Tag: San Jose State Spartans

Matt Mendes named Spartan Sports Properties GM

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By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Matt Mendes, who has 11 years of sales and sponsorship experience in college and professional sports, recently accepted the position of general manager of Spartan Sports Properties. San Jose State University Athletics Director Marie Tuite made the announcement on Wednesday.

To date, Mendes has secured more than $40 million in premium, sponsorship and ticket sales for the teams he represented. Spartan Sports Properties is the locally based team for Learfield IMG College, the university’s athletics multimedia rightsholder.

“We are very fortunate to have a successful and experienced sales executive like Matt taking over the important position of Spartan Sports Properties general manager. He’s had success throughout his career in a variety of challenging sales environments, in several roles such as group and premium ticket sales, sponsorship sales and managing business relationships with high-end corporate clients. We are looking forward to his leadership in the areas of sponsorships and media rights for San Jose State University Athletics,” said Tuite.

Most recently, he was a senior manager of premium sales for the Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA and the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL for the last two professional seasons. His NBA experience also includes the Sacramento Kings as a manager of premium sales and the New Orleans Hornets as a corporate business development executive.

Mendes’ professional sports experience also includes working for the Los Angeles Dodgers of the MLB as a premium sales executive (2013-15) and the San Jose Sharks of the NHL as a sales manager for corporate sponsorships (2012-13).

“I’m excited to return to the GM chair with Learfield IMG College and look forward to working alongside the entire San Jose State athletics administration representing the Spartans,” said Mendes.

The UNLV graduated majored in sports management. He began his sports sales career in 2009 as the director of corporate sales for the Joliet (Ill.) JackHammers, an independent minor league baseball franchise in the Northern League.

His first experience at the college level was as the general manager of Learfield IMG College’s Mustang Sports Properties for Cal Poly University Athletics (2016-17), a position similar to his new responsibilities at San Jose State.

“Matt is talented and professional, and we’re proud to have him serving as general manager,” said Learfield IMG College Vice President Multi-Media Rights Jeff Bolitho. “He brings a brings a wealth of experience to our local team as we continue to help grow the Spartan brand within the state and on a national level.”

Mendes is joined by John Elliott, manager of business development, as the Spartan Sports Properties team headquartered in the San Jose State University Athletics Department.

San Jose State football will be back soon

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By: Ana Kieu

As the title implies, San Jose State football will be back soon.

The Spartans started the week off right with a #MondayMotivation quote by former football head coach Dick Vermeil. Vermeil is a San Jose State alum who graduated with a master’s degree and served as a backup quarterback for the Spartan football team. Vermeil attended Calistoga High School.

Vermeil, a Calistoga, Calif. native, once said: “Winning is not a reward, it’s a consequence.”

The Spartans continued the week by talking to the media inside Levi’s Stadium for Bay Area Football Media Day. The San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Stanford Cardinal and Cal Golden Bears also attended the annual event.

Bay Area Football Media Day was chock full of fun, but the Spartans were pumped up to start their Fall Camp at CEFCU Stadium. That, my friends, will mark the return of college football in the South Bay.

Senior offensive lineman Troy Kowalski told Richardson’s broadcast partner Justin Allegri: “To know it’s less than 24 hours away, you feel like a little kid on Christmas.”

https://twitter.com/NunnLeki/status/1156259572215996417

Junior safety Tre Webb shared with San Jose State football radio analyst Kevin Richardson his feelings on the upcoming Spartan football season, which is less than a month away.

Webb told Richardson: “Being able to play and get used to the speed of the game.. getting bigger, faster, stronger this offseason…I’m really confident going into this season.”

The Spartans always released their new helmets, which were so fresh, so clean — like the Outkast song “So Fresh, So Clean” that was dropped on March 13, 2001.

Last but not least, the Spartans will host a Fan Fest on Saturday, August 3. There will be a scrimmage at 5:30 pm, and after that, a barbecue and a movie (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse) in the world’s largest mobile kitchen at 7 pm. The cost of Fan Fest will be $25 to the general public and free to Shield 365 members.

