Latest news with #CoachoftheYear
Ottawa Citizen
a minute ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Sudbury Wolves' new player personnel director eyes OHL championship
Article content Dave Gray is a new addition, but certainly not a new face for the Sudbury Wolves and their staff. Article content A retired firefighter from Oshawa with 27 years of experience in the OHL as a scout and director of player personnel, Gray has become well-acquainted with Sudbury general manager Rob Papineau and newly named head scout Jason Spencer in rinks across the province these last several years. Article content Article content And the Wolves, in turn, are more than familiar of Gray's hockey handiwork, which helped to send the Brampton Battalion, then the North Bay Battalion to two appearances in the J. Ross Robertson Cup final, then the Hamilton Bulldogs to a pair of championships. Article content Article content Papineau and company were more than eager, then, to add Gray to their organization after he parted ways with the Bulldogs, now based in Brantford, after the 2024-25 season. Article content The Wolves announced Gray's hiring as director of player personnel last week in a hockey operations shuffle that included the promotions of Spencer to head scout and Jeff Forsyth to assistant general manager. Assistant coach Brent Gauvreau has since added the title of director of player development, while Trevor Gallant, another former Brantford staffer, was added as scout for southwestern Ontario. Article content Article content 'I'm honoured to be asked by Rob to join the Sudbury Wolves,' Gray told The Sudbury Star this past Tuesday. They've got a great history, a lot of great juniors who have come through the Sudbury Wolves. Article content 'My goal is to help Rob and the Wolves win a championship. The harder I work and the better we do together, hopefully we'll achieve that goal.' Article content A mainstay for the Battalion beginning with their entry into the league in 1998, Gray's connection to junior hockey goes back much further. His grandfather was Matt Leyden, the highly decorated junior hockey executive and administrator whose name now graces the OHL's Coach of the Year award. Article content Gray's keen eye for talent helped longtime Battalion bench boss Stan Butler and his crew to reach the post-season in all but two of their seasons in Brampton, with a final appearance in 2009.
NBC Sports
16 hours ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
2025 WNBA MVP, DPOY, MIP Odds: Betting, Futures, Predictions including Collier, Clark, Thomas
The second-half of the WNBA season is set to tip off July 22 and with a five-game slate, there's no better time to take a look at the updated races for Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player. WNBA MVP Ladder: The MVP race isn't nearly as over as the Rookie of the Year race (Paige Bueckers isn't even listed at most places), but there is still time for Alyssa Thomas (+700), Breanna Stewart (+2000), A'ja Wilson (+6000), or Caitlin Clark (+7000) to make up ground — but they'll need help. Barring a setback or injury in the second half, Napheesa Collier (-700) has a significant lead over the field. Collier put up a phenomenal first half averages of 23.1 points (1st), 7.6 rebounds (10th), 3.3 assists (30th), 1.8 steals (4th), and 1.6 blocks (4th) per game on 51/34/94 shooting splits! Anything close to that in the second half of the year seals the deal for Collier, especially after her All-Star MVP. WNBA DPOY Ladder: There's value on A'ja Wilson (+250) given her insane on-and-off the court splits, while Napheesa Collier (+350) attempts to become the fifth player since 2007 (A'ja Wilson, Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes) to win MVP and DPOY in the same season. Gabby Williams (+400) entered the break leading the league in steals per game (2.4) by a half-steal per contest, while Alanna Smith's (+500) 2.2 blocks per game was second behind Wilson (2.4). The battle for DPOY will be a tight one that could come down to the final game or two of the season. There are four to five viable options to bet right now, but no clear favorite. WNBA MIP Ladder: Besides Coach of the Year, Most Improved Player might be the toughest market to handicap. Golden State's Kayla Thornton (+400) and Veronica Burton (+350) lead the market at most shops, while Washington's Brittney Sykes (+650), Los Angeles' Azura Stevens (+550), Phoenix's Sami Whitcomb (+950), plus Seattle' Erica Wheeler (+750) and Gabby Wiliams (+1200). To be honest, Atlanta's Allisha Gray (+1500) even has a case here. It's going to take another two to three weeks for some of the market to start tattletaling on itself and give us a clear favorite. I bet Thornton (+400) and Sykes (+250) earlier in the season, so those who are I am riding with so far. I'd say hold off and wait because no one has been a favorite for more than a few weeks or reached below +200 odds. Vaughn Dalzell's WNBA Futures Bets: 2 units: Stephanie White to win Coach of the Year (+115) 2 units: Minnesota Lynx to win Championship (+340) 2 units: A'ja Wilson to win MVP (+225) 2 units: Napheesa Collier to win MVP (+150) 0.5 unit: Napheesa Collier to win MVP (+300) 0.5 unit: Jonquel Jones to win DPOY (+3000) 0.5 unit: Angel Reese to win DPOY (+2000) 0.5 unit: Aliyah Boston to win DPOY (+3500) 0.5 unit: Kamila Cardoso to win DPOY (+5500) 0.5 unit: Kayla Thornton to win MIP (+400) 0.5 unit: Brittney Sykes to win MIP (+250) 0.5 unit: Aliyah Boston to win MIP (+1500) 0.5 unit: Kamila Cardoso to win MIP (+3000) 0.5 unit: Seattle Storm to win the Championship (+2500) Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
American Press
