Indiana State University Men's Football

After being named the 21st head coach in the history of Indiana State on Jan. 23, 2017, Mallory enters his seventh season at the helm of the program in 2023. “Curt Mallory is a grinder who has coaching in his DNA,” Director of Athletics Sherard Clinkscales said. “His dedication to developing young men into leaders on the field and in life has been a core piece of his coaching philosophy throughout his career. He will raise the competitive bar and hold all accountable to that end. He is the right person ¬at the right time to lead this program into becoming a nationally recognized school. I am excited to welcome Curt, his wife, Lori, and his three children into the Sycamore family.” Mallory, a 22-year veteran as an assistant coach in the college ranks, is part of one of the more prominent football families in the United States, as he is the son of Indiana University’s all-time winningest head coach Bill Mallory, who coached the Hoosiers from 1984-96. Bill Mallory was also the head coach at Miami of Ohio (1969-73), Colorado (1974-78) and Northern Illinois (1980-83) over an illustrious 27-year coaching career. Mallory also has two brothers in the coaching ranks: Doug, a defensive analyst for the Michigan Wolverines, and Mike, a special teams coach with the Denver Broncos. “I’m extremely excited to be coming back home to the state of Indiana to become part of the Indiana State University family,” Mallory said. “I would like to thank President Dan Bradley, Sherard Clinkscales and the whole administration at Indiana State for this great honor. This University and the city of Terre Haute are very intriguing to me as a coach, as there is a lot of potential to build a strong football program here. Most of all, it feels amazing to be back in this great state again and work alongside all the wonderful people I know throughout the state.” In Mallory’s first season in Terre Haute, the Sycamores finished 0-11 overall and 0-8 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with seven games coming against nationally ranked foes. He coached five All-MVFC players in 2017 including linebacker Jonas Griffith and tight end Jacquet McClendon who were tabbed to the Second Team while running back LeMonte Booker, punter Thomas Bouldin and linebacker Katrell Moss were named Honorable Mention. Mallory and his staff then went on to mount the biggest turnaround in collegiate football in 2018 after leading the Sycamores to a 7-4 finish, a third-place finish in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and a No. 22 national ranking. The Sycamores closed out the season winning five-straight games, including three on the road to make push for the postseason. Entering the season, ISU was tabbed to finish last in the MVFC with just one voter not picking the Sycamores to finish last.  With the turnaround, Mallory became the just the second head coach in program history to earn MVFC Coach of the Year honors. He was named a finalist for the STATS FCS Eddie Robinson award, which honors the National Coach of the Year. Mallory was tabbed the FCS Coach of the Year by Phil Steele.  In year two Mallory coached 10 All-MVFC honorees including the League’s Newcomer of the Year in quarterback Ryan Boyle. Running back Ja'Quan Keys and linebacker Jonas Griffith were tabbed with First Team All-MVFC honors. Boyle, center Wyatt Wozniak, linebacker Katrell Moss, defensive back Rondell Green and place kicker Jerry Nunez earned Second Team accolades. The Sycamores also claimed three Honorable Mention selections in offensive linemen Isaiah Edwards and Tate Leavitt to go along with wide receiver Dante Hendrix. Indiana State saw five players named to the MVFC Newcomer Team after the Sycamores put four on the offensive side of the ball led by quarterback Ryan Boyle. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Dante Hendrix also earned the honor while a pair of offensive linemen in Isaiah Edwards and Tate Leavitt rounded out the offensive honors for the Trees. First-year safety Denzel Bonner picked up the honor for the Sycamores on the defensive side of the ball. Mallory's 2019 team finished 5-7 after several key pieces were lost due to injuries including Preseason MVFC Quarterback Ryan Boyle, who was injured in the fourth game of the season. Mallory led his team to a 3-5 in the MVFC including back-to-back wins over Youngstown State and Missouri State to end the season. Wide receiver Dante Hendrix, linebacker Jonas Griffith and return specialist Dakota Caton earned First Team All-MVFC honors while fullback Dominique Dafney, center Wyatt Wozniak and place kicker Jerry Nunez earned Second Team accolades. The Sycamores also claimed three Honorable Mention selections as linebacker Clayton Glasco, defensive lineman Inoke Moala and safety Michael Thomas were recognized. The Sycamores were back on the field in 2021 after enduring a COVID-shutdown for the entirety of the 2020 season. Indiana State topped Eastern Illinois in their first game back on the field and followed up with wins at Eastern Kentucky, at home against both Western Illinois and Youngstown State, before wrapping up the year with a road win at Illinois State. ISU went 5-6 in its first campaign back in action with a 3-5 mark in MVFC play. Accolades continues to come in for the Sycamores as defensive end