Ferrum College will honor the Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2022 during a ceremony on Saturday, November 12, 2022, which will be held at 10 a.m. (registration begins at 9 a.m.) in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room in Franklin Hall on campus. This year’s honorees, which include three former football players, a three-sport student-athlete, and a golfer, are:
Members of the Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2022 will also be introduced at halftime of Ferrum’s Old Dominion Athletic Conference football game against Averett University later that day.
Register to attend this year’s Sports Hall of Fame Ceremony here.
The College raised over $330,000 from 119 donors for the new complex, far exceeding its original goal of $100,000 by June 30, 2022.
The Vickie Van Kleeck Softball Complex will include new club-level seating, construction of a press box, locker rooms, and other amenities to improve the gameday experience for the players and fans.
“It was a pleasure to work with so many friends and alumni on this campaign. The success of this fundraising effort will allow Ferrum College to build the best softball stadium in the ODAC and one of the best in all of Division III,” stated Director of Development, Bart Smith. “I’m excited for our softball program and all of the athletes now and in the future that will have a chance to play in this great stadium.”
Van Kleeck was Ferrum’s softball coach for 24 seasons before retiring in 2015. During her tenure at Ferrum, Van Kleeck won 531 games, including three regular season USA South Athletic Conference championships (1994, 1995, 2013). She led Ferrum to USA South Softball Tournament titles in 2002, 2005 and 2012, earning NCAA Division III playoffs appearances all three years. She coached 140 Academic All-Conference Players, 23 All-State players, and received the 2013 USA South Coach of the Year Award. She was inducted into Ferrum College’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.
“I couldn’t be more thankful for the many donors who helped make our Batting a 1.000 campaign a success. In doing so, this allows us to move forward with the Vickie Van Kleeck Softball Complex,” stated Director of Athletics John Sutyak. “This was a true team effort to get us to our goal, which included our alumni, parents, staff, faculty, friends and a number of our current Ferrum softball student-athletes contributing to the campaign. The future is bright for Ferrum College softball.”
Ferrum College President David Johns spoke about what this new facility represents, stating “Athletics has always been an important part of the Ferrum College experience, and our softball program has enjoyed tremendous success over the years, on and off the field. We are delighted to honor Coach VVK and our softball players, past and present, with this new facility.”
With the successful completion of the campaign, the College hopes to unveil the Vickie Van Kleeck Softball Complex in 2023.
8/11/2021
Additionally, the College is inviting Panther fans to become members of the Panther Club, which has supported Ferrum athletes for over 50 years. Memberships provide Ferrum’s 27 varsity athletic programs with leadership development, advanced technology for game streaming, and upgrades to athletic areas. Panther Club members will also receive exclusive benefits, including reserved parking at games, access to the President’s Suite, free decals, and more. Click here to learn more and join the Panther Club.
“Last season was unique in many ways,” wrote Director of Athletics John Sutyak, in an email about the Panther Club. “In the end, all of our student-athletes had the opportunity to compete in meaningful games. We [sent] our men’s and women’s wrestlers to their respective national championships, resulting in one all-America honoree. Additionally, we had three academic all-American student-athletes, three ODAC Scholar Athletes of the Year honorees in their respective sports, and 190 student-athletes were named academic all-ODAC, the fifth most in the conference.”
Check out the Panthers’ fall football schedule here.
Cross country begins with the Virginia Tech Invitational in Blacksburg on September 1. The 2021 cross country schedule is here.
Men’s soccer starts with a home game against Pikeville on August 22. Here’s the fall schedule.
Women’s soccer will begin its season away against Lynchburg on August 25. The fall 2021 schedule is here.
The equestrian program is gearing up for the University of Virginia IHSA Show in Charlottesville on October 9. The 2021-22 schedule is here.
The field hockey team is poised to go up against Lincoln Memorial in a home opener on August 28. Check out the 2021 field hockey schedule here.
Women’s volleyball begins the season with a home game against Patrick Henry on August 28. The fall schedule is here.
Visit the Ferrum College Athletics website for more fall 2021 sports information.
