WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY - Key Persons

Aaron Hepner

ah..@wayne.edu

Job Titles:

Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator

Aaron Hepner concluded his 10th season on the Wayne State baseball staff in the spring of 2023 after coming to WSU in August of 2013 as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator. He spent the five seasons prior at Eastern Michigan working with former Warrior head coach Jay Alexander. Hepner has had a lot of success working with catchers. He has helped six catchers sign pro contracts and has aided in four catchers being drafted. In his first season with EMU, Hepner helped the EMU pitching staff develop into one of the top staffs in the MAC. Hepner led EMU to claim three MAC Pitcher of the Week awards during the regular season, while helping pitcher Corey Chaffins earn Second Team All-MAC accolades after coming off Tommy John surgery in 2008.

Aislyn Shannon

Job Titles:

Assistant Cross Country / Track and Field Coach

Alexy Rudolph

Job Titles:

Facilities Operations Coordinator / Matthaei - Tom Adams Field - Gary Bryce Field

Rudolph joins the WSU staff after working as a volunteer coordinator with the Dallas Sports Commission assisting with the NCAA Women's Final Four. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management before earning a master's degree in Kinesiology (Sports Administration) from Michigan State University in 2016. Rudolph served as the Assistant Director of Event Services for the MSU Department of Athletics (2015-18) before working as the Project Manager for the Men's Final Four Fan Jam in Minneapolis (2018-19). She then began a tenure as the Director of Communications for the Dress for Success Michigan. In addition to her duties with Dress for Success, Rudolph has also worked as a member of the 2020 College Football Playoff Support Staff in New Orleans; as a transportation assistant for three NBA All-Star weekends (2020 in Chicago, 2022 in Cleveland, and 2023 in Salt Lake City).

Andy Ayrault

Job Titles:

Assistant
Coach

Ayrault and his wife Kim, who also played basketball at WSU, have two sets of twins - Joe and Julia, and Annabel and Adam. Both Annabel and Adam will be freshman basketball student-athletes at WSU in 2023-24, while Julia will be a redshirt senior on the Spartans women's basketball roster this fall after missing the 2021-22 campaign due to an injury. She has scored 434 points in 77 games. Joe graduated from Michigan State in 2023 and will be a graduate assistant coach for the Indiana Tech men's basketball program during the 2023-24 academic year.

Antwon Robinson

Job Titles:

Defensive Backs Coach / Special Teams Coordinator / Recruiting Coordinator

Autumn Anderson

au..@wayne.edu

Job Titles:

Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer ( Assistant Football, Cross Country and Track & Field )

Beckie Francis

Job Titles:

Coach

Bob Hartwick

Job Titles:

Volunteer Assistant Coach

Bob Hartwick joined the Wayne State University men's tennis coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach for Bryan Morrow in the fall of 2017. He completed his sixth season with WSU in the spring of 2023. In June of 2022, he was selected as the ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year after earning Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year honors. In 2023, Hartwick was again selected Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year after helping the Warriors to a GLIAC Tournament title, a Midwest Regional title and an appearance in the national quarterfinals (lost to eventual national champion Barry). WSU has compiled a 101-44 record in his six seasons as an assistant coach, including back-to-back appearances in the national championships (second in 2022, and tied-for-fifth in 2023). Hartwick played a key role in helping the Green and Gold land seven players on the All-GLIAC teams in 2022, including the GLIAC Player of the Year in Dom Spicer. He also aided in the first two tennis All-Americans in program history as freshman Cedric Drenth and sophomore Daniel Grey were ITA doubles All-Americans. In addition, he assisted in the Warriors winning five consecutive NCAA Tournament matches to reach the national championship match. He was a three-year WSU tennis player (1982-85) and served as a team captain his final two seasons. In 1983, Hartwick played both singles and doubles. In 1985, he helped the Tartars to a 5-1 GLIAC ledger and a second-place finish in the conference tournament. In his final two seasons, Hartwick played number one singles and first doubles pairing with Oscar Gamara and Glen McLean, respectively. Hartwick won six matches at the No. 1 singles flight as a senior and paired with Glenn McLean for six victories at first doubles. He currently resides in Harbor Springs, Mich., with his wife Trish, where he has been a real estate broker since 1993.

