw declined. Then in June of this year, Moss made a stronger offer, eventually giving Shaw the title of associate head coach. So, who is Jacob Shaw? In high school, Shaw – a 6-foot-4 shooting guard – led Detroit's Pershing High to four straight East Side championships. From there, Shaw spent two years playing for Bismark (North Dakota) State College. After junior college, Shaw wrapped up his career with two years in South Dakota at the University of Sioux Falls, which advanced to the NAIA Final Four while he was playing for the Cougars. Shaw said he remembers one particularly frigid night in Bismark when it was negative-14. 'With the wind chill, it was negative-61,' Shaw said. 'I was thinking, 'What am I doing here?'' In search of sunshine, Shaw landed a teaching job at Miami Edison. He also coached the Red Raiders' girls' basketball team in the 2008-2009 season. From there, he spent the next decade as the head boys' basketball coach at Miami Beach High, and that eventually led Shaw to one year (2001-2002) as an assistant men's basketball coach at Florida Memorial, which is STU's rival. During that one season, FMU won the Sun Conference tournament title for just the second time in the school's long history. 'Jacob is a proven winner in our conference,' Moss said. 'I have recruited in Florida for a long time, but Jacob has done it at such a deep level that bringing him on staff is something I really wanted.' Shaw will handle multiple roles for the Bobcats – defensive guru; ace recruiter and Moss' right-hand man on the bench. 'I want opponents to feel pressured,' Shaw said when asked about his defensive philosophy. The Bobcats, who have won the Sun Conference postseason tournament just three times – in 1994, 1997 and 2009 – return former Rivera Prep 6-3 guard Esteban Lluberes, who started 23 games last year. He was top-three on the team in scoring (14.3); 3-point percentage (39.6); and free throws (86.0 percent). Among STU's top newcomers are two junior-college transfers: Kaleb Myers, a 6-8 Nicaragua native signed by Shaw; and Blake Neverdon, a 40-percent 3-poiont shooter. Then there's 6-3 point guard Jalen Gilmore, who started at Lynn University, an NCAA Division II school. Two years ago, he averaged 5.2 assists, second in the Sunshine State Conference. 'I have a very positive attitude about what's about to happen at STU,' Shaw said. 'I haven't been this excited about a team in a long time.'
Forbes
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Texas State Joins Pac-12 In Latest Round Of Conference Realignment
Texas State quarterback Gresch Jensen throws during an NCAA football game against Wyoming on ... More Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 in San Marcos, Texas. Wyoming won 23-14. (AP Photo/Darren Abate) The Pac-12 announced on Monday that the Texas State Bobcats will join the conference as its ninth member beginning with the 2026–27 season. The move gives the Pac-12 a foothold in the state of Texas, opening the door to new media markets, fertile recruiting pipelines, and expanded presence across time zones for television deals. Most importantly, the addition of Texas State gives the conference the eight requisite number of teams it needs to compete at the FBS level starting in the 2026-27 season. There had been much speculation surrounding Pac-12 conference expansion since the conference announced its plans to add members of the Mountain West Conference in September 2024. With Texas State now on board, the Pac-12 appears to have stabilized its footing and reasserted itself as a legitimate player in the Group of Five landscape Brief History Pac-12 Conference Realignment LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 21: the Pac-12 helmet and official game ball on display in front of Resorts ... More World for Pac-12 Media Day at Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World Las Vegas on July 21, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by) While the broader story of college football realignment does not begin with the Pac-12, few conferences have been more dramatically reshaped by it. In what now seems like ancient history, the Pac-10 Conference originally pushed to expand into the state of Texas when it pursued the University of Texas in 2010. That deal ultimately fell through, but it marked the beginning of a series of realignment waves that would transform the national landscape. The Pac-10 soon became the Pac-12, adding Colorado and Utah, and for a time, the conference looked poised to rival the SEC and Big Ten in prominence. But a combination of media rights missteps, leadership turnover, and on-field struggles left the Pac-12 vulnerable. The exodus began in earnest in 2022 and 2023, when USC and UCLA announced their departure to the Big Ten, followed by Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, and Colorado. FILE - An Oregon State fan, front, and a Washington State fan hold "Pac-2" signs, representing the ... More two schools that will remain in the Pac-12 