Year in Review
Forward Momentum
Sun Devil Softball Head Coach Megan Bartlett, Kenzie Brown (Sun Devil Softball), Sun Devil Women’s Golf Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye, Graham Rossini
9
with five Big 12 titles in 2025–26, ASU has won nine in its early tenure in the Big 12 — the most in a two-year period
8
teams earned NCAA Academic Progress Rate Public Recognition Awards, the most in the Big 12 On the cover (clockwise from top left): Noemie Glover, Marley Washenitz, Kenzie Brown, Jordyn Tyson, Landon Hairston
Momentum is earned, and across Sun Devil Athletics, there is no question we have created plenty of it. There is also no shortage of hard work ahead. College athletics continues to change around us at a remarkable pace. Our responsibility is to remain strategic and adaptable, willing to evolve how we operate without compromising who we are. First and foremost, Sun Devil Athletics is a talent-development organization. Our job is to identify potential, create opportunity and help people become better versions of themselves through their experiences at ASU. The results from this past year reflect that commitment. Our student-athletes earned five Big 12 titles, our most conference titles in a single year since 2007–08. Combined with four in our inaugural Big 12 season, our nine conference titles over the past two years are the most in any two-year stretch in ASU history. That success is only part of the story. We celebrated 171 graduates, while 140 student-athletes earned
perfect 4.0 GPAs, and every one of our programs finished the year with a team GPA of 3.0 or better. Sun Devil student-athletes also invested countless hours serving the Valley, giving back to a community that continues to show up for them in return. That connection was evident throughout the year, with nearly every ticketed sport setting an attendance milestone or record. To our fans, partners and donors, thank you for investing your time, passion and resources in our student-athletes and in the future of Sun Devil Athletics. Now we need your help to grow that community. Bring someone new to a game. Introduce someone to a program. Invite a friend, colleague or business to join us and invest alongside you. Because, ultimately, the impact of that investment extends far beyond ASU. Our student-athletes will leave here as graduates, leaders, teammates and neighbors, taking what they learned as Sun Devils into their careers, families and communities. The people in their orbit will benefit from who they become here. That is talent development. That is the return on our collective investment. And there is much more work ahead. Onward,
Graham Rossini Athletics Director
Table of contents By the numbers 2 01 Fall sports 6 02 Winter sports 10 03 Spring sports 16 04 Academics 22 05 Community service 28 06 Philanthropy 30 07 Facility upgrades 32 08 In memoriam 34 Football goes to London 36 Sun Devil Football sold out every home game at Mountain America Stadium this past season for the first time this century.
1
SPORTS
600+ 26 studentathletes
intercollegiate varsity sports
INTERNATIONAL
144
student-athletes
representing
41 countries
CHAMPIONSHIPS
5
Sun Devil teams were crowned Big 12 champions*
*Most since 2007–08 season.
• Volleyball (back to back) • Men’s Swim and Dive (back to back) • Women’s Swim and Dive (back to back) • Women’s Tennis (first conference title) • Softball (first Big 12 title)
25 won by
2
16
total Big 12 titles Sun Devil athletes
By the
numb num
Left to right: Jonny Kulow, McKinna Brackens, C.J. Fite, Bailey Miller
mbers bers
ALL-AMERICANS
30+
student-athletes earned First-Team, Second-Team, Third-Team or Honorable Mention All-America status
PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
5
Big 12 Players of the Year
• Noemie Glover, Volleyball • Landon Hairston, Baseball • Emilija Tverijonaite, Women’s Tennis • Patience Rhodes, Women’s Golf • Ilya Kharun, Men’s Swimming
COACHING HONORS
2
Big 12 Coaches of the Year
• JJ Van Niel, Volleyball • Herbie Behm, Men’s Swimming and Diving
ITA/Dunlop Southwest Regional Coach of the Year • Jamea Jackson, Women’s Tennis
3
ATTENDANCE
7
teams set program attendance records: Women’s Basketball • Volleyball • Football • Softball • Soccer • Baseball • Lacrosse
Football
Volleyball
#1
in the Big 12 in total attendance (and No. 10 in the nation in per-game attendance)
7 home sellouts
the first time this century the program has sold out an entire season
BROADCAST
248
events on TV, the most in the Big 12
Softball
#12
in the nation in total season attendance
Lacrosse
782
attendance for game vs. No. 22 Denver, a singlegame record
Original long-form content • Coaches’ shows with FOX 10 • “ASU All Access” with FOX 10 • Baseball docuseries in partnership with Blue Zone Marketing
9% increase in regular-season viewership across all sports year-over-year including:
What’s next:
• Football 15% • Women’s Basketball 53% • Baseball 72% • Softball 90%
• More original-content series • More coaches’ shows • More formats • Broader coverage for hockey
TICKETING TRENDS
20%
year-over-year growth in total ticketing revenue, marking the highest revenue year for ticket sales in ASU history
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS
20%
year-over-year revenue growth for the second consecutive year
4
38%
year-overyear growth in football season tickets, the highest number of season tickets sold since stadium renovations
By the
Keyshaun Elliott
numb num
ACADEMICS
140
Sun Devil student-athletes with perfect 4.0 GPAs
3.47
cumulative GPA across all sports
5
89% of studentathletes had a GPA of 3.0 or higher 3.99 Sun Devil Triathlon team’s average GPA
student-athletes recognized
as Academic All-Americans: • Keyshaun Elliott, Football • Andy Dobrzanski, Men’s Swimming • Ilya Kharun, Men’s Swimming • Jonny Kulow, Men’s Swimming • Vivian Ovrootsky, Women’s Tennis
GRADUATION
171
student-athletes graduated in the 2025–26 academic year
93%
graduation success rate (GSR) across all sports, equaling an all-time best for the third consecutive year
Team average of GPA 3.0 or higher in spring for the first time for all sports
Vivian Ovrootsky
mbers bers
SOCIAL MEDIA
2.5M+
followers across all social media (up 21% from prior year)
One-half a billion
impressions (up 59% from last year)
21M+ engagements
(up 31% from prior year)
5
01 Fall sports
Noteworthy stats
Volleyball
28
consecutive home wins in regular-season volleyball matches over the past two seasons
7,703
fans at the Nov. 13 matchup vs. Arizona, the most this century
8
victories over ranked opponents
6
Back-to-back Big 12 champs Despite entering the season with a new starting lineup, Van Niel led ASU to 28 wins overall and another conference title Sun Devil Volleyball earned its second conference title in program history by winning the 2025 Big 12 regular-season championship. The Sun Devils’ first conference title? That came the year before, when they won the Big 12 in their first season in the conference.