Inoke Moala recorded First Team All-Conference honors after sitting among the MVFC leaders in sacks and tackles for loss. Dante Hendrix (WR), JJ Henderson (DB), and Wyatt Harwood (LS) were all honored on the Honorable Mention squad. The Sycamores battled through one of the nation’s toughest schedules in 2022 with four of the preseason top-six ranked teams in the country on the slate this past season. ISU had plenty of bright spots throughout the year including the MVC Freshman of the Year (Cade Chambers), while six Sycamores earned All-Conference accolades. ISU was further honored by Rylan Cole earning Sophomore All-American status by HERO Sports. Another tough slate awaited the Sycamores in 2023 as Indiana State faced off against eighth ranked teams over the course of the regular season, while adding two games against FBS opponents. The Sycamores had five players named to the MVFC All-Conference team with both Garret Ollendieck and Maddix Blackwell eclipsing the 100-tackle mark over the course of the season. Prior to coming to Indiana State, Mallory was the pass coordinator and secondary coach under former North Dakota State head coach Craig Bohl at the University of Wyoming in 2015 and 2016. There, Mallory mentored 2016 Thorpe Award semifinalist Andrew Wingard, who was a First-Team All-Conference honoree as a sophomore. The previous year in 2015, Mallory helped Wingard and Marcus Epps to nods as Honorable Mention All-Americans. Mallory spent the previous four seasons at his alma mater, the University of Michigan, as a secondary coach under Brady Hoke. There, he worked with several superb defenses, including the seventh best in the FBS his final year in 2014 that only allowed 311.3 YPG. That same year, Michigan ranked 15th in rushing defense (117.7 YPG), tied for 19th in passing defense (193.7 YPG) and 27th in scoring defense (22.4 PPG). The Wolverine secondary also finished top-15 in the nation in pass defense in both 2011 and 2012. The 2011 defense was an especially impressive feat that first season, as they jumped from 107th in scoring defense in 2010 to sixth nationally in 2011. In Ann Arbor, Mallory had the opportunity to coach current Jacksonville Jaguars safety Jarrod Wilson, as well as help recruit and coach 2016 Heisman Trophy finalist and projected top 2017 NFL Draft pick Jabrill Peppers during his freshman season in 2014. Mallory was the defensive coordinator at Akron for the 2010 season, and before that he spent five successful seasons at the University of Illinois from 2005-09 under head coach Ron Zook (now the special teams coordinator of the Green Bay Packers). Mallory’s first two seasons in 2005 and 2006 were spent as the secondary coach, and his final three years he was promoted to co-defensive coordinator. At Illinois, Mallory was instrumental in one of the best teams in Illini history in the 2007 Rose Bowl team. That year, Mallory’s Illini defense held opponents to under 20 points per game en route to a 9-4 finish. Illinois also ranked second in the Big Ten in passing defense (182.2 YPG) in 2006 and led the Big Ten in sacks and tackles for loss in 2008. Mallory’s 2006 secondary only allowed 11 passing touchdowns and 6.5 yards per pass attempt all season. At Illinois, Mallory’s prized pupil was All-American Vontae Davis, who was a two-time Thorpe Award semifinalist and a 2009 First-Round NFL Draft Pick of the Miami Dolphins. Davis has been a two-time Pro Bowl selection during his NFL career and has been a member of the Indianapolis Colts since 2012. Other notable pupils at Illinois include current Detroit Lions safety Tavon Wilson, a 2012 Second Round pick of the New England Patriots and a member of New England’s Super Bowl XLIX champion team, and Jeremy “J” Leman, a 2007 All-American linebacker for the Illini Rose Bowl team and current Big Ten Network color analyst. Mallory spent the previous three seasons at Indiana as a secondary coach from 2002-04, which was preceded by one year as the secondary coach at Central Michigan in 2001 and six seasons at Ball State from 1995-2000 in charge of both the linebackers and secondary. Mallory was on staff for Ball State’s 1996 team that went to the Las Vegas Bowl. His coaching career began as a student assistant at Michigan in 1992, followed by two years as a graduate assistant under his father at Indiana in 1993-94. Mallory was a four-year player at the University of Michigan from 1988-91 under legendary head coach Bo Schembechler his first two seasons, followed by Gary Moeller his last two. Mallory was on four Wolverine teams that won a Big Ten title, including three teams that went to a Rose Bowl. His freshman season in 1988 he was on a Rose Bowl champion team that finished the season ranked No. 4 nationally after defeating USC. Mallory capped off his Wolverine career with an interception in Michigan’s 35-3 win over Ole Miss in the 1991 Gator Bowl. Longtime Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr, who led the Wolverines to a national title in 1997, was Mallory’s defensive coordinator during his playing career. Mallory earned his bachelor’s in sport management and communication from the University of Michigan in 1992, and he finished his master’s in outdoor recreation at Indiana University in 1999. Mallory and his wife, Lori, have three children: sons James and Sam, and a daughter, Margo.