Brendan Baker

Job Titles:

Strength & Conditioning Graduate Assistant ( Tennis, Cross Country, Softball )

Brendan Baker joined the Wayne State University Strength and Conditioning staff as a graduate assistant coach in January of 2023 and will continue in that capacity for the 2023-24 academic year. A native of Milan, Mich., Baker earned a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology from Adrian College in May of 2022. He was a four-year member of the Indoor and Outdoor track and field squads running the 400m hurdles for outdoors, while competing in the 60m hurdles and 400m dash for indoors. Baker completed internships in the summer of 2021 (Barwis Methods) and the summer of 2022 (University of Michigan). He is currently pursuing a master's degree in Sports Administration from WSU.

Bryan Morrow

Job Titles:

Coach
Head

Bryan Smothers

Job Titles:

Coach
Head

Bryan Smothers was named the men's basketball head coach at Wayne State University on March 2, 2022. He became the 10th head coach in program history which finished its 106th season in the spring of 2023. Smothers became just the third full-time head coach in the last 34 years following the back-to-back all-time winningest coaches in Ron Hammye (212 wins) and then David Greer (266 wins). In 2022-23, Smothers' first season at the helm, Wayne State finished with an overall record of 8-17, including a 5-13 mark in GLIAC play. Off the court, the Warriors received the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award for finishing the year with a 3.20 team GPA. Individually, Justin Ross, Cortez Jackson, Nate Talbot and Ray Williams, Jr. were each named Academic All-GLIAC. Smothers, a 2020 inductee into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame, returned to Detroit after serving the previous three years as an assistant coach for Greg Paulus at Niagara University. During his tenure with the Purple Eagles, he was responsible for player development, recruiting, scouting, and advising. Smothers worked primarily with the guards and was influential in the development of Marcus Hammond as he earned 2019-20 All-MAAC First Team honors. Prior to heading to New York, Smothers spent five years at the University of Michigan under John Beilein. He was a graduate assistant from 2014-16 before being elevated to the program's video analyst for his final three seasons. During his time in Ann Arbor, Smothers directed all aspects of U-M's video program, including opponent scout preparation, player development videos, recruit film evaluations and analytics. He was a part of four straight NCAA Tournament teams including the 2018 national runner-up. Smothers was selected to the 2019 Under Armour 30-Under-30 Team, which represents 30 of the most outstanding men's college basketball coaches under the age of 30. Before joining the Wolverines, he was on David Greer's staff for three seasons, which included an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2013. As a student athlete, Smothers was a four-year basketball letterwinner (2007-11) for the Warriors, who became just the second player in school history to record 1,100 points, 300 assists and 300 rebounds, joining 2006 Hall of Fame inductee Art Johnson in this select category. He ranked 10th in career scoring at WSU with 1,175 points, when his collegiate career concluded. Smothers was second in both free throw percentage (.854 - but had 135 more attempts than No. 1) and minutes played (3,249), seventh in three-pointers made (129), steals (147) and games started (86), and eighth in both free throws made (276) and assists (308). As a senior, Smothers was selected to the All-Region Second Team by both the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) and Daktronics after receiving All-GLIAC South Division First Team and All-Defensive Team accolades. He earned 2011 GLIAC Tournament Most Valuable Player honors after helping the Warriors to their first post-season title since 1999. Smothers had back-to-back 20-point efforts in wins over Hillsdale and Findlay, followed by an 11-point, nine-assist performance in the Championship game victory at Ferris State. His 151 assists as a senior is the fourth-highest total in school history, while his 1,110 minutes played is third all-time. Smothers scored in double figures 58 times in his Warrior career, with 18 games of at least 20 points. A native of Pontiac, Mich., Smothers earned his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Wayne State and later received a master's degree in social work from the University of Michigan. He and his wife Sandy are the parents of two boys, Santana and Sebastian. What they are saying about Bryan Smothers:

Candice L. Turner

ca..@wayne.edu

Job Titles:

Deputy Athletic Director / Senior Woman Administrator

Dr. Candice L. Turner, who returned to the Wayne State University Athletic Department in August of 2021 as a Senior Associate Athletics Director, was elevated to the role of Deputy Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator in March of 2023 by Interim Director of Athletics Erika Wallace. Prior to re-joining the Athletic Department Staff, Turner served the three previous years (2018-2021) as a full-time lecturer in the Kinesiology, Health & Sports Studies Sport Administration and Management Program in WSU's College of Education. Turner spent nearly 10 years with the WSU Athletic Department being hired as Academic Coordinator for student-athletes in December of 2008. She added the title of Senior Woman Administrator in the spring of 2012 and oversight of student-athlete housing in October of 2012. Turner was promoted to associate athletic director in the summer of 2014. A 2006 graduate of Miami University, Turner was the graduate assistant in Eastern Michigan's Student Athlete Support Services (SASS) department from August 2007 until her appointment at WSU in December 2008. Her primary duties were in providing centralized tracking of student-athlete academic progress, learning-centered monitoring, and study table oversight. Turner also served as a liaison between the SASS staff and coaches about individual student's attendance, while working directly with student intervention and learning methodologies for improvement and career success. She worked in the EMU career services office for nearly one year, while serving as a learning specialist/academic advisor in the EMU athletic department. In February of 2010, Turner attended the annual NCAA CHAMPS Life Skills Conference where she conducted a poster presentation on the WSU Athletic Department's Professional Development series for student-athletes. During the conference, she also facilitated two sessions for new member institutions implementing CHAMPS Life Skills Programs. A 2012 graduate of the NCAA Leadership Institute and recipient of the NCAA Division II NACWAA National Convention grant for SWA's, she is committed to her personal and professional growth within the field of Intercollegiate athletics. Turner earned her bachelor's degree in sports studies with minors in management organizational leadership and marketing. She received a master's in sports studies with an emphasis on sports organization from Miami in August of 2007. Turner completed a specialist of education degree from EMU in educational leadership in December of 2011, and a Ph.D. in educational leadership from EMU in May of 2020.

Carole Gist

Job Titles:

Wellness Coordinator at Wayne State University 's Mort Harris Recreation

Carrie Lohr

cl..@wayne.edu

Job Titles:

Coach
Head

In her inaugural season with the Warriors, Lohr led a young squad (only one senior) to 12 victories, the most wins by WSU in four years, and the second-most triumphs in the last eight seasons.

Carter Lotz

ca..@wayne.edu

Job Titles:

Development Director
Department of Athletics As Development Director

Carter Lotz joined the Wayne State University Department of Athletics as Development Director in late August of 2023 after nearly three-and-a-half years as Senior Account Executive of Ticket Sales for the University of Louisville athletics department. While with the Cardinals, Lotz was able to accomplish the following: Personally generated over $593,000 in new revenue for Louisville Athletics Served as the main point of contact for more than 60 donor accounts Retained over $500,000 in ticket and seat donation revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic Credited with over $25,000 in philanthropic donations during the COVID-19 pandemic Increased personal sales revenue by over 244% from year two (2021-22) to year three (2022-23) Closed $63,000 worth of capital gifts (tied to premium season tickets) Prior to joining UofL, Lotz spent nearly three years as Account Executive of Ticket Sales and Service with the Texas Tech athletics department. Lotz achieved the following for the Red Raiders: Personally generated over $616,000 in new revenue for Texas Tech Athletics Increased personal sales revenue by over 239% from year one (2017-18) to year two (2018-19) Led sales team in overall revenue and group tickets sold for women's basketball and baseball in 2018-19 Led sales team in 2019 football group tickets and mini-plan packages sold as well as overall revenue Oversaw the sale and implementation of Youth Sports Day, First Responders Day, Chamber of Commerce Day, and Scout Day for 2019 football Accounted for 63% of the new season tickets sold by the sales team for the sold out 2019-20 men's basketball season Sold over 12,000 group tickets while at Texas Tech Organized over 140 High-Five Tunnel, Anthem Buddy, National Anthem Performance, and Halftime Performance in-game group experiences A 2016 graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) with a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology (minor in business administration), Lotz was a ticket office assistant for the Blazers. The Macomb, Ill. native also worked as a graduate ticket office assistant at the University of Cincinnati while obtaining his master's degree in Athletic Administration in 2017.