“It’s really special, especially to do it with a new starting lineup,” Head Coach JJ Van Niel said of winning the latest Big 12 title. “I’m really proud of the kids, the way they’ve come in and fought and worked really hard to improve every single day. It’s really special. It’s a special group.”
Sun Devil Volleyball finished 17-1 in conference play en route to winning its second consecutive Big 12 Championship.
Going pro Six former Sun Devil student-athletes have been drafted into the United States’ two professional volleyball leagues, League One Volleyball (LOVB) and Major League Volleyball (MLV): • Andrea Mitrovic: LOVB Madison • Argentina Ung: LOVB Madison • Bailey Miller: LOVB Austin
ASU made it to the NCAA Regional Semifinal for the second time in the past three seasons and fourth time overall. Despite beginning the season with an entirely new starting lineup, ASU posted a 17-1 record in conference play and finished 28-4 overall — the second-best mark in team history in terms of winning percentage. The 28 wins were the second-most in program history this century and third-most all-time. The Sun Devils’ impressive campaign included victories over eight ranked teams, 12 sweeps and winning streaks of 12 and 10 matches. They picked up two postseason wins at home during the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament, for which ASU was a host site for the second year in a row.
• Geli Cyr: MLV Dallas Pulse • Colby Neal: MLV Orlando Valkyries • Shannon Shields: MLV Atlanta Vibe
Noemie Glover was named the 2025 Big 12 Player of the Year, becoming the first player in Sun Devil Volleyball history to win a conference playerof-the-year award. 7
Fall sports Jordyn Tyson
Football
Pair of ASU stars picked in Round 1 of NFL Draft Tyson taken 8th and Iheanachor 21st, marking first time since 2001 two Sun Devils cracked draft’s first round Jordyn Tyson and Max Iheanachor made history for the Sun Devil Football program at the 2026 NFL Draft. Tyson was selected by the New Orleans Saints with the 8th overall pick, while Iheanachor was taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 21st pick. It marked the first time two Sun Devils were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since 2001, when Adam Archuleta (St. Louis Rams, pick 20) and Todd Heap (Baltimore Ravens, pick 31) both came off the board on Day 1. Tyson was the highest-selected Sun Devil since Mike Haynes went 5th
overall in the 1976 NFL Draft to the New England Patriots. This was the fourth time Arizona State had two first-round picks in the same NFL Draft. In addition to 2001, the program also accomplished the feat in 1988 (Randall McDaniel and Aaron Cox) and 1976 (Mike Haynes and Larry Gordon). The Sun Devils had four players drafted overall, as defensive back Keith Abney II (Detroit Lions) and linebacker Keyshaun Elliott (Chicago Bears) were both selected in the fifth round.
Noteworthy stats
19
total wins the past two seasons for Sun Devil Football, the most in back-toback seasons since 2013–14
8
6
wins over Associated Press top 25 teams under Kenny Dillingham
0
number of sacks allowed by Max Iheanachor across 484 pass-blocking snaps in 2025
Only 9 schools
had at least two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. ASU was one of them.
Sun Devil Triathlon finished second at the 2025 NCAA Women’s Collegiate Triathlon National Championship, which was held in Tempe.
Triathlon
de Koning named national Freshman of the Year Arizona State played host to the 2025 NCAA Women’s Collegiate Triathlon National Championship, but Sun Devil Triathlon fell just short of bringing home its eighth title and instead collected a runner-up finish. ASU’s Sidney Clement finished fifth (1:03:20) and teammate Alex Campbell finished sixth (1:03:28) as both earned All-America honors from the Collegiate Triathlon Coaches Association. The Sun Devils’ Sonja de Koning was named Division I Freshman of the Year after her 1:05:07 finish, the fastest among her class.
Soccer
Program-record 2,207 fans watch ASU upend No. 10 BYU Sun Devil Soccer started 8-0-2, the first 10-match unbeaten streak in the program’s history. The Sun Devils’ previous best unbeaten streak spanned two seasons, from Oct. 31, 1999, to Sept. 24, 2000, when they went 12 matches without a loss. The 2-1 win over No. 10 BYU marked the first home win over a top-10 foe for ASU since beating then-No. 10 USC, 1-0, on Feb. 26, 2021. The match against BYU featured a programrecord 2,207 fans and gave the Sun Devils their first seven-match winning streak since 2002. Senior goalkeeper Pauline Nelles became the first ASU student-athlete to be credited with 25 or more career clean sheets when the Sun Devils beat Utah, 1-0, on Oct. 23.