Hale joins the Indiana State football team as the defensive ends coach in the spring 2023 following coaching stints at Ball State, Indianapolis, and Franklin College. Hale worked primarily with the defensive line and inside linebackers during his time at Ball State. Over his tenure he was responsible for opponent run game and pass protection breakdown, as well as coached individual positions on both the BSU kickoff and kickoff return teams. Additionally, he worked from the coaches box diagnosing and communicating personnel, calls, and opponent run plays, while working with special teams substitutions and formations.   Prior to his time at BSU, Hale coached two years at the University of Indianapolis (2020-22) as the outside linebacker coach. Hale directed position meetings and handled all responsibilities for the unit as well as working with opponent run game and pass protection breakdown. During his time at Indianapolis, the Greyhounds were the top-ranked Great Lakes Valley Conference defense in the spring of 2021 leading the way in yards per game, rushing yards per game, passing yards per game, and points allowed. Three linebackers earned First Team All-GLVC honors during his coaching tenure.   Hale’s first coaching stint came at Franklin College where he served as the inside linebackers coach from 2019-2020. He managed the quality control team at Franklin in addition to running position meetings and handling all linebacker film grading responsibilities. Franklin boasted the top run defense in the HCAC during his tenure and he coached Second Team All-HCAC selection Brayton Shannon.   Hale was a four-year letter winner with the Franklin College football team and a two-year letter winner on the Franklin Track & Field program. He earned All-Conference honorable mention honors in 2018 and was a member of the Franklin Football Leadership Council.   He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in elementary education in May 2018.  

Henderson led the Sycamore cornerbacks in his first season in 2022 as the ISU assistant coach helped guide a unit that battled injuries to finish among the nation’s best in the pass defense. The Sycamore defensive unit finished among the tops in the FCS allowing 222.9 passing yards per game this past season, while also allowing a 140.26 defensive passing efficiency.