Catherine Leix

cl..@wayne.edu

Job Titles:

Assistant
Coach

She was the first WSU student-athlete to be a CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year (2012 At-Large) [There has only been two - Cedric Drenth, Men's Tennis in 2023]. Leix was a two-time CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American and a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection. In addition, she earned the GLIAC Commissioner's Award for Academic and Athletic Excellence in both 2011 and 2012. A three-time member of the GLIAC Academic Honor Roll, Leix was the 2011-12 WSU Female Student-Athlete of the Year. Leix won five GLIAC titles during her collegiate career, including back-to-back years in both the 500 free and 1650 free. Nine times she finished either first or second in a GLIAC Championship race. Leix was a 16-time All-American (11 First Team, 5 Honorable Mention) along with a national champion in the 800 free relay as a senior in 2012 as WSU won its only team national championship since 1990. She was a three-time First Team All-American in the 500 free, 1650 free and 1000 free, and a two-time First Team All-American in the 800 free relay. In addition, Leix was a two-time Honorable Mention All-American in the 200 free, while earning Honorable Mention All-America accolades as a freshman in the 800 free relay, 1000 free and 1650 free. Since graduating from WSU in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in education (biology major, math minor), Leix has served as a math teacher at Warren De La Salle High School, while spending five years (2012-17) as an assistant swim coach for the Pilots. In addition, she was the head girls swim coach at Macomb Dakota for two seasons (2012-13, 2013-14). Leix also completed a master's degree in 21st Century Teaching and Learning from Marygrove College in 2016.

Chad Johnson

Job Titles:

Volunteer Assistant Coach

Chad Johnson joined the men's golf coaching staff as a volunteer assistant in the fall of 2017 and finished his sixth year on head coach Mike Horn's staff in the spring of 2023.

Christina Green

Job Titles:

Assistant
Coach

Christina Green joined the Wayne State University women's basketball coaching staff in the summer of 2019 as a graduate assistant coach and was in the same role for the 2020-21 academic year. She was hired as a full-time assistant coach in April of 2021. Green enters her fifth year on coach Carrie Lohr's staff in the fall of 2023. In her first season as a full-time assistant coach (2021-22), Green helped the Warriors to a second-place finish in the GLIAC regular season with a 13-7 mark, an appearance in the GLIAC Tournament semifinals, along with the first NCAA tournament for the Warriors appearance since 2014. She mentored Sam Cherney, who received First Team All-GLIAC and GLIAC All-Defensive Team accolades. The following year (2022-23), Green guided Maxine Moore to GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honors. Green earned her bachelor's degree in Management from WSU in May of 2018 after a four-year career (2013-17) with the Warriors. She played in 89 career games, making 35 starts. Green tallied a career-high 25 points against Northern Michigan (1-14-2017) and pulled down a career-best 11 rebounds vs. Ursuline (11-11-2016). She is sixth in school history in career field goal percentage (.510 / min. 150 made) and is tied-for-22nd in blocked shots with 33. Green, who has been a part of three WSU teams to advance to the NCAA Tournament (2014 and 2015 as a player, and 2022 as an assistant coach), participated in the NCAA Coaches Academy in May of 2021.

Cooper Abrams

co..@wayne.edu

Job Titles:

Department of Athletics As the Ticket Supervisor
Ticket and Merchandise Supervisor

Cooper Abrams joined the Wayne State University Department of Athletics as the Ticket Supervisor in August of 2022, and enters his second year on staff in the fall of 2023. A native of Walled Lake, Mich., Abrams began his collegiate career at Madonna University after graduating from Orchard Lake St. Mary's High School. Abrams completed his bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Business Law from Western Michigan University in 2021. He joined the Ilitch Sports and Entertainment organization as a Ticket Operations Representative in May of 2019, before being promoted to Account Executive in the spring of 2022.

Cooper Weidenthaler

co..@wayne.edu

Job Titles:

Assistant Director for Media Relations Contact for: Volleyball, Men 's Basketball, M / W Swimming & Diving, M / W Golf, Baseball

Darrell McEntire

da..@wayne.edu

Job Titles:

Director of Football Operations

Darrell McEntire joined the Wayne State University football coaching staff in the spring of 2023 and will assist head coach Tyrone Wheatley as Director of Football Operations. He graduated from WSU in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in Communications.

Dennis Royal

Job Titles:

Member of the USPTA
Volunteer Assistant Coach

Royal, a member of the USPTA since 1986, also spent nearly five years in Switzerland coaching Megan Moulton-Levy. Upon returning to the United States, he worked at the Sports Club of West Bloomfield where he taught junior and adult classes.