San Jose State QB Josh Love named to Wuerffel Trophy Watch List

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By: Ana Kieu

San Jose State University quarterback Josh Love is one of 93 players from the NCAA’s FBS named to the 2019 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List.

The Wuerffel Trophy is named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wurffel of the University of Florida and is awarded to a college football player that “best combines exemplary community service with athletics and academic achievement.”

The 2019 Wuerffel Trophy will be presented on February 14, 2020, at the city’s 51st annual All Sports Association Awards banquet. Semifinalists will be announced on November 5 and the finalists will be named on November 18. The winner will be announced on December 10 in conjunction with the National Football Foundation’s activities that week in New York City.

Love, a senior from Mission Viejo, Calif., enters the season as San Jose State’s number one quarterback. The three-time Academic All-Mountain West award winner had his best season in 2018 completing 56.0 percent of his passes for 1,963 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Among his 2019 summer community service activities, Love and seven teammates visited the Northern California Ronald McDonald House near Stanford University and spent a mid-July afternoon with the siblings of patients receiving care at nearby Lucille Packard Hospital. In June, the entire Spartan team participated in the YWCA Silicon Valley’s annual Walk a Mile In Her Shoes event to raise awareness against domestic abuse and all forms of violence directed to women. Both activities were part of the San Jose State football team’s Beyond Football initiative.

2019 Mountain West Media Day: What’s in the cards for San Jose State?

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By: Ana Kieu

San Jose State football hosted its 2019 Mountain West Media Day on Tuesday. The Spartans finished with a lowly 1-11 record in the 2018 season under second year head coach Brent Brennan. Brennan, however, has learned a lot in his first two seasons.

“In this conference, you play a lot of close games. You’ve got to find a way to finish. We’ve had a huge emphasis in practice on finishing,” Brennan told reporters on Tuesday.

So what’s in the cards for San Jose State? Check out the details below.

Game times for San Jose State University’s 2019 football season opener and the Spartans’ Homecoming game top the news coming out of Las Vegas during the Mountain West Football Preview.

San Jose State will host Northern Colorado, Thursday, August 29, 7:00 pm and San Diego State, Saturday, October 19, at 4:00 pm inside CEFCU Stadium, Home of the Spartans. Tickets for both games and for all San Jose State home contests are available at www.sjsuspartans.com/tickets.

In addition, the Spartans’ game at Hawaii on Saturday, November 9, will kick off at 6:00 pm HT/8:00 pm PT.

Game times for the September 21 non-conference contest at Arkansas and the November 30 regular-season finale at home against Fresno State will be announced at a later date.

Now, let’s get to the projected order of finish among Mountain West football teams. 21 media members covering Mountain West football picked San Jose State to finish sixth in the conference’s West Division standings this season.

Defending champion Fresno State was picked first in the division with 17 first place votes and 122 poll points. San Diego State received three votes to finish first and 106 points.  Hawaii, who was fourth in the poll with 67 points, had the other first place vote.

On the Mountain Division side, Boise State had 15 first-place votes and 120 points to finish as the favorite. Utah State, with six first-place votes, was a close second with 108 points. Air Force, the Spartans’ first conference opponent on September 27, was third with 73. Wyoming with 66, Colorado State with 52, and New Mexico with 21, round out the projected order of finish for the conference’s Mountain Division.

In other news, the Mountain West will launch a brand campaign called “At The Peak.” The Mountain West and its member institutions recently announced a new branding and marketing campaign for the conference to further define the Mountain West’s strong, energetic brand as it begins its 21st year as an NCAA Division I athletic conference.

Designed to make clearer the league’s purpose, vision and values the conference has adopted “At the Peak” as its tagline. The new high-impact moniker resonates the league’s personality and uniqueness as one of the elite conferences in NCAA athletics.

The brand platform was unveiled Tuesday in a coordinated campaign, including Mountain West member institutions and the Mountain West headquarters working together to promote the “At the Peak” brand direction. The campaign will continue throughout the academic year and beyond on multiple platforms, including social media, print, traditional advertising, television and radio.