Austin Flyger joins the Indiana State football coaching staff in January 2025 as the defensive line coach.   Flyger spent the last five seasons at North Dakota serving as the Fighting Hawks’ defensive line coach since February 2020. Flyger’s defensive line helped North Dakota limit opponents to under 100 rushing yards in four separate games, including holding Northern Iowa to just 36 yards in the Oct. 19 matchup against the Panthers. The unit remained disciplined up front finishing sixth in FCS in penalties per game getting flagged just 4.0 times per game. The defensive line helped North Dakota have a successful 2023 campaign and played a significant role on fourth downs, providing pressure on opposing quarterbacks and helping the Fighting Hawks finish the year ranked No. 3 in the MVFC in fourth down conversion percentage, turning teams away from first downs on fourth down attempts 47.8 percent of the time. In 2022, Ben McNaboe had a breakout year on the defensive line, finishing the season ranked No. 4 in the conference in both tackles-for-loss per game (1.1) and sacks per game (0.59). He gained all-conference accolades during the year and paced UND in both sacks (6.5) and TFL’s (13). Flyger’s group improved once again in 2021, holding opponents to under 140 yards per game on the ground and ranking near the top of the Missouri Valley and FCS in total scoring defense. Led by a dominating rotation of players, Chandon finished with 21 tackles to pace all defensive linemen. Newcomer McNaboe earned MVFC All-Newcomer Team honors after finishing with 19 tackles, a pair of sacks, an interception and three tackles for loss.    In his first season, Flyger helped guide a defensive line that improved on all fronts in stopping the run, creating negative plays and forcing turnovers. Redshirt sophomore defensive end Jaelen Johnson anchored the line with 13 total tackles, 1.5 TFLs, a sack and three quarterback hurries to help UND reach the FCS quarterfinals for the first time in program history during the 2020-21 season.    Flyger returned to North Dakota, where he started his coaching career as the defensive line coach in 2007-08, after stints at both the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and Division II levels. Most recently before UND, he served as the defensive coordinator for Northern State in 2019, where he helped guide the Wolves to a winning record and a defense that ranked near the top in rushing and red zone defense.   Prior to his second stint at Northern State, Flyger worked at Southern Illinois for seven seasons. While at SIU, he worked with AFCA All-American Ken Boatright, who went on to play in the National Football League with the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks, Deondre Barnett, who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2017, and Anthony Knighton, who was the runner-up for the MVFC Freshman of the Year.   For two seasons, Flyger joined the Northern State staff in his first stint with the Wolves, spending two seasons as the defensive line coach. He worked closely with NSIC first team selection Lincoln Smith during the 2011 season before returning to Southern Illinois.   Flyger was a standout player at Augustana from 2000-03, where he earned All-North Central Conference honors and was named the league’s most valuable defensive lineman as a senior in 2003. Flyger went on to play three seasons with the Sioux Falls Storm of the United Indoor Football League before embarking on a coaching career.   He is a 2005 graduate of Augustana with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Flyger and his wife, Kirsten have two daughters, Norah and Naomi. 

Warinner joins the Sycamores in January 2025 by way of stops at Pittsburgh and Miami (Ohio) were he served as a graduate assistant coach working with the linebackers and safeties.   In his recent stint with the Panthers, Warinner assisted in coaching the linebackers working with All-American Kyle Louis and All-ACC performer Rasheem Biles. He also worked with the special teams unit and assisted in recruiting and visits.   Warinner arrived in Pittsburgh after spending the 2022 season at Miami University, where he was a defensive graduate assistant for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) program and helped the RedHawks advance to the Bahamas Bowl. Miami boasted the MAC's No. 1 rushing defense and scoring defense in 2022.   A former collegiate player himself, Warinner lettered as a graduate linebacker for Miami in 2021. The RedHawks concluded that season with a 27-14 triumph over North Texas in the 2021 Frisco Football Classic.   Warinner previously lettered at Michigan (2020) and Michigan State (2019) as a linebacker and special teams contributor. He was a member of the 2019 Spartans squad that defeated Wake Forest, 27-21, in the Pinstripe Bowl.   A native of Powell, Ohio, Warinner was a standout at Olentangy Liberty High School, earning Associated Press All-Ohio Division I (second team) honors as a linebacker. He additionally was an All-Metro selection by The Columbus Dispatch.   Warinner earned his bachelor's degree in general studies from the University of Michigan in 2021.

Brad Jarman joined the Indiana State coaching staff in April 2025 by way of stints at Bucknell, Missouri State, and Akron over the last three seasons. He will take over the role as Indiana State's special teams coordinator for the upcoming 2025 season.   Jarman comes to the Sycamores by way of Bucknell where he spent the 2024 season with the Bison working as the team's special teams coordinator and linebackers coach. He coached First Team All-Patriot League selections TJ Cadden (return specialist) and Sam Milligan (special teams), as well as linebackers Brad Jamison and Gavin Willis, and punter Matt Schearer to All-Patriot Second Team selections.   Jarman comes to Lewisburg after spending the 2023 season at Missouri State, and he spent the two prior seasons building his collegiate coaching resume at three different levels in 2021 and 2022. Jarman served as Missouri State's director of football operations last fall, overseeing all team logistics during a campaign where the Bears faced five nationally-ranked opponents as well as FBS foe Kansas.   He also oversaw team finances and coordinated all on campus recruiting. On game days, Jarman assisted the Bears with analytics as well as special teams adjustments and communication. Jarman dedicated much of the 2022 calendar year to working at Akron with the Zips' defensive backs and also helped with recruiting in the state of Missouri. In 2021, Jarman spent the spring as an assistant linebackers coach at Coe College in Iowa and working closely with the Kohawks' special teams unit while sharing video coordinator duties. He moved on to Eastern Illinois during the 2021 fall season assisting with the defensive line. A native of Springfield, Jarman is a 2018 graduate of Missouri State and went on to earn his master's degree in 2021. While on campus, Jarman worked as a student assistant on the football staff from 2015 to 2018. He eventually earned the position of defensive graduate assistant coach and held the title from 2018 to 2021.