after the 2023-2024 academic year after the other schools in the conference announced plans to leave, during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak, File) Oregon State and Washington State were left holding the banner. Rather than fold, the two schools leveraged their legal control of the conference and its remaining assets to rebuild. They moved quickly to bring in Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga (non-football), San Diego State, and Utah State. Now, in a full-circle twist, the Pac-12 has finally entered Texas, not with the Longhorns, but with Texas State. What Texas State Brings To The Pac-12 Located in the heart of one of the fastest-growing corridors in the country, between Austin and San Antonio, Texas State offers the Pac-12 a critical geographic foothold in Central Texas, a state long viewed as essential to the college football ecosystem. The Bobcats joined the Pac-12 just one day before a July 1 deadline where the buyout to leave the Sun Belt would have doubled from $5 million to $10 million. Texas State's Brock Sturges (5) leads the team onto the field before an NCAA college football game ... More in San Marcos, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Texas State is a growing university of almost 38,000 students that recently invested $149 million into its athletics facilities including a $37 million football performance center and a $23 million stadium naming rights partnership with University Federal Credit Union. The fan base has responded in kind. Over the past two seasons, Texas State has posted consecutive attendance records, reflecting an energized community and growing local interest in the program's trajectory. On the field, the Bobcats are catching attention. Under head coach G.J. Kinne, Texas State went 8–5 last season and came within three points of defeating Arizona State, a team that went on to play in the College Football Playoff. SAN MARCOS, TX - OCTOBER 14: The Texas State Bobcats logo is displayed on the stadium during Sun ... More Belt Conference game featuring the University of Louisiana Monroe Warhawks and the Texas State Bobcats on October 14, 2023 at Jim Wacker Field at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos, TX. (Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) In a landscape where conferences are prioritizing upside, flexibility, and untapped potential, Texas State is a bet on the future. A university that's building fast, buying in fully, and ready to compete on a national stage. What's Next for the Sun Belt? TROY, AL - NOVEMBER 21: A view of the Sun Belt Conference logo on the down marker during the game ... More between the Troy Trojans and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on November 21, 2020 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Texas State's departure brings the Sun Belt Conference from 14 to 13 members, a change that could prompt the league to explore expansion options to restore numerical balance and maintain divisional alignment. The Sun Belt's latest expansion, which added Southern Mississippi, Marshall, Old Dominion, and James Madison, solidified its reputation as a rising Group of Five conference with strong regional rivalries and growing football relevance. FORT WORTH, TX - DECEMBER 23: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs place kicker Jonathan Barnes (10) kicks the ... More game winning field goal as time expires in the Armed Forces Bowl between the Navy Midshipmen and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on December 23, 2016, at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, TX. Louisiana Tech defeats Navy 48-45. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Speculation is starting to spread on whether the Sun Belt will look to add another team to account for the loss of Texas State. Potential candidates include current Conference-USA members Louisiana Tech, Florida International, Middle Tennessee State, and Western Kentucky. The latter three schools are all former Sun Belt members. Each candidate presents a different mix of geographic alignment, institutional fit, and media potential. The Sun Belt has been strategic in recent years, prioritizing football-first programs with regional appeal. A New Era for the Pac-12 LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 16: Kenny Wooten #14 of the Oregon Ducks is introduced before the ... More championship game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Washington Huskies at T-Mobile Arena on March 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by) Texas State's move to the Pac-12 marks more than just a change in conference affiliation, it reflects the broader evolution of college football. For the Pac-12, the addition of Texas State secures a critical eighth FBS member, expands the league's footprint into a talent-rich region, and signals a willingness to reinvent. For Texas State, the move represents a significant step up in visibility, competition, and opportunity.