Pauline Nelles
9
02 Winter sports
Remi Fabiani
Noteworthy stats
19
individual Big 12 titles won by ASU swimmers
3
individual Big 12 titles won by freshman Albane Cachot, who became the first Sun Devil — man or woman — to win the 50 free, 100 free and 200 free at the same conference championship meet
40.67
Remi Fabiani’s winning time in the 100 free, a Big 12 record and the second-fastest time in ASU history
10
Swimming and Diving
Repeat Big 12 champs Men’s and women’s squads combine for 19 individual titles and 8 relay wins at conference championships Sun Devil Men’s and Women’s Swim and Dive both won their second straight Big 12 Championships at the neutral site of Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, N.C. The women’s team went back-toback as Big 12 champions, and the men’s team won their fourth straight conference title, having claimed the last two Pac-12 Championships before joining the Big 12 in 2024. Sun Devil alumnus and Head Coach Herbie Behm added the pair of Big 12 titles to his resume, bringing his total to four conference championships in two years. The No. 2-ranked men’s swim
team put the finishing touches on the week with the men’s 400 free relay of junior Ilya Kharun, graduates Remi Fabiani and Adam Chaney, and senior Jonny Kulow securing an NCAA record of 2:42.15 to win the Big 12 title. Kulow touched the wall in a thrilling 40.08, 100 free anchor leg to secure the record. Freshman Albane Cachot was tabbed as the women’s Newcomer of the Meet after winning three individual titles and leading the Sun Devils to three relay victories. Deniz Ertan, who also won three individual titles, was named women’s Swimmer of the Meet.
Eleven members of ASU Women’s Swim and Dive squad made the All-Big 12 First Team.
Fourteen members of the Men’s Swim and Dive squad were selected to the All-Big 12 First Team.
11
Winter sports
Swimming and Diving
Kharun wins another NCAA title in 200 fly Junior sets two Big 12 records en route to being named the conference’s Swimmer of the Year Junior Ilya Kharun was named Big 12 Men’s Swimmer of the Year and won his second individual national championship in the 200 fly with a time of 1:37.66. Kharun, a two-time bronze medalist in the 2024 Paris Olympics, also helped the Sun Devils win four relay titles at the NCAA Swim and Dive Championships, and earned seven All-American honors with three top-three finishes in his individual events (50 free, 100 fly, 200 fly). He was responsible for 52 points, which ranked third among men’s swimmers at the NCAAs. Additionally, Kharun was named Big 12 Men’s Swimmer of the Meet for winning three individual titles and four relays, helping the Sun Devils defend their Big 12 Conference title. Kharun later set Big 12 records in the 50 free (18.24) and the 100 fly (42.92) at the NCAA Championships. 12
Ilya Kharun
All-Big 12 First Teams Men’s team Adam Chaney Andy Dobrzanski JT Ewing Remi Fabiani Reece Grady Jonathan Itzhaki Ilya Kharun
Women’s team Jonny Kulow Noah Mudadu Quin Seider Filip Senc-Samardzic Brayden Taivassalo Jordan Tiffany Lucien Vergnes
Albane Cachot Deniz Ertan Jordan Greber Kayden Hayes Grace Lindberg Alexa Reyna Miriam Sheehan
Gerda Szilagyi Julia Ullmann Sonia Vaishnani Lucie Vasquez
13
Winter sports Women’s Basketball
Miller takes ASU to NCAA Tournament in debut season After the best start in school history, Sun Devils tally 24 wins — the most in a decade by the program In 2025–26, Sun Devil Women’s Basketball qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2018–19 season. Along the way, the Sun Devils set the school record for the best start in school history (15-0), which tied the school record for longest winning streak and earned them a mention on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.” In her first season at the helm, Head Coach Molly Miller and her staff led ASU to 24 wins, the most by the program since the 2015–16 squad won 26 games. The program’s plus-14 wins from the 2024–25 season placed it among the top five best turnarounds in the nation. Junior McKinna Brackens averaged a team-best 14.4 points per game and scored a career-high 31 at Utah on Dec. 31. Miller was one of only two firstyear head coaches at the 2026 NCAA Tournament, where they lost 57-55 to Virginia in a first-four matchup in Iowa City. 14
McKinna Brackens
Anthony “Pig” Johnson
Wrestling
Ruiz, Szuba earn All-American status at NCAA Championships
Men’s Basketball
Hurley caps 11-year tenure with pair of big wins
Sun Devil Wrestling had a pair of All-Americans in redshirt sophomore Nicco Ruiz (165 pounds) and graduate student David Szuba (heavyweight). At the NCAA Championships in Cleveland, Ruiz placed fourth at 165 pounds, and Szuba took seventh in the heavyweight division. ASU finished 13th in the team standings with 36.5 points. The Sun Devils have now placed in the top 15 at the NCAA Championships nine times during Head Coach Zeke Jones’ tenure. Nicco Ruiz
Sun Devil Men’s Basketball closed out the Bobby Hurley era with four consecutive home wins that included upsets of No. 13 Texas Tech (Feb. 17) and No. 14 Kansas (March 3), marking the first time ASU defeated two top-15 teams since 2018–19. The Sun Devils ended up with six Quad 1 wins: against Texas Tech (19), Kansas (21), Santa Clara (40), Texas (42), Oklahoma (48) and Baylor (50). Coach Hurley was 185-167 (.526) overall in his 11 seasons, leaving Tempe as the second-winningest coach in program history behind only Ned Wulk. 15
03
ASU’s victory in the Big 12 Softball Tournament title game earned the program its fourth conference championship.