Desmond Young

Job Titles:

Graduate Assistant Coach ( Offensive Line / Tight Ends )

Desmond Young joined the Wayne State University coaching staff in the summer of 2023. He will serve as a graduate assistant coach working with the offensive line and tight ends in his inaugural season with the Warriors and head coach Tyrone Wheatley. A native of Ironton, Ohio, Young played in 10 contests in 2019 for Savannah State recording 53 tackles (37 solo, 16 assisted), seven tackles for loss (including two sacks) along with three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and two pass break-ups at Clark Atlanta from his linebacker position. He notched a season-high nine tackles (5 solo, 4 assisted) at Charleston Southern. Young tallied a season-high 2.5 tackles for loss in the season finale at Edward Waters. He also scored a touchdown on a 45-yard fumble return vs. Albany State, after forcing a fumble on a pass completion. After playing in two contests as a sophomore in 2017, Young participated in nine games in 2018 recording 37 tackles (25 solo, 12 assisted), including 2.5 for loss. He also garnered a two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. Young had a 13-yard interception return at the University of Miami, while posting a season-high nine tackles along with two fumble recoveries against North Carolina A&T. The 2020 graduate of Savannah State University with a degree in Mass Communications, Young spent the fall of 2020 as an intern with the SSU Media Relations Department. He joined ScriptDrop as a Customer Success Coordinator in the spring of 2022 after 17 months with GlobalTranz as a Logistics Specialist.

Dominic Sciturro

do..@wayne.edu

Job Titles:

Student Assistant Coach

Dominic Sciturro joined the Wayne State University baseball staff in the winter of 2022-23. He is a senior currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Sport Management from WSU with a minor in Business. As a student assistant, he provided support with day-to-day operations on and off the field during the 2023 Warrior baseball season. He was named to the Dean's List for the College of Education (3.75+ GPA) in the fall 2021 and fall 2022 semesters. Sciturro is a passionate Detroit native born in Detroit and raised in metro Detroit. He is the son of Jamie and Leslie Sciturro.

Don Moran

Job Titles:

Assistant Athletic Trainer ( Head Football and GA Supervisor Swimming / Diving )

Don Moran returned to the Wayne State University Sports Medicine office as an assistant athletic trainer in July of 2021. He starts his third year on the Warrior staff in this tenure in the fall of 2023. Moran previously was an athletic training intern at WSU from August of 2015 to June of 2016. He graduated from Central Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training in December of 2015, then earned a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology from Syracuse in May of 2018. Most recently, Moran was at Rice University from June of 2019 until July of 2021, working primarily with the football program. Prior to that, he worked at the University of Michigan with the football and women's lacrosse teams from August of 2018 until May of 2019. During the 2018-19 academic year, he worked with Henry Ford Health System as an athletic trainer after serving as a graduate assistant at Syracuse University for two years (2016-2018), where he worked with football, men's lacrosse and men's rowing. Moran worked with the football team at WSU and also was an assistant boy's basketball coach at Dearborn Divine Child from October of 2014 until June of 2016. Moran is a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). He also is a Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) and a Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES). Moran is Functional Movement Screening Certified, Functional Dry Needling Certified, Blood Flow Restriction Exercise Certified and Mental Health First Aid Certified. He is the son of Donald and Christina Moran.

Dr. Maria Sepulveda

Job Titles:

Learning Specialist

Dr. Maria Sepúlveda began working with the Wayne State football program in the fall of 2003. Her primary role as a learning specialist is facilitating the study hall/learning component. The fall of 2023 will mark her 21st year assisting wtih the football program. She is a licensed professional counselor with an expertise in applied sport psychology, areas of performance, mental preparedness and stress management. Sepúlveda's educational background includes a BS in occupational therapy/rehabilitation and a M.Ed in counseling from the University of Texas and Doctoral degree in 2008 from Wayne State University with a concentration in sport psychology and clinical counseling. In addition, she taught courses in Psychology in the School of Liberal Arts faculty with Henry Ford College and Central Michigan University's (graduate) Clinical Counseling program

Ed Collins

Job Titles:

Coach
Head
Wide Receivers Coach

Ed Collins joined first-year head coach Tyrone Wheatley's staff as wide receivers coach in March of 2023.