Reuters
30-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
With Texas State on board, Pac-12 ready for 2026 rebirth
June 30 - Texas State is officially a member of the Pac-12, which will relaunch in 2026. The conference now has nine member teams after it was left with just two -- Washington State and Oregon State -- when the other schools abandoned the league in 2024 in a massive realignment. "We are extremely excited to welcome Texas State as a foundational member of the new Pac-12," commissioner Teresa Gould said in a statement. "It is a new day in college sports and the most opportune time to launch a new league that is positioned to succeed in today's landscape with student-athletes in mind." Texas State joins Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Oregon State, San Diego State, Utah State and Washington State as members of the rebuilt league. The Pac-12 needed eight football-playing schools to regain its status as a conference. Gonzaga, a basketball power, does not have a football program. The move became official after the board of regents at Texas State gave the OK to a $5 million buyout payment to the Sun Belt Conference, and the Pac-12 board of directors unanimously voted to approve the school's application. The Bobcats will play in the Sun Belt in the 2025-26 season. "Joining the Pac-12 is more than an athletic move -- it is a declaration of our rising national profile, our commitment to excellence, and our readiness to compete and collaborate with some of the most respected institutions in the country," Texas State president Kelly Damphousse said. The Pac-12 also has started to rebuild its media partnerships. Last week, it announced a five-year agreement with CBS to air select conference football and basketball games, with more partners still expected to come on board. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rebuilding Pac-12 gets its needed 8th football school with addition of Texas State
SAN MARCOS, Texas (AP) — Texas State is joining the Pac-12, giving the rebuilding conference the eighth football-playing school it needed to maintain its status as an FBS conference. The Pac-12 and Texas State announced Monday that the Bobcats will join Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Oregon State, San Diego State, Utah State and Washington State as the nine foundational members of the new Pac-12, with the league's official launch set for July 1, 2026. Advertisement Since Gonzaga doesn't field a football team, the Pac-12 needed one more to remain eligible as a Football Bowl Subdivision league. Only Oregon State and Washington State had remained in the Pac-12 after the departures of 10 teams to the three other power conferences: the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12. Texas State has been in the Sun Belt Conference since 2013, after making its FBS debut with one season in the WAC in 2012. Texas State becomes the ninth all-sports member in the Pac-12. "We are extremely excited to welcome Texas State as a foundational member of the new Pac-12,' Commissioner Teresa Gould said. 'It is a new day in college sports and the most opportune time to launch a new league that is positioned to succeed in today's landscape with student-athletes in mind. ... Texas State has shown a commitment to competing and winning at the highest level as well as to providing student-athletes with a well-rounded college experience academically, athletically and socially. We look forward to seeing the Bobcats' future trajectory continue to shine big and bright.' The Texas State campus is in San Marcos, which is only about 35 miles south of the University of Texas in Austin. Texas State has more than 40,000 students, and is among the 25 largest undergraduate enrollments among public universities in the United States. Kelly Damphousse, the president of Texas State, called joining the Pac-12 a historic moment for the school that is a national research university. Advertisement 'Joining the Pac-12 is more than an athletic move. It is a declaration of our rising national profile, our commitment to excellence, and our readiness to compete and collaborate with some of the most respected institutions in the country,' Damphousse said. "Our acceptance into the Pac-12 affirms the strength of our academic vision, our commitment to providing access to a Texas State degree, the momentum of our athletic programs, and the ambition that defines this institution.' ___ AP college football:
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Texas State officially joins rebuilt Pac-12 as eighth football member
The Pac-12 has found its eighth football member. Texas State is set to join the conference ahead of the 2026 football season as the Pac-12 continues to rebuild following its mass defections in the summer of 2024. Advertisement The Bobcats have been at the top level of college football for just 13 seasons. After a season in the WAC, Texas State joined the Sun Belt and has been in the conference for the past dozen years. After back-to-back 4-8 seasons in 2021 and 2022, the school hired former Tulsa quarterback G.J. Kinne and it has made a bowl game in each of the past two seasons. Kinne's teams went 8-5 in both 2023 and 2024 and have ended the seasons with wins in the First Responder Bowl. Those were the first postseason games for the program. Texas State's move to the Pac-12 had been reported on for some time and had a financial deadline of sorts on July 1. Starting next month, the school's Sun Belt exit fee would have jumped from $5 million to $10 million. The Pac-12 is set to play in 2025 with just Washington State and Oregon State for a second season after the two programs failed to find homes in the ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten before the 2024 season. After 2025, the conference will add five schools from the Mountain West in addition to Texas State. Advertisement Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State are joining the Pac-12 in 2026, while Gonzaga will be a non-football member in the conference. An eight-team league gives each team in the Pac-12 seven conference games before needing to play another opponent twice. A nine or 10-team league would work out even better; teams could play eight or nine conference games without having to play someone else twice.