Spring sports
Softball
Noteworthy stats
45
season win total, ASU’s most since 2018 and third-most in the past 13 seasons
1.3 million average number of viewers who watched ASU and Texas square off in Game 3 of the NCAA Austin Super Regional, making it the most-viewed NCAA Super Regional game in ESPN history
13
consecutive games ASU won away from Tempe from April 14–May 21
16
Claiming the crown Backed by three home runs, Brown blanks top-seeded Texas Tech as ASU brings home its first Big 12 softball title The victory gave Arizona State Senior Kenzie Brown came through with a shutout of No. 3/4 Texas Tech its fourth conference championship, joining the 2008 (Pac-10), 2011 to cap ASU’s 4-0 win in the Big 12 (Pac-10) and 2022 (Pac-12) squads. Softball Tournament title game. “All of this might sink in tomorrow The Sun Devils scored all their … sometime … maybe … I don’t runs via the long ball. Tanya Windle know,” said ASU broke a 0-0 tie by Head Coach Megan sending a 3-1 pitch Nearly 600,000 Bartlett. “I’m just over the right-field viewers tuned so grateful for this fence for her eighth in to ASU’s win group of young home run of the over Texas Tech, women, so proud of season. Emily Schepp making it the mostjust everything that’s extended the lead watched Big 12 gone into this season with a two-run homer, Championship by everyone. There then Katie Chester softball game ever. were newcomers who went back-to-back bought into what we with her corner-infield were saying during the summer and teammate to make it 4-0 Sun Devils. how we were building this program The four-run lead was more than over the last four seasons. And enough for Brown, as she continued then people like Kenzie, who stayed to limit Texas Tech’s high-powered when she could’ve left and believed offense. She struck out nine, and trusted us. We did this the pushing her tournament total to right way.” 16 strikeouts in 14 innings of work.
17
Spring sports Softball
Hairston’s highlights
Brown drafted into AUSL Following Arizona State’s 13-0 win over UTEP on April 7, ESPN reporter Holly Rowe presented Kenzie Brown with an Athletes Unlimited Softball League “Golden Ticket,” signaling her selection in the professional league’s 2026 draft. A month later, the Portland Cascade made the Lake City, Illinois, native the third of four draft picks by the organization. “I just feel really lucky to be drafted … I’m just looking forward to playing with everyone,” Brown said. “I think it just shows how ASU has given me all the tools my teammates and I needed to be successful at this level.” Brown was a three-time Big 12 Pitcher of the Week, a consensus All-American, an All-Big 12 First Team selection and a CSC Academic All-District honoree. She’s posted more than 20 career double-digit strikeout performances, including a 13-strikeout outing against Oklahoma in Tempe on opening night of the 2026 regular season.
Kenzie Brown
18
0
NCAA Division I baseball players who had a higher weighted on-base average than Landon Hairston in 2026
28
consecutive games that Hairston had a hit in May, the fifth-longest hitting streak in school history
81
RBIs recorded by Hairston, the most by a leadoff hitter in the country and tied for fifth overall
Landon Hairston
Baseball
Hairston named nation’s best player Record-setting slugger adds Baseball America’s top honor to his Big 12 Player of the Year award Fifteen Sun Devils have been honored as the National Player of the Year in college baseball. That exclusive club now includes Landon Hairston. Hairston’s record-setting 2026 season — he batted .400 and hit an ASU singleseason record 28 home runs — made him Baseball America’s choice for the top player in the country. The Queen Creek native was also named Big 12 Player of the Year, becoming ASU’s first conference player of the year since 2010, when Zach MacPhee earned Arizona State’s fourth consecutive honor from the Pac-10 (following Brett Wallace in 2007 and 2008, and Jason Kipnis in 2009). The Golden Spikes finalist led the Big 12 in batting average (.400), slugging percentage (.860), total bases (202) and runs (77). Hairston, who has announced he’ll be staying at Arizona State for next season, is just the seventh non-draft-eligible player ever to win Baseball America’s National Player of the Year award. 19
Spring sports Women’s Tennis
Dominant finish results in Big 12 title Led by Tverijonaite and newcomer Ovrootsky, ASU closes the season with nine straight conference wins With a 4-0 sweep of Utah in April, Sun Devil Women’s Tennis won a share of the 2026 Big 12 regular-season title. ASU closed the season with nine consecutive conference wins — its best streak since 2016. The conference championship was Jamea Jackson’s third as a head coach. She previously won a pair of Ivy League championships with Princeton in 2023 and 2024. Junior Emilija Tverijonaite was named Big 12 Player of the Year, becoming the first Sun Devil in program history to earn a playerof-the-year honor in any conference. She is the sixth player in program history to reach 30 singles wins. Tverijonaite was 8-2 in the Big 12 and 5-1 against ranked opponents. Vivian Ovrootsky earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Year after posting a league-best 18-1 record in singles. The graduate transfer went unbeaten in the regular season, taking 37 of 42 sets after January 17. She went 14-0 from the No. 3 position in the spring and had an undefeated regular season, going 18-0. Tverijonaite and Ovrootsky both earned All-Big 12 First Team honors in singles, along with junior Sara Svetac, who went 8-4 in the regular season. The team hosted its first NCAA Regional in more than 20 years, picking up a first-round win over Denver, 4-0, before dropping its secondround match to No. 18 UCLA, 4-3. 20
Noteworthy stats
11
wins in conference play in 2026, the most in program history
17
matches won in straight sets by Vivian Ovrootsky during the regular season
32
matches won overall by Emilija Tverijonaite, tied for second-most in ASU history
Emilija Tverijonaite
Spring sports highlights Beach Volleyball Beach Volleyball finished No. 12 in the final AVCA Coaches Poll for the third year in a row. The Sun Devils had 10 ranked wins, including two against top-10 teams. ASU started the year 10-0, which marked both the best start and longest winning streak in program history. Teagan Ng
Lacrosse Teagan Ng and Lydia Oldknow ended their lacrosse careers atop the program’s goal-scoring record books, with Ng at No. 1 (183) and Oldknow at No. 2 (181).