Funk returns to the Indiana State coaching staff in January 2025 and will serve as the Assistant Head Coach/Run Game Coordinator while also working with the offensive line.   Funk coached at Indiana State in 2017 as the offensive line coach and is a 35-year veteran of the coaching ranks, including 10 seasons as a coordinator   Funk has coached offensive line for 27 seasons, including overseeing the offensive fronts at schools like Michigan, Purdue, San Diego State, Colorado State and Ball State in addition to BYU   In 2022 the BYU offensive line ranked No 1 (PFF, 92.0) in pass protection grades overall and ranked No. 10 in the NCAA statistics for the least sacks allowed at one per game on average. Funk mentored 2022 All-American left tackle Blake Freeland and the offensive front was named College Football News All-Independent Offensive Line of the Ye.ar   In 2021, left guard Clark Barrington earned All-America honors as BYU's offensive line was named to the Joe Moore Award midseason watch list for top offensive lines in the country. BYU finished the year with a top-25 ranking in 32 different offensive statistical categories. Helped BYU center James Empey earn an opportunity to play in the NFL following the 2021 season   At UTSA, he helped tackle Josh Dunlop and guard Spencer Burford earn All-Conference USA honorable mention in 2019 and was part of the roadrunners producing the No. 3 rushing game in program history with 320 yards against UTEP while running back Sincere McCormick went on to earn Freshman All-America honors running for 983 yards and eight touchdowns and break the program's single-season all-purpose yardage mark with 1,177 yards.   As the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Indiana State in 2017, his line helped pave the way for All-Missouri Valley Conference honorable mention running back LeMonte Booker, who rushed for 941 yards.   As Purdue's offensive line coach in 2016, he helped a pair of his linemen—Jason King and Jordan Roos—earn All-Big Ten honorable mention accolades   As Akron's run game coordinator and offensive line coach in 2015, helped the Zips earn their first bowl victory in school history while mentoring offensive tackle Isaiah Williams to third-team All-Mid-American Conference honors.   Coached the offensive line at Michigan from 2011-14, where his line produced the Big Ten Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year in three of his four seasons in Ann Arbor. Center David Molk won the award in 2011, while offensive tackle Taylor Lewan received the honor in 2012 and 2013. Molk won the Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center in 2011 while earning Consensus All-America recognition before going to the NFL. Lewan became Michigan's first two-time All-American since Jake Long in 2006-07 and a semifinalist for the Lombardi award before being selected as a first-round NFL draft pick.   Funk also tutored tackle Michael Schofield and guards Graham Glasgow and Patrick Omameh in Ann Arbor on their way to NFL careers, with Schofield and Glasgow each being third-round draft picks. Funk's lines at Michigan produced three 1,000-yard rushers, including Denard Robinson and Fitzgerald Toussaint in 2011, who became the first pair of 1,000-yard rushers for the Wolverines since 1975 (Gordon Bell and Rob Lytle)—Michigan finished 11-2 and earned a Sugar Bowl victory that season, while ranking second in the Big Ten in rushing offense (221.8 yards per game), third in total offense (404.7 ypg) and third in sacks allowed.   In 2010, Funk's line at San Diego State finished No. 5 nationally in fewest sacks allowed while helping the Aztecs finish the season ranked 12th nationally in passing offense and 16th in total offense (456.7 ypg). In two years in San Diego, he helped SDSU go from 2-10 the year before his arrival to earning the program's first bowl bid in 12 seasons and achieving its first bowl victory since 1969. Funk mentored left tackle Tommie Draheim before he went to the NFL while his line helped future NFL running back Ronnie Hillman rush for 1,532 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2010.   In his lone year at Ball State in 2008, Funk's offensive line ranked No. 4 nationally in fewest sacks allowed protecting the quarterback while producing holes in the run game that saw running back MiQuale Lewis rush for 1,736 yards and 22 touchdowns. His group's outstanding play helped Ball State rank No. 17 in total offense producing 442.5 yards per game, while the Cardinals achieved a 12-2 record, the MAC West Division title and a trip to the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. He helped develop four future NFL linemen at Ball State in Robert Brewster, Dan Gerberry, Andre Ramsey and Mike Switzer.   