Latest news with #BrianSantiago
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
BYU Basketball Builds Excitement With Major Schedule Announcements
BYU Basketball Builds Excitement With Major Schedule Announcements originally appeared on Athlon Sports. BYU men's basketball is building a non-conference schedule to match the program's high expectations for the 2025-26 season. Advertisement Athletic Director Brian Santiago announced at BYU's Fathers and Sons Basketball Camp that the Cougars will face North Carolina in an exhibition game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The game will reportedly be in late October and will be the second of BYU's two preseason exhibitions. The Cougars will also travel to Nebraska as part of a home-and-home exhibition series. New NCAA rule allowing schools to play two Division I teams in public, televised exhibitions. As it stood previously, exhibitions were either closed to fans or had to be labeled as charity events. Now, programs can generate NIL revenue from these games, opening the door for high-profile matchups ahead of the regular season. The North Carolina and Nebraska games will not count toward BYU's record but mark the start of what is expected to be the most anticipated season in program history. BYU is likely to enter the season ranked in the preseason top 10. The regular season begins Nov. 3 when BYU faces Villanova in Las Vegas as part of the Hall of Fame Series. Villanova will debut new head coach Kevin Willard, who took over in April. Advertisement Related: AJ Dybantsa admits BYU wasn't top school, blown away by NBA ready program On Thursday, BYU added another marquee opponent with recent two-time national champion UConn. The Cougars will face the Huskies in Boston at TD Garden on Nov. 14 or 15, a homecoming for BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa. The Cougars will also meet Clemson in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden. The Tigers reached the Elite Eight in 2024 before suffering a first-round exit eariler this year. BYU is also scheduled to face Wisconsin on Nov. 21 in Salt Lake City, a rematch of their thrilling 91-89 win in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Related: Big 12 Coach Catches Attention for Blunt Message About BYU A week after the Wisconsin matchup, BYU will participate in a multi-team event at Disney World. They'll play two games against a trio of Miami, Georgetown, and Dayton over Thanksgiving weekend. Advertisement In total, BYU has six high-profile non-conference games scheduled, building momentum for a historic campaign in Kevin Young's second year in Provo. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New BYU AD Brian Santiago wants to keep building momentum for Cougars' athletic program
FILE - Brigham Young University associate athletics director Brian Santiago, left and BYU head basketball coach Dave Rose along with other officials arrive for a press conference in Provo, Utah, Thursday, March 3, 2011. (AP Photo/George Frey, file) PROVO, Utah (AP) — Brian Santiago takes over as BYU athletic director with a mandate to keep the school nationally relevant in football and basketball. The Cougars posted an 11-2 record and an Alamo Bowl win in football and reached the Sweet 16 of the men's basketball tournament for the first time since 2011. Now the pressure in on his shoulders to keep building momentum. Advertisement 'Nobody's going to be picking us last, picking us at the bottom of the Big 12,' Santiago said at his introductory news conference on Wednesday. 'We've got to be ready for what's coming and the intensity is going to pick up and people are going to be gunning for us now. We're not going to catch anybody off guard.' The school promoted Santiago to replace longtime athletic director Tom Holmoe on Tuesday, elevating him from deputy athletic director. More than 50 candidates were interviewed for the position before BYU decided to promote from within the athletic department. Santiago served as BYU's deputy athletic director since 2017 after spending the previous nine years as a senior associate athletic director. He started at BYU as an assistant basketball coach under Steve Cleveland in 1997 before moving into athletic administration. That familiarity with the Cougars played a key role in him succeeding Holmoe. Advertisement 'Brian was a special candidate,' BYU President Shane Reese said. 'To my knowledge, no one else in the candidate pool had 27 years of direct experience with BYU athletics — with 20 of those years spent working under the direct tutelage of Tom Holmoe on the most complex and challenging issues facing college athletics.' He oversaw 11 sports as deputy athletic director and believes his experience working closely with Holmoe prepared him for a new set of challenges. 'He empowered me and he gave me a voice,' Santiago said. 'I've already been in the trenches.' Santiago graduated from Provo High School and played basketball at Utah Valley and Fresno State. Advertisement During his two-season stint with Fresno State from 1992-94, he posted career averages of 9.9 points, 6.4 assists and 3.5 rebounds. He led the Western Athletic Conference in assists (7.0) and three-point shooting percentage (.500) as a senior. Santiago has earned a reputation as a 'basketball guy' during his time at BYU. He made it clear, however, that making the football program competitive from one season to the next will be his top priority. 'Football drives the ship,' Santiago said, while describing Kalani Sitake as an exceptional coach. 'There's nothing more important at BYU than our football program.' One other immediate priority is keeping BYU basketball coach Kevin Young in Provo after a successful first season. Young has surfaced as a potential candidate for NBA head coaching jobs, notably the Phoenix Suns, given his experience as an assistant coach in the league. Advertisement Despite the rumors, Santiago expressed confidence that Young will be back to guide BYU again in the upcoming season. 'Kevin Young is locked in,' Santiago said. 'I just think that everybody knows there's been a lot out there with him being such a successful NBA coach and the Phoenix Suns making a change with their head coaching job. And it is obvious they're going to be interested in talking to Kevin Young. What I'm hoping is Kevin Young sees everything that's happening here.' ___ AP sports:
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
BLM warns against driving on wet Bonneville Salt Flats following recent damage
TOOELE COUNTY, Utah () — Following recent damage left behind by a car at the Bonneville Salt Flats, the Utah Bureau of Land Management is reminding the public not to drive on the salt flats when the surface is wet. Photos taken earlier today and posted by BLM Utah show fresh damage from vehicles that were driving on the wet salt, the organization said. 'From just one spot, the damage is clear. Scroll through to see how much has been affected. This is exactly why it's strongly discouraged,' the post said. BLM Utah continues to explain that when the flats are wet, the fragile salt crusts may break under the weight of a car, which exposes the thick mud underneath, leaving lasting scars on the landscape. In addition, they said it can leave drivers stranded, with a recovery bill that can climb to nearly $5,000. 'That's a tough lesson, both for your wallet and for the salt flats,' the post said. Instead, here's what BLM Utah said you should do if you are visiting the salt flats: Only drive on the flats when they are completely dry. Check for standing water or soft, damp areas. Touch the surface to make sure it's firm and dry before driving. BLM Utah said to avoid the edges, as the salt crust is much thinner near the edges, and driving on them increase your chances of becoming stranded. Use the main access route. Take Exit 4 off I-80, then follow Bonneville Salt Flats Access Road for five miles to the parking area. Only go past that point if the surface is completely dry and stable. Be mindful of the landscape and others. 'People travel from all over the world to see the Bonneville Salt Flats. Let's help preserve what makes this place worth the trip,' they wrote. Speaker Johnson predicts SALT deal Wednesday as both sides report progress Brian Santiago named BYU athletic director DHS terminating temporary protected status for Afghanistan, what it means for Utah Caleb Lohner goes from basketball court to the NFL BLM warns against driving on wet Bonneville Salt Flats following recent damage Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Washington Post
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
BYU promotes Brian Santiago to replace longtime athletic director Tom Holmoe
PROVO, Utah — BYU has promoted Brian Santiago to replace longtime athletic director Tom Holmoe. The school announced on Tuesday that Santiago will be elevated from deputy athletic director after working under Holmoe, who retired after 20 years earlier this year. 'We are excited to build on the forward momentum and legacy of Tom Holmoe, who is retiring, with the appointment of Brian Santiago as BYU's next director of athletics,' BYU President C. Shane Reese said in a statement. 'Brian has a track record of leadership and an ability to lead BYU Athletics as we navigate the complex and rapidly evolving waters of college athletics. It's become clear to me throughout this search process that Brian will seek to strengthen BYU's academic and spiritual mission, and he understands how it blesses the lives of our student-athletes.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
BYU names Brian Santiago as its new director of athletics
Brian Santiago poses for a photo with Tom Holmoe prior to BYU's NCAA Tournament matchup with VCU at Ball Arena in Denver on March 19, 2025. | Nate Edwards, BYU BYU has determined its successor to Tom Holmoe. Brian Santiago has been named BYU's new director of athletics, the school announced Tuesday in a statement. 'We are excited to build on the forward momentum and legacy of Tom Holmoe, who is retiring, with the appointment of Brian Santiago as BYU's next director of athletics,' university president Shane Reese said in a statement. 'Brian has a track record of leadership and an ability to lead BYU athletics as we navigate the complex and rapidly evolving waters of college athletics. Advertisement 'It's become clear to me throughout this search process that Brian will seek to strengthen BYU's academic and spiritual mission, and he understands how it blesses the lives of our student-athletes.' Santiago has worked in BYU's athletic department since 1997, first as a member of the men's basketball coaching staff before transitioning into administration. He became a senior associate athletic director in 2008 and was appointed as deputy athletic director in 2017. 'I am humbled and honored for this responsibility and privilege to work alongside our coaches, staff, student-athletes and all of Cougar Nation,' Santiago said in a statement. 'BYU is one of the premier athletic programs in the country, but it is so much more than that — it is part of BYU's sacred mission. 'We are blessed with incredible leadership in President C. Shane Reese and Vice President Keith Vorkink, as well as the university's Board of Trustees chaired by the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are here to build student-athletes academically, athletically, spiritually and to prepare them to go make a difference in the world. As an athletic department, we stand united in this charge.' This story will be updated.