Golf Patience Rhodes was named the Big 12 Women’s Golfer of the Year as women’s golf earned another NCAA top-10 finish, while men’s golf produced two AllAmericans in Michael Mjaaseth and Connor Williams.
Men’s Tennis After welcoming six transfers to Tempe, the men’s tennis team had the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in Ofek Shimanov and made their third NCAA Tournament appearance in four seasons.
Track and Field Sun Devil Track and Field saw two of its student-athletes take home All-America honors, as graduate discus thrower Ines Lopez earned first-team status after placing third at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Dayton Carlson took 15th in the men’s 800m to achieve second-team All-America status.
Water Polo
Millie Quin
ASU posted the program’s third-best win total in history and finished fifth in the final Collegiate Water Polo Association national rankings. Millie Quin became the all-time leading scorer in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation history after scoring five goals against Indiana to reach 295 for her career.
ASU has won nine Big 12 Championships since joining the conference, the most in a two-year period in school history. 21
04
Jonny Kulow with Mike Spiegler of the NCAA committee.
Academics
Swimming and Diving
Elite ScholarAthlete Jonny Kulow’s report card
4.0
GPA in microbiology
15
CSCAA All-America honors
Bronze
medal in the 400-meter freestyle relay, representing Team USA at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships
22
Jonny Kulow is Sun Devil Athletics’ latest recipient of the NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete award, recognized for his 4.0 GPA in microbiology alongside his success in the pool. Kulow helped lead ASU to a national championship in 2024 with victories in the 400 medley and 400 free relays. He earned 15 CSCAA All-America honors, eight Big 12 titles and five Pac-12 championships while contributing to four consecutive conference team titles. Internationally, he represented Team USA at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, earning a bronze medal in the 400-meter freestyle relay, and was named to the U.S. National Team for 2025–26. He is also a two-time CSC Academic All-American Team Member of the Year.
The NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete award is given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA and presented at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s championships.
Big 12 bestows new award on swimmer Jonny Kulow added another accolade to his crowded trophy case when he was named one of three recipients of the inaugural Bob Bowlsby Award. Created to honor former commissioner Bob Bowlsby, the award is the Big 12’s highest individual honor for student-athletes. It recognizes their leadership and excellence in both competition and the classroom.
Academic All-Americans Lacrosse
Helen Park
Park named Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year Redshirt-senior defender Helen Park was named the Big 12 Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year for lacrosse after earning a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. On the field, Park tallied 11 ground balls and nine caused turnovers this season. A Sun Devil Lacrosse player has been the recipient of the Big 12’s scholar-athlete award the past two seasons.
• Andy Dobrzanski Men’s Swimming and Diving, Second Team • Keyshaun Elliott Football, First Team • Jonny Kulow Men’s Swimming and Diving, First Team • Ilya Kharun Men’s Swimming and Diving, Second Team • Vivian Ovrootsky Women’s Tennis, Third Team
23
Academics
Swimming and Diving
Léon Marchand
Gold medalist Marchand finishes with a ‘Forks Up’ Globe-trotting swim star says he couldn’t have completed his degree without ASU Online If Léon Marchand’s name sounds familiar, well, it should. He won four gold medals — in the 200-meter medley, the 200-meter backstroke, the 200-meter butterfly and the 400-meter medley — at the 2024 Summer Olympics. And he did it for his native country of France. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime 24
kind of thing,” Marchand said. “I remember being on the podium and being like, ‘OK, this is going to happen only once. Please enjoy it.’” As Marchand celebrated in the pool after winning his fourth gold medal, he displayed the “Forks Up” sign, making sure the world knew he was a Sun Devil. He won 10 NCAA titles in three seasons at ASU and
led the men’s swim team to the 2024 NCAA title. “ASU brought me so much in terms of swimming, but also in terms of what I was doing in school, the people I met and the experiences I had,” Marchand said. “The ‘Forks’ were something I was proud of showing to other people.” Last December, Marchand celebrated another accomplishment: receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science through ASU Online. “I don’t think I would have been able to finish my degree if it wasn’t online,” he said. “So, I’m grateful for that.”