Mountain West basketball championships to remain at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas through 2023

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By: Ana Kieu

The Mountain West announced Thursday that the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas will continue to serve as the location for its men’s and women’s basketball championships through 2023.

The league’s Board of Directors approved a recommendation from an ad hoc committee made up of two athletic directors, two Senior Woman Administrators, two men’s basketball coaches and two women’s basketball coaches, which was endorsed by the full directors of athletics group, to return to the Thomas & Mack Center for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Mountain West Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships.

“The Mountain West is pleased to extend its long history of successful men’s and women’s basketball championships at the Thomas & Mack Center,” said MW Commissioner Craig Thompson. “Las Vegas has become a mecca for college basketball in early March and our MW fans have made it clear this is their preferred destination.”

The Thomas & Mack Center, which holds several world-class events each year, including NBA Summer League, National Finals Rodeo, concerts and boxing matches, has hosted the Mountain West Basketball Championships in 17 of the Conference’s 20 years.

The 2020 MW Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships will take place March 1-7, 2020 at the Thomas & Mack Center. Tickets are now on sale via each institution’s athletic box office.

“Las Vegas has had a long and storied history with the Mountain West,” said LVE President Pat Christenson. “Since its inception, we have hosted the annual basketball championships 17 times at the Thomas & Mack Center. We are proud to be able to extend our partnership through the 2023 tournament.”

“We couldn’t be more pleased to be hosting the MW Basketball Championships through 2023,” said TMC Executive Director Mike Newcomb. “We have a great history and relationship with the Mountain West and to be able to continue to host the championships is a great opportunity for The Thomas & Mack Center, UNLV and the city of Las Vegas.”

About the Mountain West
From its inception in 1999, the Mountain West has been committed to excellence in intercollegiate athletics, while promoting the academic missions of its member institutions. Progressive in its approach, the MW continues to cultivate opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the highest level, while fostering academic achievement and sportsmanship. Now in its 20th year, the MW has been assertive in its involvement with the NCAA governance structure and has taken a leadership role in the overall administration of intercollegiate athletics. The MW membership is comprised of 11 all-sport members: the United States Air Force Academy, Boise State University, Colorado State University, Fresno State, University of Nevada, University of New Mexico, San Diego State University, San José State University, UNLV, Utah State University and University of Wyoming. In addition, the University of Hawai’i and Colorado College participate in the MW as single-sport members in football and women’s soccer, respectively.

San Jose State men’s basketball announces 2019-20 schedule

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By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San José State men’s basketball’s return to the hardwood is officially set for November 6 as the Spartans travel cross country to take on Hofstra in Hempstead, New York. The 2019-20 season opener is one 12 nonconference games scheduled to be played in addition to the 18-game Mountain West schedule previously announced.

Highlights of the San Jose State’s nonconference slate includes four matchups against Pac-12 opponents. The Spartans will hit the road for contests at Arizona (11/14) and UCLA (12/1) and will also face off with Oregon State on November 27 in Las Vegas, Nevada as part of the Las Vegas Classic. SJSU will also play host to the Stanford Cardinal on December 14.

“We are excited to get the season underway,” head coach Jean Prioleau said. “We’ve got a great schedule that features a lot of tough matchups that will provide our team with some challenges, and we look forward to accepting those challenges.”

Tip off times, as well as media coverage information, for all conference and non-conference games will be announced at a later date.

Fans can begin purchasing online ticket renewals in the latter part of July.

Record 79 San Jose State student-athletes receive Spring Academic All-MW Honors

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By: Ana Kieu

A record-number 79 San José State University student-athletes from 10 Spartan spring sports teams earned 2019 Academic All-Mountain West honors.

The women’s swimming and diving team had the most award winners for the fourth consecutive year with 22, followed by softball and men’s and women’s track and field teams, who each had nine student-athletes honored.