5/26/2021
This is Madden-McAfee’s first such honor. Two weeks ago, he was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District V first team, which advanced him to the Academic All-America ballot.
Madden-McAfee is Ferrum’s first ever Academic All-American in the sport of men’s basketball, and the College’s eighth overall honoree.
Ferrum’s Academic All-Americans
2000 – Elizabeth Adams, 3rd team (women’s soccer & tennis)
2006 – Dustin Hamoy, 2nd team (football)
2007 – Wilson Paine, 1st team (men’s tennis)
2012 – Paul Jaglowski, 1st team (baseball)
2015 – Hank Parsley – 1st team (baseball)
2015 – Morgan Funck, 2nd team (women’s soccer)
2018 – Brian Mann, 2nd team (football)
2021 – Kajuan Madden-McAfee, 2nd team (men’s basketball)
Madden-McAfee was the Old Dominion Athletic Conference/Virginia Farm Bureau Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the 2020-21 season. He was one of three recipients at Ferrum this year, including Katie Shoaf in women’s swimming and Josh Greenway in baseball. Madden-McAfee was named to the ODAC All-Conference Team after averaging 15.6 points per game this season and shooting almost 44% from behind the three-point line.
Madden-McAfee helped lead the Panthers to a 7-6 overall record this season, including a 5-4 mark in the ODAC. The Panthers advanced to the ODAC Tournament semifinals for the first time in any sport this season, Ferrum’s third in the league. Ferrum is led by Head Coach Tyler Sanborn, who recently completed his fourth season at the helm of the men’s basketball program.
A senior from Harrisonburg, Virginia, Madden-McAfee majored in applied mathematics with an Educational Studies minor. With the NCAA providing blanket waivers for all student-athletes during the 2020-21 academic year, Madden-McAfee has the option of returning to play in 2021-22.
Visit www.ferrumpanthers.com for more.
Ferrum, VA, February 25, 2021 — During the next Rocky Mount Town Council meeting on March 8, 2021, the council members will be decked out in either black and gold, or blue and gold.
That’s because 2014 Ferrum College graduate and Rocky Mount Town Council member Tyler Lee and 1995 Emory & Henry graduate and Rocky Mount Vice Mayor Jon Snead have entered into a friendly wager regarding this Friday’s Crooked Road Classic football game between Ferrum and E&H.
Should the Ferrum Panthers win the game, which begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, February 26, town council members will wear Ferrum’s black and gold colors during the next meeting. Should the E&H Wasps prevail, the council will dress in E&H’s blue and gold.
“I really don’t want to wear blue and gold because I bleed black and gold, with a hint of Methodist red,” said Lee. “It is one of my goals as a council member to have Ferrum College and the town [of Rocky Mount] grow as partners to further students and the community. I can’t wait for Franklin County and Rocky Mount to host more ODAC and NCAA D3 championships in the near future.”
“I am ecstatic that the teams are ready for the gridiron. I’ve had the pleasure to boast the record of this rivalry since my graduation from E&H in 1995 and I’m sure the Rocky Mount Town Council will be decked out in blue and gold for our March meeting,” said Snead. “Is this a classic ‘age versus youth’ battle between Tyler and myself? You betcha. Go E&H!”
The two Rocky Mount officials are rivals, but their rivalry is absolutely friendly, with Snead remarking that Lee is “a great guy and I’m glad to see such a devotion to public service in such a young person.”
Lee agreed, noting that “Jon and I have been close colleagues for a while now, and being able to serve the best town with a true friend is awesome.”
After COVID-19 forced Ferrum College to postpone its spring and fall sports, Ferrum athletics was able to return to competition on January 12, 2021 when the men’s basketball team competed against William Peace University.
To continue support for the College’s student-athletes, alumni and fans were invited to virtually sell out Adams Stadium on campus beginning on February 15, with every $10 counting as one ticket sold. The challenge ends at game time on February 26, and the gifts support Ferrum’s general athletics or the donor’s favorite team, if designated. Visit the Ferrum College website to make a gift.
Although spectators will be limited for the game according to guidelines of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, fans can watch the livestreamed game on the Ferrum College Athletics web page.