Eric Bezel

Job Titles:

Pitching Coach

Erika (Ryskamp) Wallace

er..@wayne.edu

Job Titles:

Director of Athletics

Erika (Ryskamp) Wallace was named Director of Athletics at Wayne State University in June of 2023 after serving as the interim director for the prior six months. Wallace originally came to WSU in July of 2019 as the Athletic Chief of Staff. While serving as the Chief of Staff, Wallace was on the senior athletic management team advising the Athletic Director on all departmental matters. She worked closely with the AD to plan, develop, coordinate and oversee the University's 18 athletic programs and support personnel. In the fall of 2022, she added the title of Senior Woman Administrator after assuming additional responsibilities as the sport coordinator for the men's and women's basketball programs in 2021. Wallace came to Detroit after nearly 11 years at Grand Valley State, where she most recently served as the Associate Athletic Director & Senior Woman Administrator since 2016. Her professional career began at GVSU where she spent time working in admissions and financial aid before serving as the Assistant Director of Financial Aid in 2011. Wallace was promoted to the Associate Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships in 2012, a position she held until 2016 when she moved to her role within the GVSU athletics department. During her time in the GVSU Athletic Department, Wallace had a wide range of duties, including supervision of coaches in regards to budget, recruiting, traveling and scheduling. In addition, she was responsible for NCAA compliance, fundraising and represented GVSU on the GLIAC Management Council, NCAA committees, the Intercollegiate Athletic Advisory board and the Irwin Club Advisory Committee. She joined the NCAA Softball Regional Advisory (Ranking) Committee (RAC) in the spring of 2021 to start a three-year term, and was named Midwest RAC Chair for women's basketball in the summer of 2022. Wallace, who has two degrees from GVSU, a Bachelor's of Science in Exercise Physiology in 2007 and a Master's of Public Administration in 2014, Is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and Women Leaders in College Sports, in which she is a graduate of the Institute for Advancement (2017) and Leadership Enhancement Institute (2022). She was a four-year letterwinner (2003-07) for the GVSU women's basketball program and was inducted into Lakers Hall of Fame in 2015. Wallace was a team captain when GVSU won a national title in 2005-06. She scored 1,409 points, which placed her in the top-five in program history when she graduated. Wallace's 223 three-pointers rank second all-time and her 39.3 three-point field goal percentage is the third-best mark in school history. Wallace and her husband Marcus, also a former GVSU basketball letterwinner, have two children, Sydney and Marley, and reside in Farmington Hills.

Ethan Krasman

Job Titles:

Mental Health and Wellness Intern

Franz Mueller

Job Titles:

Graduate Assistant Coach

Gabby Vaughan

Job Titles:

Graduate Assistant Coach

Gabby Vaughan joined the Wayne State University athletic department in August of 2023 as a graduate assistant coach working with the softball team. A native of Chesapeake, Va., Vaughan graduated Magna Cum Laude from Norfolk State in May of 2023 with a bachelor's degree in Biology. She is currently pursuing a master's degree at WSU in Exercise & Sports Science. During her five-year career (2019-23) with the Spartans, Vaughan served as the Treasurer of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). On the field, she played in 202 contests, making 194 starts (131 at 1B, 26 at RF, 23 at DP, 11 at 3B, and 3 in LF), while batting .288 (164-for-569) with 23 home runs and 124 RBI. Vaughan also walked 60 times for a .354 on-base percentage, and notched 69 extra-base hits for a .497 slugging percentage. She set the NSU career record with 42 doubles. Vaughan was voted to the All-MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) First Team in 2021 as an outfielder and Second Team in 2023 as a first baseman. She was also named to the MEAC All-Tournament Team in 2023, and was a member of the MEAC All-Academic Team four consecutive years (2020-21-22-23).

Gabe Goode

Job Titles:

Athletic Department As a Student Manager
Student Manager

Gabe Goode joined the Wayne State University athletic department as a student manager for the baseball program prior to the 2024 season. Originally from Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., Goode graduated from Grosse Pointe North High School in Grosse Pointe Woods in June of 2023.

Gerald Williams-Taylor

Job Titles:

Assistant Athletic Director / Corporate Sponsorships and Alumni Relations

Gerald Williams-Taylor joined the Wayne State University Department of Athletics as an Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities and Operations in August of 2021. He took on a new role in March of 2023 as Assistant Athletic Director for Alumni Relations and Corporate Sponsorships. Prior to assuming his current position, Williams-Taylor was responsible for the operations at the Matthaei. Williams-Taylor was a four-year member of the Warrior men's basketball squad (2010-14), who concluded his career fourth in career field goal percentage (at least 200 made) at 56.0% (238-425) and sixth in career free throw percentage (at least 150 made) at 80.4% (181-225). He ranked 21st in career games played with 99 and scored in double figures 30 times, including four 20-plus point games. Williams-Taylor also recorded four double-doubles. A 2013-14 GLIAC All-Defensive Team selection, Williams-Taylor later served as a graduate assistant coach for the WSU men's basketball program for two seasons (2014-15 and 2015-16).