Football
Abney is first Barrett athlete drafted into NFL A member of Dillingham’s first recruiting class, star DB grew into a leader on field and off Keith Abney is one of the most consistent Sun Devil studentathletes across all sports this century. And on April 25, 2026, he became the first student-athlete from Barrett, The Honors College to be drafted into the NFL when the Detroit Lions took him in the fifth round. Many Sun Devils are in Barrett, and the college is honored and proud of Abney, who committed and signed with ASU and Coach Dillingham when the program was coming off a 3-9 season, then stuck with the program after another 3-9 season in his first year. The defensive back from Dallas played a huge role in the Sun Devils’ 2024 Big 12 title team and during the 8-4 campaign in 2025. A member of the Pat Tillman Leadership Council, Abney recorded 44 tackles, including 36 solo stops, eight assists, one tackle for loss and one sack during his final season. During his ASU career he earned 2024 All-Big 12 Second Team honors, 2025 All-Big 12 First Team honors and 2025 PFSN First Team All-American honors.
44
Student-athletes enrolled in Barrett, The Honors College Women’s Basketball
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Martina Fantini
Caleb Liban Jake Mason
Football Keith Abney Kyson Brown Cory Butler Cameron Dyer Jake Fette Kanyon Floyd Martell Hughes Isaiah Iosefa Davis Kinney Cardae Mack Mason Marden Uriah Neloms
Gymnastics Jessie Rosenberg
Lacrosse Averie Cage Kara Harris Gabriella Henry Morgan Livingston Teagan Lowery Caroline Lyttle Alyssa Nichols Sierra Ryan Sienna Whitington
Soccer
Keith Abney and Tara Williams, dean of Barrett, The Honors College.
Women’s Swimming and Diving Grace Lindberg Libby Thai
Women’s Tennis Lily Taylor
Men’s Track and Field Marlon Colbert Tyler Schierenberg Boston Walseth
Women’s Track and Field Taylor Brown M’Tima Hamilton
Triathlon Alexandra Campbell Madison Judas
Volleyball Ella Lewis
Wrestling Daniel Miranda
Norah Bell Kierra Blundell Addison Haws Bri Nunley Katherine Ozard Tano Uzezi-Itesa Ava Wright
25
Academics Sun Devil Athletics celebrates 2025–26 graduates Baseball Nickolas Anello Jake Barrett Joshua Butler Blayne (Nuu) Contrades Sean Fitzpatrick Kole Klecker Colin Linder Garrett Michel Dean Toigo
Men’s Basketball Anthony Johnson Alston Mason Adante Walker-Holiman Moe Odum
Women’s Basketball Deborah Davenport Heavenly Greer Acacia Hayes Jordan Jones Makayla Moore Last-Tear Poa Jaylah Robinson Marley Washenitz
Beach Volleyball Arden Besecker Reagan Hope Daniella Kensinger Ava Kirunchyk Samaya Morin Kendall Whitmarsh
Football Josh Atkins Kyndrich Breedlove Kyson Brown Raleek Brown Jordan Crook
26
Parker (Cade) Davis Prince Dorbah Keyshaun Elliott Derek Eusebio Adama Fall C.J. Fite My’Keil Gardner Jesus Gomez Juarez Nyland Green Darryl Harris Krew Jackson Jacob Kongaika Jaren Hamilton Cameron Harpole Malik McClain Joseph McGinnis Jimeto Obigbo Roman Pitre Jordyn Tyson Javan Robinson Tate Romney Myles Rowser Zac Swanson Dohnovan West Tyler Wigglesworth Blazen Lono Wong
Hockey
Men’s Golf
Softball
Michael Mjaaseth
Women’s Golf Beth Coulter Patience Rhodes Paula Schulz-Hanssen
Gymnastics Isabella Kowan Kayla Lee Caroline Lichtman Kimberly Smith
Bennett Schimek Connor Hasley Cruz Lucius Tucker Ness
Lacrosse Jordyn Behar Claire Beucher Jenna Casole Keeley Cleland Emma Heenan Angelina Longo Teagan Ng Lydia Oldknow Helen Park
Soccer Meighan Farrell Grace Gillard Andrea Kraetzer Isabel Monck Brianna Nunley Pauline Nelles Tatum Thomason Ava Wright Cameron Valladares Yannixa Acuña Yasmine Avila Kenzie Brown Katie Chester Meika Lauppe Nehanda Lewis Annemarie Murphy Madison Pomykalski Kaylee Pond Millie Roberts Sydney Saenz Samantha Swan
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student-athletes graduated during the 2025–26 academic year
Brooklyn Ulrich Tanya Windle
Swimming and Diving Indigo Armon Andy Dobrzanski Deniz Ertan James (JT) Ewing Remi Fabiani Ella Guilfoil Hannah Hurleman Ryan King Jonny Kulow Caleb Liban Léon Marchand Jake Mason Ginger McMahon Thomas Palmer Parker Reynolds Katherine Randall Filip Senc-Samardzic Lane Stallworth Zoe Summar Gerda Szilagyi Jordan Tiffany Amayah Wiley
Men’s Tennis Mathis Bondaz Roi Ginat Shu Matsuoka Kristof Minarik
Track and Field Aliyah Adams Ines Lopez Arias Ashantai Bollers Dayton Carlson Mia Chavez Grace Cunningham Asher Leslie
Brandon Lloyd Ava McCumber Gandara Harlie Medrano Naiya Morgan Trevin Moyer Jaden Patterson Kennedi Porter Alex Ramirez Tyler Schierenberg Alexia Schofield Kaleb Simpson Myla Tate Parker Waugh
Triathlon Hope Frost Madison Judas Naomi Ruff
Sanne Keijzer Sophie Shorter-Robinson Nioka Thomas Millie Quin
Volleyball
Wrestling
Estella Zatechka Brynn Covell Sydney Henry Bailey Miller Tatum Parrott
Roger (Shay) Addison Benjamin Alanis Carter Dibert Michael Kilic Chance McLane Cohlton Schultz Damion Schunke David Szuba Cael Valencia
Water Polo Gabriella Gaetano Molly Glad
The graduating studentathletes of 2025–26 celebrate during the Sun Devil Athletics Stole Ceremony at Mullett Arena.
