Personnel and Olympic Trials: Happenings in Golden Grizzlies Athletics
This summer has been a sports whirlwind at Oakland University. Here’s what you need to know to catch up:
Basketball filled the holes left behind by former point guard Kay Felder, associate head coach Saddi Washington and assistant coach Dionne Phelps. Stevie Clark, a former backup guard at Oklahoma State, is coming to Oakland. Dan Hipsher will be associate head coach and Cornell Mann will be an assistant. Hipsher has almost 40 years of coaching experience, most recently at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Mann was an assistant at Iowa State.
Voice of the Golden Grizzlies Neal Ruhl has re-upped and his pipes will remain on the air for one year more for sports including basketball. He said Oakland is his home, no matter where he goes.
Former baseball head coach John Musachio’s contract was not renewed. Oakland hired Colin Kaline (grandson of Tigers great Al Kaline) and promoted former top assistant Jacke Healey to become co-head coaches, the first Division I program to do so.
Assistant volleyball coach Claire Galli was promoted to associate head coach. This is the first time the program has ever had that position.
Junior swimmer Rachel Waite swam the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:38.68, finishing 112th at the Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb. She swam the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:13.22, finishing 115th.
Freshman swimmer Devon Nowicki swam the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:02.28, finishing 34th at the Olympic Trials, the second-highest showing of an Oakland swimmer there. He swam the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:18.81, finishing 53rd.
Swimming and diving hired former University of Pittsburgh assistant Stacy Busack to replace Shawn Kornoelje. The four-time Big 10 Champion will be an assistant.
Head men’s golf coach Mark Engel announced his retirement. He’d coached Detroit for 24 before coaching Oakland for two. Former top assistant at the University of Michigan Nick Pumford was hired as his replacement.
Golfer Evan Bowser (class of 2016) won three amateur tournaments. Sophomore Jake Kneen finished 12th at the Michigan Open Championship. Freshman Marc Norton won the Leinster Youths Championship at Esker Hills in Ireland. Jacob Johnson made the cut at the Michigan Open.
Shortstop Mike Brosseau (class of 2016) signed a free agent contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. He’s playing in the Golf Coast League and is batting .310.
Max Hooper and Elena Popkey were named to the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Team, which recognizes academic and athletic performance. Hooper led the Horizon League in threes per game (3.3) while getting his masters in public administration. Popkey tied Oakland’s career assists record (483), received a counseling degree and maintained a 3.85 GPA. She also volunteered for many organizations.