Glenn Davis

Job Titles:

Linebackers Coach

Glenn Davis joined the Wayne State Football Coaching staff in February of 2023 as linebackers coach under first-year head coach Tyrone Wheatley. Davis came to Detroit after coaching cornerbacks at Robert Morris University (Pittsburgh, Pa.) the previous four seasons (2019-22). This past season, Davis mentored Sydney Audiger who received All-Big South Second Team accolades. The previous year, Tavin Harville signed a free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his first season with the Colonials in 2019, Davis helped RMU post its first winning season in almost 10 years with an overall record of 7-5 (.587), including a mark of 6-1 (.833) in the Northeast Conference (NEC). Davis assisted in the development of defensive back Heavon Price, who was named to the 2019 All-NEC Second Team after finishing fourth for the Colonials with 73 tackles, including a team-high 12 pass break-ups. Davis joined the Colonials after spending two years (2017-18) as an assistant coach at Savannah State. While an assistant with the Tigers, he coached both the cornerbacks and return specialists. In 2018, Davis assisted in coaching a defensive unit that ranked third in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in pass defense. The Tigers finished the 2018 campaign with 10 interceptions and 31 pass break-ups.

Gloria Martinez Perez

Job Titles:

Assistant
Coach

Gloria Martinez Perez was elevated to full-time assistant coach in September of 2021 following two seasons as a graduate assistant coach on the Wayne State University swimming staff. The 2023-24 season will be her fifth on head coach Sean Peters' staff and third as a full-time assistant. Martinez Perez had a stellar career as a Warrior swimmer (2011-15) in which she earned 18 All-American certificates and was a four-time national champion. She will be inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame in October of 2023.

Grant Lofdahl

Job Titles:

Coach
Head

Grant Lofdahl is in his seventh season as head coach at Wayne State University during the 2023-24 academic year. Lofdahl was named the men's and women's cross country, and women's indoor and outdoor track and field head coach at WSU in June of 2017. In the fall of 2022, Lofdahl steered the women's cross country program to a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, equaling the second best mark in program history. In addition, men's cross country runner Ransom Allen placed ninth individually, the highest finish ever, breaking a mark that had stood since 1974. WSU's women's cross country staff was voted GLIAC Staff of the Year following the league meet. His teams also excelled in the classroom. A school-record 16 ladies earned GLIAC All-Academic recognition, including a school-record 12 student-athletes garnering All-Academic Excellence Team accolades. The men's squad had 10 runners receive GLIAC All-Academic recognition. In addition, Allen and Antonio Chapa were named USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes along with Thailyia Christensen, Mattie Drennan, Briana Vojoinov and Charlene Yarema from the women's squad. Both teams also received USTFCCCA All-ACademic Team recognition.

Greg Paulus

Job Titles:

Head Coach, Niagara University

"I could not be happier for Bryan and his family. Bryan is a principled leader and an outstanding teacher and communicator. His work ethic and passion for people made our program better and helped develop our student-athletes on and off the court. I am thankful for all he did during his time at Niagara University and looking forward to seeing the success he will bring as he goes home to his alma mater."

Hailey Richardson

ha..@wayne.edu

Job Titles:

Assistant
Coach

Hailey Richardson was named assistant volleyball coach at Wayne State University in June of 2022. She had served as the ticket and merchandise supervisor for three months starting in April of 2022 until obtaining her current position. Richardson has been a part of the volleyball coaching staff since 2019. The fall of 2022 was her fourth year on Tim Koth's staff, and first in a full-time capacity. In her first year on the coaching staff in 2019, Richardson helped the Warriors win 17 matches and advance to the GLIAC semifinals. In 2021, WSU played in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history, but the first time since 1994. The Warriors won 20 matches, which is the most victories since 1998. The Green & Gold swept Saginaw Valley State in a GLIAC Quarterfinal contest on Nov. 17th, the first home playoff game since 2010 for WSU.