Photograph from Karen Dillon, The Franklin News-Post and Smith Mountain Laker magazine
Ferrum College Adams Stadium. Image by Stephen “West” Nuttycombe ’19.
After COVID-19 forced Ferrum College to postpone its spring and fall sports, Ferrum athletics was finally able to return to competition on January 12, 2021 when the men’s basketball team competed against William Peace University. Now the College is offering an opportunity to come together to support the Panthers this year.
Beginning Monday, February 15 and continuing through Friday, February 26, alumni and fans are invited to virtually sell out Adams Stadium with a gift to support the Ferrum College general athletics fund or their favorite athletic team(s). Every $10 will count as one ticket sold. See packages and purchase tickets here. The challenge will end at 7 p.m. on February 26, when the Ferrum College football team competes against Emory & Henry in this year’s Crooked Road Classic.
Prior to the game, follow Ferrum College’s social media pages beginning at 3 p.m. for a virtual pep rally featuring special guests and notable alumni. Alumni and fans are also invited to join in the fun by wearing their favorite Ferrum gear and posting a photo or video on social media to cheer on the Panthers.
Per guidelines handed down by the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, spectators will be limited for the February 26 game against Emory & Henry. Learn more about Ferrum College’s policy regarding spectators at this spring’s sporting events in Athletic Director John Sutyak’s video message.
Austin arrived at Ferrum in January 2014 as head field hockey coach after serving as the associate head field hockey coach at Appalachian State University (NC) from 2007 through 2013. She has since added senior woman administrator and compliance director responsibilities to her resume. Austin also became a member of Ferrum’s senior athletic administration team.
“I’m very excited to announce Carrie as an assistant athletic director,” said Sutyak. “Since my arrival at Ferrum, Carrie has been a valued team member, a trusted colleague and someone who has been a respected member of the community in representing the department on campus. The work she has done alongside Gary Holden in advancing our operations in the area of athletic compliance was critical to our internal procedures prior to my arrival. I am looking forward to her sharing her expertise in all aspects of the department as we continue to evolve and move forward as an athletic department.”
Austin’s management experience also includes serving as game supervisor for the 2020 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament first round game in 2020, and as hospitality coordinator for the 2019 NCAA Division III Men’s Wrestling National Championships and the 2018 NCAA Division III Men’s Wrestling Southeast Regional, both of which were hosted by Ferrum College.
Read more on the Ferrum College Athletics website here.
In 2019, Ferrum hosted the NCAA Men’s Wrestling Tournament at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, VA. 2019 photo.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has announced site selections for national championship events for the 2023 through 2026 cycle, and Ferrum College has been selected to host the 2023 Division III Men’s Wrestling Championships. Ferrum will host the event Friday and Saturday, March 10-11, 2023 at the Berglund Center in nearby Roanoke, Virginia.
“All of us at Ferrum College are ecstatic to be chosen to serve as the host of the 2023 NCAA Division III Men’s Wrestling Championship” stated Ferrum College Director of Athletics John Sutyak. “The staff at Ferrum did a remarkable job back in 2019 and it is a testament to the hard work that happened here that the NCAA has rewarded us with another opportunity to welcome the world of Division III men’s wrestling back to the Roanoke Valley. This is an exciting time for Ferrum wrestling and a huge thank you goes out to Assistant Athletic Director Gary Holden, and our Head Men’s Wrestling Coach Ryan Riggs, for putting together a successful bid.”
“I’m grateful for the opportunity for Ferrum College to host the Division III Men’s Wrestling National Championships again in 2023,” said Riggs. “I’m looking forward to working with the Berglund Center event staff and VBR Sports again, making it a quality experience for the competitors, coaches, and fans. We have a lot of wrestlers from the Roanoke Valley and Commonwealth of Virginia who could be wrestling for national titles. It’s exciting! I want to thank President Johns, John Sutyak, and Gary Holden for all of the work they do.”
Read more in this article on Ferrum’s Athletics webpage.