A Colorado State alumnus, Funk spent five seasons with the Rams under head coach Sonny Lubick (2003-07), including the final four working with the offensive line, where he recruited and assisted in the development of nine different linemen who became future NFL players, including Erik Pears (Bills), Mike Brisiel (Texans, Raiders), Clint Oldenburg (Washington), Albert Bimper (Colts), Josh Day (Vikings), Shelley Smith (Texans, Dolphins), Cole Pemberton (Texans), Tim Walter (Bears) and Adrian Martinez (Seahawks). Coaching CSU's special teams and tight ends in his first season with CSU in 2003, Funk tutored tight end Joel Dreessen before he was drafted and played eight years in the NFL with the Jets, Texans and Broncos.

Longtime Indiana State Athletics employee and supporter Tom James has been named alumni liaison for the Sycamore Football program, ISU Director of Athletics Sherard Clinkscales and head coach Curt Mallory announced Aug. 8.   James will assist the football program and coaching staff with maintaining relations with Indiana State football alumni, as well as helping coordinate alumni events at home and on the road throughout the season.   “He is a huge asset to our football program,” Mallory said. “Anybody who has ever played here at Indiana State knows Tom.”   A staple of Sycamore Football for more than four decades, James began as a student manager for the team as a high school senior at Terre Haute North in 1975 – making the upcoming 2017 season his 42nd to be associated with Indiana State. In 1979, James began his career as a sports information director as a student worker, which led to being named an assistant SID in 1982. James worked in the sports info office at Indiana State in that capacity until 1997.   “I bleed blue, I bleed Indiana State football, and that’s my passion and that’s my family,” James said.   Since, James helped begin the Indiana State Football Alumni Association in 2009, which has included a frequent newsletter that goes out to former student-athletes, coaches and managers. James is also in charge of a football alumni Facebook page.   “We just want to make sure everybody’s on the same page,” James said. “A lot of alums want to come out and contribute to the program in different ways.”   “It’s going to take everybody,” Mallory said. “We need everybody a part of the team. The only chance we’re going to have to build a championship program is to have everybody involved.”   In addition to his commitments to Indiana State, James has also covered the Indianapolis Colts on a regular basis since 1999. He covered three Super Bowls as a professional football writer in total, including two with the Colts at Super Bowl XLI and Super Bowl XLIV.  

Adam Dennison was promoted to director of football operations in February of 2020 after serving as director of player personnel for two seasons. His duties include team travel, day-to-day operations, and serving as a liaison between the football program and academic services, compliance, training, equipment, strength and conditioning, and the athletic department. As the director of player personnel, Dennison helped aid the recruiting efforts for the 2018 recruiting class for the Sycamores in which the Indiana State signed over 30 scholarship student athletes including 12 from the state of Indiana, six junior college transfers, two FBS transfers, and a foreign student from Finland. He has also been given a role in junior college relations for the Sycamores staff.   Continuing his role in junior college relations, the 2019 recruiting class features four transfers including three junior college and one FBS player joining the program. Of the 18 players in the 2019 class, nine hail from Indiana or Illinois and 16 are from the Midwest. With local recruiting efforts being emphasized, the Sycamore roster now features 44 players from the state of Indiana and 62 total players between Illinois and Indiana. Before his time at Indiana State, he spent a season with the Kennesaw State University football program as a recruiting/operations intern. Prior to KSU, he spent four years working in athletics/rec operations and gameday operations at Kennesaw State. Dennison graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2016 with a bachelor’s of science in sport management and is a native of Cartersville, Ga.