a day ago
- Sport
- American Press
Back in the game
From left, Masey Lewis, Matt Viator and Will Bressi talk at Southland Media Day Monday in San Antonio. (Matthew Bonnette/McNeese Athletics) SAN ANTONIO – A decade has passed since Matt Viator sat in front of the Southland Conference media and answered questions about an upcoming season. A lot has changed since then. No longer are the Cowboys the top dog in the league, and Viator is no longer part of the old guard. Now, he's again the head coach at McNeese State, but he's trying to lead the Cowboys back up the SLC mountain, not stay on top of it. 'This has been exciting,' Viator said Monday at the Southland Conference Media Day in the San Antonio Convention Center. 'I'm highly motivated not to relive the past but for the future.' Viator returns to McNeese after nine seasons away from the program he built. His 78 wins are tied for the most in program history. In his first 10 years as the Cowboy head coach, Viator won four Southland titles, made the playoffs five times, and was named the league's Coach of the Year on three occasions. None of that matters now. 'This is a great opportunity for me,' said Viator. 'The McNeese program means a lot to me. The transition back has been good.' The program has not made the playoffs since Viator left and went 0-11 just two years ago. Last year, the Cowboys bounced back to go 6-6, but they haven't had a winning season since 2019. Viator wants that to change. 'I want to see McNeese get back to the standard it once had,' said Viator. The fans are excited for sure. Season ticket sales are up 70 percent from a year ago ,and the buzz is all over town. 'It is really exciting to see the fans getting involved,' said Viator. 'We have a great fanbase and want to reward them.' Viator also wanted to reward the players who elected to stay with the program. 'I wanted to give them a chance if they wanted to stay with us,' Viator said. 'I'm glad the ones that stayed are with us.' Viator brought two of his returning players with him to San Antonio, offensive lineman Will Bressi and defensive end Masey Lewis. Both have seen the difference with Viator's return. 'We are focused much more on the details every day at work,' said Bressi. 'We work on the small things to get better each practice.' Lewis pointed out how much the defense has been through over the years and what this season means to them. 'We have been together and have been through a lot,' Lewis said. 'We are a close group that can go through anything now.' This isn't a rewind for the coach. It is a start of an entirely new era. 'I still park in the same spot I did before, still take the same elevator up to my office, and see some of the same people,' said Viator. 'But a lot has changed since I was last here and I think for the better. That's what makes this exciting.' For him and McNeese fans.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Clemson dominates USA TODAY Sports' 2025 All-ACC preseason football team list
Clemson on top? USA TODAY Sports' ACC writers and experts unveil predicted order of finish for 2025 football season. USA TODAY Sports is riding high on the Clemson Tigers ahead of the 2025 college football season. On Monday, a total of nine Clemson players were named to USA TODAY Sports' All-ACC preseason team. Moreover, Dabo Swinney was named preseason Coach of the Year while quarterback Cade Klubnik was tabbed preseason Player of the Year in the ACC. The preseason all-conference team was voted on by regional USA TODAY Sports writers who cover the 17 ACC schools. Those writers also made predictions for the 2025 ACC football season with their projected order of finish. Here's a look at the nine Clemson selections on USA TODAY Sports' All-ACC preseason football team, as well as where the Tigers landed in the network's predicted order of finish. Clemson offense lands four players on USA TODAY Sports' All-ACC preseason football team Five Clemson Tigers garner All-ACC preseason football defensive honors ACC football projected order of finish, per USA TODAY Sports Clemson sweeps preseason Coach, Player of the Year awards USA TODAY Sports' preseason awards also include Coach of the Year, Player of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year. Clemson football schedule 2025 Clemson will open the 2025 season against the LSU Tigers at Memorial Stadium in prime time on Aug. 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ABC. All times Eastern. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nebraska softball head coach Rhonda Revelle signs contract extension
Nebraska's softball head coach has signed a contract extension with the Huskers. Rhonda Revelle has signed an extension that will run through June 30, 2030. Rovelle is entering her 34th year as the head softball coach at her alma mater. She holds a career record of 1,178 wins to 696 losses. Athletic director Troy Dannen expressed his excitement over the extension. "We are proud at Nebraska that we just finished our most successful all-sports athletic season in 15 years," Dannen said. "That is not possible without great leadership. We are blessed with outstanding head coaches who not only win at a high level, but who also value the experience their student-athletes have during their time at Nebraska. When you have coaches with that type of character, you keep them, and we are proud that Rhonda, Justin, Paul, and Chuck will all be Huskers well into the future." In her 30+ years at Nebraska, Rovelle has also won three Big 12 Conference Tournaments (1998, 2000, 2004) and one Big Ten Tournament (2022). She also has three Coach of the Year awards. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.