Six San José State student-athletes earned Academic All-MW honors for each of their four years at the school — Zach Wallace (BASE) Andrea Kohlhaas (WBB); Megan Au, Brenna Bushey, Eri Tamada (WSWIM); Miyo Kobayashi (WTN).

They join five student-athletes from the fall who received four recognitions — Luiza Andrade (volleyball), Darriell Franklin (women’s soccer), Craig Huff (men’s cross country), Josh Oliver (football), and Jeanette Zambrano (women’s cross country).

“Our Spartans continue to maintain high standards in academic excellence and are being recognized once again by the Mountain West,” said Eileen Daley, senior associate athletics director for academics and student services.

“We continue to emphasize that hard work and perseverance will result in degree completion and personal growth. Our coaches and academic team work together to provide opportunities for our student-athletes to learn and grown academically by providing tutoring, peer mentoring and a learning environment that is tailored for each student-athlete.”

For the 2018-19 academic year, 167 Spartans earned academic all-conference recognition from the Mountain West, Western Athletic Conference, Mountain Pacific Sports Federation or the Golden Coast Conference.

To qualify, a student-athlete must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better on a 4.00 scale, be enrolled at the conference institution at least one year and participate in at least 50 percent of the team’s contests.

In all, a league-record 1,021 student-athletes have been named to the spring 2019 Academic All-MW teams. Sports recognized include baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, softball, women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s tennis and men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field.

San José State University Academic All-Mountain West Award winners — Spring 2019 Baseball (8)
#Santiago Cantu, Sophomore, Communication Studies
Jonathan Clark, Freshman, Kinesiology
#Wesley Clawson, Sophomore, Kinesiology
Jack Colette, Sophomore, Communication Studies
Anders Davidson, Junior, Business Administration/Corporate Accounting & Finance
#Connor Konishi, Sophomore, Communication Studies
Ben Polack, Freshman, Undeclared
#&^Zach Wallace, Senior, Justice Studies

Men’s Basketball (4)
Christian Anigwe, Freshman, Biological Sciences/Physiology
Zach Chappell, Freshman, Philosophy
Craig LeCesne, Junior, Communication Studies
Trey Smith, Freshman, Computer Science

Women’s Basketball (5)
#Megan Anderson, Sophomore, Public Health
#^ Fieme’a Hafoka, Junior, Child & Adolescent Development
#&^Andrea Kohlhaas, Senior, Business Administration/International Business
#Cydni Lewis, Sophomore, Public Health
#Danae Marquez, Sophomore, Psychology

Men’s Golf (2)
#Ben Campbell, Senior, Psychology
Matt Heitel, Sophomore, Business Administration/General Business

Women’s Golf (6)
#^Abegail Arevalo, Senior, Psychology
#Alexandra Cooper, Senior, Kinesiology
#^Franziska Friedrich, Senior, Business Administration/International Business
Antonia Malate, Freshman, Communication Studies
Natasha Andrea Oon, Freshman, Business
Maddie White, Freshman, Communication Studies

Softball (9)
#^Kaelin Amrein, Junior, Psychology
#^Madison Aurin, Senior, Health Science
Caroline Bowman, Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering
#^Cassidy Clark, Junior, Health Science
#^Makayla Englestad, Junior, Business Administration/General Business
Alyssa Graham, Freshman, Kinesiology
Chrys Hildebrand, Freshman, Undeclared
Carley Morfey, Freshman, Pre-Nursing
#Jacey Phipps, Sophomore, Liberal Studies