Director of Athletics John Sutyak has written the following letter to the Ferrum College community announcing Ferrum Athletics’ updated plans for fall 2020:
In conjunction with the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) announcement this afternoon, Ferrum College will not compete in any external athletic competition before January 1, 2021, due to the ongoing health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although we will not bring students back for pre-season early in August, Ferrum College intends to move forward with on-campus training, conditioning and practices within our athletic programs to the full extent that will be allowed under NCAA rules and regulations throughout the fall semester. We intend for our fall sport programs to compete in regular season competition in the spring of 2021, alongside our traditional winter and spring sports.
Since last spring, the entire athletics staff has been preparing for the safe return of our student-athletes. We had worked to ensure best practices using a combination of resources, notably the NCAA Core Principles of Resocialization of College Sport. However, with the growing public health threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the new NCAA best practices of how to safely provide a full intercollegiate experience, it became clear that we could no longer adequately deliver the full experience that our student-athletes deserve this semester.
It is important to note that Ferrum is not canceling sports this fall. In working to provide proper training, conditioning and practice opportunities we will continue to utilize best practices that are laid out by the NCAA, CDC and other health agencies. The Ferrum College administration has every intention of having our student-athletes return to competition after the new year as allowed within NCAA and ODAC rules and assuming local, state and national regulations allow us to do so. We will continue to work with our colleagues in the ODAC, and all of Division III, to explore all of the opportunities that will be possible for our student-athletes.
This has been an unprecedented, and challenging year. Like all of you, we here at Ferrum yearn for the return of collegiate athletics, especially here on Ferrum Mountain Road. Although this is a setback that we had hoped would be avoidable, the Ferrum athletics staff will now shift its focus into providing the best student-athlete experience we can this fall, with our eyes on returning to outside competition in the spring.
The greatest joy I have as an athletic director is watching our student-athletes compete and work toward achieving their goals. It hurts that for the second time in the past five months I am delivering the news that we won’t be competing as we had intended. It can be tough to find the silver lining in this news, however I continue to be bolstered and encouraged by the passion and energy of the coaching, athletic training and administrative staff within Ferrum College athletics, as well as all around campus. Despite what seems like the longest “off-season” in the history of collegiate athletics, it is that energy and enthusiasm that encompasses who we are and why we will continue to remain Ferrum Strong!
Stay healthy, stay safe and Go Panthers!
Sincerely,
John Sutyak
Director of Athletics
Over 40 student-athletes attended Adams’ online meeting to have a safe place to ask questions and get real answers.
With emotions running high following recent events in our nation, Ferrum College Head Football Coach and alumnus Cleive Adams ’02 decided to take action.
Adams reached out to Athletic Director John Sutyak with an idea: he wanted to invite student-athletes to an open Zoom meeting to provide support and raise awareness about social issues.
His goal was to give Ferrum’s student-athletes a safe place to gain information and perspective, ask questions, and receive real answers.
Sutyak gave Adams his wholehearted support.
“Because I have access to a large number of student-athletes, we thought that it would be a great start to help with healing and understanding our feelings moving forward,” Adams said. “I really believed if I stepped out to take this on with my team, it could possibly start a positive trend for other teams while helping my young people deal with the issues, as well.”
Adams invited Ferrum College Police Chief Jim Owens to speak during the online meeting, held June 4, 2020 at 7 p.m. “We didn’t want it to be overly formal so we agreed that I would handle the introduction and the purpose,” said Adams. “After the introduction, the chief provided us with a breakdown of his experience as a law enforcement officer, as well as his department’s vision and mission.”
More than 40 student-athletes attended the Zoom call, along with Sutyak and all of Adams’ staff members.
“We had some good questions, but we hope the next opportunity we get together, the student-athletes will be more open to sharing their feelings,” said Adams.
“I am incredibly thankful for Coach Adams and Chief Owens coming together to collaborate and meet with our team,” said Sutyak. “These are the types of interactions we want to encourage in an effort to come together, listen and work toward meaningful change in society. I look forward to more dialogue in the future.”
Get to know Adams here.
To learn more about Ferrum College Athletics, visit here.