Hannah McClounie

ha..@wayne.edu

Job Titles:

Assistant
Coach

Hannah McClounie joined the Wayne State softball staff in September of 2021 as a full-time assistant coach. She begins her third season on head coach Nicole Tines staff in the fall of 2023. Prior to her coaching appointment, she spent the previous 20 months as a graduate intern in the WSU strength and conditioning program following an outstanding four-year career capped by being voted GLIAC Player of the Year and an All-American in 2019. McClounie is engaged to former WSU baseball player Justin Kelly, who holds the Warrior record for career home runs. As a senior, McClounie was selected to the All-America Third Teams by both the NFCA (as a third baseman) and D2CCA (as utility player) after being voted the 2019 GLIAC Softball Player of the Year. She received Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete recognition in 2019 after earning Academic honors seven different semesters, including four terms with at least a 3.5 GPA.

Isaac Hunt

Job Titles:

Student Equipment Manager

Izabelle Peterson

Job Titles:

Assistant
Coach

Izabelle Peterson joined the Wayne State University women's track and field coaching staff as an assistant coach in the summer of 2023. Peterson, who graduated from Northern Michigan University in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in Biology with a Criminal Justice concentration, served as a volunteer coach at NMU in the spring of 2023. While competing five years for the Wildcats, she earned Academic All-GLIAC recognition eight times (four for Indoor and four for Outdoor). In her first season in Marquette (2017-18), Peterson competed in six indoor meets and four outdoor meets, including the GLIAC Championships both seasons. At the 2018 outdoor championships, she was a member of the fourth-place 4x100m relay. The following year at the GLIAC Indoor Championships, Peterson took first in the 200m dash (24.61) and fourth in the 60m dash (personal-best 7.67 in the prelims). She won the 200m dash at the 2019 outdoor championships, while finishing second in the 100m dash (11.85) and was a member of the runner-up 4x100m relay. Peterson narrowly missed All-America honors at the NCAA Championships with a 13th-place finish in the 200m dash and a 14th-place finish in the 100m dash. She competed in three indoor meets during the 2019-20 academic year before COVID cancelled everything for the next year.

Jason Trout

Job Titles:

Coach
Diving Coach

Former Wayne State University diving letterwinner Jason Trout joined the Warrior swimming and diving coaching staff in August of 2022 as the diving coach. The 2022-23 season saw his diver Mikaela Senkus win GLIAC Championships for both the one-meter and three-meter boards before being named the GLIAC Diver of the Year. Senkus then went on to finish as the NCAA runner-up for both boards as well. The three-time letterwinner was also named Wayne State's Female Student-Athlete of the Year, a First Team CSCAA Scholar All-American and a CSC First Team Academic All-American. Trout, who earned a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from WSU in 2016 followed by a master's degree in Engineering Management from the University of Michigan in 2018, was a member of back-to-back GLIAC Championship squads in 2012 and 2013. A certified diving coach by both USA Diving and the AAU, Trout has served as a diving coach for seven years, including three years each with the Farmington Hills Mercy and Royal Oak swimming and diving squads. During that span, he coached numerous regional and state qualifiers.

Jaylen Kelly-Powell

Job Titles:

Coach
Head
Graduate Assistant Coach ( Nickels )

Jaylen Kelly-Powell joined first-year head coach Tyrone Wheatley's staff as a graduate assistant coach in the summer of 2023. He will work primarily with the Nickels. A 2017 graduate of Cass Tech High School, Kelly-Powell was a three-time letterwinner at Michigan from 2017-19. He appeared in 20 career games, including seven as a defensive back. Kelly-Powell played in 10 games in 2017 making tackles against Maryland and Wisconsin. The following year, he appeared in seven games including two at safety after playing as a cornerback as a freshman. In 2019, Kelly-Powell played in three contests for the Wolverines. He transferred to the University of Akron for the 2020 campaign, and started all five games in which he appeared for the Zips. Kelly-Powell recorded 18 tackles, including 11 solo stops, while adding a pair of pass break-ups. The following season, he started all 11 games he appeared in and ranked second on the squad in tackles (73), assisted tackles (40), interceptions (1 at Bowling Green) and fumble recoveries (1), while placing third in solo tackles (33) and sacks (1).

Jaylon Doss

Job Titles:

Graduate Assistant Coach ( Safeties / Video Coordinator )

Jaylon Doss joined the Wayne State University football coaching staff in March of 2022. He served as a graduate assistant coach working with the defensive backs in his inaugural season with the Warriors. During the 2023 campaign, Doss will work with the safeties, while also serving as the squad's video coordinator. Doss served as a student assistant coach at Fairmont State in 2021, while earning his bachelor's degree in Exercise Science.