Women’s Swimming & Diving (22)
#&^Megan Au, Senior, Kinesiology
#^Violani Auva’a, Junior, Business Administration/Entrepreneurship
#&^Brenna Bushey, Senior, Public Relations
Daria Cocol, Freshman, Business Administration/Corporate Accounting & Finance
Jamie Dodd, Junior, Hospitality, Tourism & Event Management
Kimberlee Giggey, Senior, Psychology
Madison Grimes, Sophomore, Liberal Studies
#Kendal Guy, Senior, Hospitality, Tourism & Event Management
#^Kate Hanf, Junior, Psychology
#^Gabby Heng, Junior, Anthropology
Taylor Lehr, Senior, Applied Mathematics
#^Antoinette Loya, Junior, Business Administration/Management Information Systems
Makenna Mathieson, Freshman, Pre-Nursing
#Katie McIntee, Junior, Psychology
Shelby Mullendore, Freshman, Economics
#^Jacqueline Nisson, Junior, Environmental Science
#^Maleah Schmidt, Junior, Sociology
#Katrina Slivkoff, Sophomore, Computer Science
#^Natasha Sondeno, Junior, Kinesiology
#&^Eri Tamada, Senior, Art/Design Studies
Gabriela Vieira, Junior, Art/Design Studies
#^Erin Wayman, Junior, Liberal Studies

Women’s Tennis (5)
#^Tamara Culibrk, Junior, Civil Engineering
#&^Miyo Kobayashi, Senior, Business Administration/International Business
#Laura Malsert, Sophomore, Hospitality, Tourism & Event Management
Alba Pedrero Galindo, Freshman, Business Administration/Management
#Savannah Sendar, Sophomore, Business Administration/Finance

Men’s Track & Field (9)
Luis Chavez, Freshman, Kinesiology
Chris Gerlach, Freshman, Mathematics
Peter Handy, Freshman, Engineering
Craig Huff, Senior, Computer Science
Brendan Manigo, Freshman, Biomedical Engineering
Evaristo Mateo, Junior, Justice Studies
Jose Pina, Junior, Health Science
Matthew Porter, Freshman, Kinesiology
Cannon Yates, Freshman, Biomedical Engineering

Women’s Track & Field (9)
Kai Bohannon, Freshman, Business
#^Breya Carter, Sophomore, Kinesiology
#^Carmen Contreras, Junior, Psychology
Camilla Hanson, Junior, Biomedical Engineering
Evalina Maas-Espinosa, Freshman, Music
Evelin Meza, Freshman, Political Science
#^Jennifer Sandoval, Junior, Communicative Disorders
Briana Valencia, Junior, Communication Studies
#^Jeanette Zambrano, Junior, Mathematics

# — 2018 award winner
^ — 2017 award winner
& — 2016 award winner
$ — 2015 award winner

San Jose State and USC agree to non-conference game in 2024

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By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose State University football team will return to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum when the Spartans face the University of Southern California in a non-conference game on September 7, 2024. Athletics Director Marie Tuite made the announcement on behalf of San Jose State.

The Spartans will be playing USC for the first time since the 2009 season opener for both teams. USC won each of the four previous meetings between these teams in the Coliseum. The Trojans were ranked #7-nationally in 1995, #9 in 2000, unranked to start the 2001 season, and #4 in 2009 heading into the San Jose State game.

The Spartans will be returning to the Los Angeles metropolitan area for football for the first time since 2011 when San Jose State faced UCLA at the Rose Bowl in a non-conference game.

The 2019 Spartans open their season on Thursday, August 29, hosting Northern Colorado in CEFCU Stadium. For tickets to San Jose State football games, visit www.sjsuspartans.com or call (408) 924-7589.

San Jose State football walks the walk on ending violence against women

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By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose State football team hasn’t went above and beyond in the past two seasons under head coach Brent Brennan, but here’s a silver lining on the team.

For the second summer in a row, the Spartans stood tall and took an evening stroll in high heels in their support to end all forms of violence against women in the Silicon Valley YWCA’s annual “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” fundraiser.

More than 110 Spartan players and coaches joined community leaders and concerned citizens in the quest to end violence against women everywhere.

“Love conquers hate. I was raised by women. I appreciate everyone out here,” said wide receiver Tre Walker, a junior from Los Angeles who led last year’s team in receiving yardage and yards per catch.