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05 Community Service
St. Mary’s Food Drive
Pat’s Run Pat’s Run
Highlighted projects • A New Leaf Boo Bash • A New Leaf Mental Health Fair • Arizona Humane Society • Big 12 Fueling Families • Canopy For Kids • Pat’s Run • Phoenix Children’s Hospital • Read Across America • Sparky’s Tour • Tempe Healing Fields • Words Across Time
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Big 12 and Sprouts Community Outreach
Giving back
Inclusive Sports Foundation
Sun Devil Athletics carried out more than 40 departmental projects and served more than 20 nonprofit organizations in 2025–26. Community-service activities included visiting Phoenix Children’s Hospital and helping at water stations at Pat’s Run. The lacrosse team took part in the Read Across America at Justine Spitalny STE³AM School, and many teams volunteered at the 9/11 Tempe Healing Field’s annual planting of flags.
Inclusive Sports Foundation
Tempe Healing Fields
Arizona Humane Society
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06 Philanthropy
Football
Brian and Kelly Swette
Swettes’ $10M endowment Brian and Kelly Swette say historic donation is a testament to their confidence in Dillingham
Noteworthy stats
71.3% year-over-year increase in donor contributions
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Brian Swette loves college sports and what they mean to a university. “Success in sports is important for the university,” said Swette, who graduated from Arizona State University in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. “It enhances the college experience. It brings a sense of community and pride. It enriches our brand. It engages alumni and builds support for the university.”
That belief, along with his support of ASU Head Football Coach Kenny Dillingham, led Brian and his wife, Kelly, to establish the Swette Family Endowed Football Coach position. Their $10 million gift is the largest endowed leadership position in Sun Devil Athletics. The gift will support: • Recruitment and retention of the best and brightest studentathletes to ASU
Hockey • Recruitment and retention of best-in-class coaches and staff • Retention and compensation of Sun Devil Football studentathletes as allowed by the NCAA • New technologies to enhance athletes’ physical and mental development “It’s an honor to have the Swette family endow the head coaching position, and I can’t wait to continue building this program into what it can be with continued support,” said Dillingham. “Commitments like this show the direction of the program and buy-in this program has from the community.” Swette said he hopes the gift will inspire others to support Sun Devil Athletics. “It’s time for the alumni base, business community and our political leaders to embrace our athletic programs,” Swette said. “We’ll never have a better coach. Kids love coming here. We have great academics. “If you were trying to decide where to go to school, I don’t think there could be a better place in terms of education, personal growth, opportunities and having a great college experience. No one can beat ASU in that regard.”
Reaching new heights with help from the Friends Sun Devil Hockey receives endowment for Coach Powers from longtime supporters Mike and Nancy Friend A dozen years ago, if someone had predicted Sun Devil Hockey would produce an NHL goaltender whose name would hang in the rafters, the likely response would’ve been, What? Who? What rafters? The Sun Devils went from club status at a since-imploded building to playing in a Taj Mahal of college hockey, and several former players — including Seattle Kraken goalie Joey Daccord, whose retired jersey hangs at Mullett Arena — are now active in the NHL. Arizona State has become the face of desert hockey. And Mike Friend and his wife, Nancy, hope to keep it that way. The Friends have generously invested in making The Greg Powers Men’s Hockey Head Coach Endowment a reality. “We were inspired to make a family-legacy gift to
fully endow the hockey head coaching position because we believe in Coach Powers,” Mike Friend said. “There is no Sun Devil Hockey program without him, and we know the best is on the way.” Powers is entering his 12th season as ASU’s head coach. Under his leadership, the team qualified for the NCAA Tournament as an independent (which is nearly impossible to do), then had a subsequent NCAA tourney berth canceled by COVID. This past season, the Sun Devils finished second in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference and advanced to the Frozen Faceoff. Mike and Nancy Friend are longtime supporters of Sun Devil Athletics. Mike graduated in 1978 with a BSME (mechanical engineering), and their children, Nick and Lindsey, are ASU graduates.
Head Coach Greg Powers
Head Coach Kenny Dillingham
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07 Facility Upgrades
Noteworthy stats
106,000 square footage of turf fields
78,000
square footage of football practice field
6,250
square footage of lobby/restrooms/ storage
Donate to Sun Devil Athletics:
Contribute to the new indoor practice facility:
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Football
| Volleyball
A training facility worthy of champions Indoor-outdoor complex will help football and volleyball programs develop athletes and recruit at an elite level In the new era of athlete acquisition and retention, it’s essential to have facilities that attract top-tier talent and position Arizona State as a national leader in innovation and performance. ASU’s new indoor football and volleyball training facility represents an elite commitment to player development and safety that will help the Sun Devils recruit the nation’s best athletes. Tempe urgently needs a football training facility to combat extreme heat and unpredictable weather that limit outdoor practice. This state-of-the-art facility will transform how ASU studentathletes train, prepare and compete. A full outdoor field and an additional half field will give athletes flexibility to maximize reps and Game-Day readiness. A full indoor field will ensure they can prepare at the highest level, rain or shine, day or night. The facility also will serve as a hub for Sun Devil fans during Game Day, giving them a place to gather, connect and celebrate.