Adams stands with President David Johns during Adams’ 2019 induction into the Ferrum College Sports Hall of Fame.
Athletic Director John Sutyak has announced the hiring of alumnus Cleive Adams ’02 as the new football coach at Ferrum College.
“I am excited to welcome Cleive Adams back to Ferrum as our new head football coach,” said Sutyak. “It was critical that we identified someone who is of high character, that can positively mentor our current and future football student-athletes and who not only knows Ferrum, but embraces who we are and can effectively recruit and retain high level students and football players to the college. Cleive fits those traits and has a proven record of success in his tenure as the head coach at Averett. We are excited that he will be leading the Black Hats into the future and work toward our ultimate goal of competing for the ODAC championship.”
Prior to his stint at Averett, Adams served two stints as an assistant coach at Ferrum, from 2003 to 2004 and again from 2007 to 2013. During his second stint, Adams served as the Panthers’ defensive coordinator. He was an assistant football coach and special teams coordinator at fellow Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) member Washington and Lee University from 2005 to 2006.
“It’s an absolute honor to be named head football coach at Ferrum,” said Adams. “To be a part of a program with such a rich tradition represents an awesome opportunity. I’m looking forward to a new beginning with my alma mater and a productive partnership with the Ferrum Athletics department and campus community.”
A native of Radford, VA, Adams played football at Ferrum under legendary Coach Hank Norton in 1988 and 1989. After stepping away from school to start a family, he returned to Ferrum in the late 1990s to resume work on his degree, eventually earning a Bachelor of Science from Ferrum in recreation and leisure with a minor in psychology in 2002. In 2019, Adams was named to the Ferrum College Alumni Sports Hall of Fame.
Adams will succeed Rob Grande, who stepped down earlier this month to accept a position with the Iowa State University football coaching staff.
Ferrum College will hold an introductory press conference to formally announce Adams’ hiring on Wednesday, April 1 at 1:00 p.m. The event will be streamed live here.
Read more on the Ferrum College Athletics website.
Grande served the past four seasons as Ferrum’s head coach, compiling a 23-17 record, including a 6-9 mark in Ferrum’s first two seasons of Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play. In 2018, Ferrum was the only team in the league to defeat ODAC champion and NCAA participant Randolph-Macon College, beating the Yellow Jackets in Ashland, Virginia.
“Coach Grande has been an extraordinary member of our coaching staff and of the Ferrum College community,” stated Ferrum College President, Dr. David Johns. “During his four years at the College, he has been a great mentor to his players, an active participant in campus life, was involved in the national search for our new athletic director, and he led us into our first two seasons in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. He is a respected leader among his peers at the College. We hate to see him leave, but wish him the very best with this new opportunity.”
Under Grande’s guidance, Ferrum has had an All-American in three of his four years as the head of the Panther program: defensive lineman Montel Lee in 2017, running back Brian Mann in 2018 and offensive lineman Jordan Patti in 2019. Mann is Ferrum’s first-ever student-athlete to earn both All-America and Academic All-America honors.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to be the head football coach at Ferrum,” said Grande. “The history, tradition, alumni, staff, and players have made this a great four years for me and my family. We look forward to a new chapter in our lives at Iowa State University and will always root for the Black Hats.”
Ferrum had 13 All-Conference selections in the ODAC in the past two seasons. In Grande’s first two seasons as head coach, Ferrum competed in the USA South Athletic Conference, earning 17 All-Conference honors and four Player of the Year awards, two each on offense and defense.
“I am extremely happy for Rob, and his family, for this tremendous professional opportunity,” said Sutyak. “Although I have only worked with Rob for a short time, I have appreciated his leadership and guidance within this department. Getting to know him during his time on the athletic director search committee and through the last month and a half in my time on campus, it is clear that Rob has had a profound impact on Ferrum football, his student-athletes and the entire athletic department. We’ve been fortunate to have him here and wish the whole family continued success.”
Ferrum Defensive Coordinator Marshall Doss has been named Interim Head Football Coach while the College conducts a national search. Sutyak and the College intend to move quickly in naming Grande’s permanent replacement.