Raised funds for “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” 
For the Spartans to participate in this year’s event held in San Jose’s Santana Row, they raised the $1,500.00 registration fee through donations and a 2018 GoFundMe page in conjunction with t-shirt sales from the October 6 home game vs. Colorado State. The game was promoted as the “Set the Expectation” game in recognition of nationally-known rape survivor Brenda Tracy’s determination to raise and increase awareness of a problem that affects everyone.

Funds raised from this year’s event will provide support for domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking survivors through life-changing and life-saving services provided by the YWCA Silicon Valley. This year’s fund-raising goal is $185,000.

Part of the Spartans’ “Beyond Football” initiative
SJSU’s participation in the “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” fundraiser is one of its many “Beyond Football” initiatives. The week’s activities included a visit from city of San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia and members of the police department.

To support the Spartans’ participation in the Silicon Valley YMCA’s annual “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” fundraiser, visit www.ywca-sv.org and click on the “Events” tab.

Tim Marrion returns to San Jose State men’s basketball as an assistant coach

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By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Tim Marrion will return to San Jose State men’s basketball for his third stint as an assistant coach for the Spartans in 2019-20 as he joins Jean Prioleau’s staff for the upcoming season. Prioleau made the announcement on Monday.

“I’m really happy to have Tim come aboard to our staff,” Prioleau said. “There’s always a lot of turnover when it comes to assistants and we were lucky to get someone who is a California guy, which is great. This is a guy that has coached here before, so he understands how San Jose State works, and all the people I’ve talked to have said that he’s a hard worker, trustworthy and will put in the extra time to get the job done.”

Marrion, who brings over 10 years of experience as a coach, coordinator of operations, and director of player development, returns to the South Bay for the first time since the 2012-13 season when he served as an assistant coach on the Spartans’ staff for the second stint. He began his professional career with SJSU in 2006-07 as an administrative assistant before being promoted to an assistant coach for the 2007-08 season.

At the time of his promotion, it was believed that Marrion was the youngest full-time assistant coach in NCAA Division I men’s basketball at 22 years old. That season, he helped the Spartans to an eight-win improvement from the previous season, the eighth-largest win improvement in the NCAA that season.

“I am very fortunate for the opportunity to come back to San Jose State, a place very near and dear to my heart,” Marrion said. “The opportunity to work with Coach Prioleau and the student-athletes here has me really excited, and I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running.”

Marrion joins the Spartans in 2019-20 from Washington State where he served as an assistant coach at his alma mater as a member of head coach Ernie Kent’s staff last season. Marion first joined the Cougars’ program in 2009 as the coordinator of basketball operations, a role he held until 2012 when he returned to SJSU for the first time.

During the 2012-13 season with SJSU, Marrion coached the point guards and wings, including senior guard James Kinney, who finished the season 12th in the nation in scoring at 20.6 points per game.

After one season with the Spartans, Marion returned to WSU in 2013-14 as the team’s director of player development and academic liaison. He resumed his role as the coordinator of basketball operations in 2016 and held the title until receiving the promotion to assistant coach prior to last season.

“Tim coached in the Pac-12 with me and I remember him from those days,” Prioleau said. “Washington State always played us really hard when I was at Colorado and you keep tabs on guys when you’re going through this business. I think he will be a good fit for San Jose State.”

In his coaching career, Marrion has had his hand in the development of nine current and former NBA players, including former Spartan great Adrian Oliver and three-time NBA Champion Klay Thompson.

In between stints with WSU, Marrion served as the associate head coach at Clark College in Vancouver, Wash., for the 2014-15 season, helping guide the Penguins to the Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament Championship and a 25-6 record. The following season, he was the director of basketball operations for the University of Idaho where he helped the Vandals to an eight-game improvement from the previous season and a trip to the College Basketball Invitational.

A native of Nottingham, England, Marion spent six years living in Melbourne, Australia before moving to the United States. He graduated from St. Francis High School in Mountain View, Calif. in 2003. Marrion graduated with a bachelor’s in sport management from WSU n 2006 and went on to earn a master’s degree in sports leadership from Duquesne University in 2014.

Marrion and his wife, Sofia, have a daughter, Gia.