“The new Sun Devil Football Practice Facility isn’t just a building, it’s a game changer. It will give our studentathletes a place to prepare, compete and push themselves every single day, no matter the weather.” – KENNY DILLINGHAM, S U N D E V I L FO OT BA LL H E AD COACH
Men’s and Women’s Basketball
| Volleyball
| Gymnastics
| Wrestling
Desert Financial Arena gets $100M makeover Multiyear renovation will enhance fan experience with new seating, new court and upgraded concessions Desert Financial Arena is about to get a brand-new look. Arizona State University is embarking on a multiyear, multiphase renovation of the arena — home of the Sun Devils’ Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Volleyball, Gymnastics and Wrestling teams — with an estimated cost of $100 million. The project, which has an anticipated completion date of December 2029 and requires approval by the Arizona Board of Regents, includes:
• New loge boxes • Club-level seating and premium floor seats • A new court • New restrooms and the renovation of existing restrooms • New and upgraded concession stand offerings • A new video board The project also includes locker room improvements and upgrades to the air conditioning system, as well as ensuring ADA compliance with
new elevators and accessible stairs (with handrails) to the event floor. The majority of the work will take place during the months of April to October, ensuring the teams that use the arena will not have to play their games elsewhere. 33
08 In Memoriam
Football
Miller made incredible impact on Sun Devil Football Imposing and beloved, former O-lineman had served as assistant strength and conditioning coach the past three seasons Steven Miller played for ASU from 2016–19 and started every game in both 2017 and 2019.
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Sun Devil Athletics lost a great one last spring in Steven Miller, a valued member of the Sun Devil Football program as both a player and coach for nearly a decade. He is deeply missed. Everything Miller did in his life, he did big — and he did it with others in mind. The physically imposing offensive lineman starred on and off the field while a member of the Sun Devil Football program as a player and later as a coach. Not only was Miller widely regarded as a dominant force in the trenches, he was recognized as an amazing teammate who developed strong bonds and relationships with Sun Devils from all eras. These
characteristics are what made his transition to the coaching profession so natural. Miller had served as ASU’s assistant strength and conditioning coach for the past three seasons. A Gilbert High School graduate, Miller played for ASU from 2016– 19. Over the span of those four seasons, Miller started 35 games, including all 13 of the 2017 and 2019 seasons. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies, with concentrations in business and educational studies, in 2018. While Miller’s contributions on the field were significant, it is his legacy of putting others first and being there for his brothers that will live on within the program and throughout the Sun Devil Football facility.
Triathlon
Henry was a game changer for Sun Devil Triathlon Two-time national titlist and summa cum laude graduate took ASU to a new level during her storied career The Sun Devil Triathlon family lost a beloved member on Feb. 8, 2026, when alumna Hannah Henry was tragically killed after being struck by a hit-and-run driver while cycling. “We lost an incredible person who had wonderful relationships in our program,” said ASU Triathlon Head Coach Cliff English. “Her passing has us filled with grief because she was more than a great student-athlete, she was a proud graduate of Arizona State who cared deeply about the program and everyone that was and is a part of it.” Henry is forever etched in the Sun Devil record books, having won two individual national titles, in 2017 and 2018, and finishing as the national runner-up in 2021. ASU won four national championships during Henry’s career, part of a run of seven straight from 2016–23. “She did so much for us as a team, but also for the sport,” English said. “Sometimes you need to have those people who are game changers who drive it forward, and people chase. The level we are at now in NCAA Triathlon is because of her.” Henry excelled in academics, graduating summa cum laude in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in business entrepreneurship and a minor in nutrition and healthy living. She went on to complete a master’s degree in global management in 2023. Collegiate triathlon nationals will be held in Tempe this year. The way forward for English, and others who knew Henry, is to “focus on the brightness she brought.”
“She was more than a great student-athlete, she was a proud graduate of Arizona State who cared deeply about the program and everyone that was and is a part of it.” —CLIFF ENGLISH, S U N D E V I L T R I AT H L O N H E A D C O A C H
Sun Devil Athletics announced the creation of the Hannah Henry Memorial Scholarship, established by Jo-Ann and Lowry Barfield, to honor Hannah’s life, legacy and impact.
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Football
London calling Sun Devil Football set to clash with Big 12 foe Kansas at Union Jack Classic at iconic Wembley Stadium Arizona State and Kansas will square off in the first Union Jack Classic at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19. The Big 12 matchup will take place during Week 3 of the 2026 season. The Union Jack Classic will be the third Big 12 football game in two seasons played in Europe. Iowa State and Kansas State opened the 2025 season in Dublin at the 36
Aer Lingus College Football Classic, and TCU will face North Carolina in the same event to open the 2026 season. “The Big 12 is leading the charge to take college football global, and we’re proud to be part of it,” ASU Athletics Director Graham Rossini said. “College sports are about providing our student-athletes with life-changing experiences, and playing in the Union Jack Classic
“The Big 12 is leading the charge to take college football global, and we’re proud to be part of it.” — GRAHAM ROSSINI, S U N D E V I L AT H L E T I C S D I R E C T O R
at Wembley Stadium will be an incredible one.” One of the world’s most iconic sports venues, Wembley Stadium is the national stadium of England and the home of English soccer. Wembley Stadium has also played host to the NFL’s International Series since 2007.