Athletics
A Stronger Voice: As the new head of the NCAA’s inclusion efforts, Derrick Gragg aims to amplify opportunities for student-athletes
Dec. 7, 2020—Derrick Gragg, a former student-athlete on the Vanderbilt football team, is the NCAA's new senior vice president for inclusion, education and community engagement.
In the Running: For five alumni who competed in the 2020 Olympic Marathon Team Trials, just getting to the starting line was a long journey
Oct. 29, 2020—On Feb. 29, the best distance runners in the country were in Atlanta to compete in the 2020 United States Olympic Marathon Team Trials. Of the 691 elite men and women runners who came from all corners of the nation to compete, five were Vanderbilt alumni.
Catalyst for Change: Shan Foster, BS’08, has found success off the court in working to end violence against women
Jul. 23, 2020—Foster, the vice president of external affairs at YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee, leads the AMEND Together initiative, a prevention program dedicated to ending violence against women and girls by engaging men and boys to be part of the solution.
Four baseball student-athletes selected in MLB Draft
Jun. 12, 2020—Junior standout Austin Martin was selected fifth overall by the Toronto Blue Jays, and junior pitchers Tyler Brown, Jake Eder and Mason Hickman were selected on the second and final day of the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft.
Markel named SEC Brad Davis Community Service Leader of the Year
Jun. 4, 2020—Former football student-athlete Cody Markel has been named the 2020 SEC Brad Davis Community Service Leader of the Year. Markel earned national attention last year after creating Turner’s Heroes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the memory of Vanderbilt classmate and fellow tight end Turner Cockrell.
Long Run: 97-year-old Roy Englert Sr., BA’43, defies his age every time he takes to the track
Feb. 17, 2020—Englert holds world records in the 95-to-99 age group in the 800-meter, 1,500-meter, 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter races, along with the 4x100, 4x400 and 4x800 relays.
Storybook Endings: New book by former basketball student-athlete Barry Goheen
Feb. 17, 2020—Barry Goheen, BA’89, JD’94, the Vanderbilt basketball player who became nationally known for his numerous clutch shots that lifted the ’Dores to victory, is author of the new book about his playing days.
Landmark Moment: Candice Lee named interim athletics director
Feb. 17, 2020—Former Vanderbilt standout student-athlete Candice Storey Lee, BS’00, MEd’02, EdD’12, has become the university’s first female athletics director and the first African American woman to head a Southeastern Conference athletics program.
Career Booster: New student-athlete business fellowship launched
Feb. 17, 2020—The Accelerator® Business Fellowship for Student-Athletes is a two-week certificate program that gives participants the opportunity to take foundational and advanced courses from renowned faculty, learn directly from business executives, and collaborate on team projects that devise real-world business solutions.
Wholehearted: Pitcher Tyler Brown and his 1-year-old daughter, Bella, both fight to overcome long odds
Nov. 7, 2019—The 2019 College World Series produced a number of compelling storylines as Vanderbilt’s baseball team claimed its latest NCAA championship. But one in particular—that of relief pitcher Tyler Brown and his daughter, Bella—captured the hearts of ’Dores fans across the nation.
Clutch Performance: John Augenstein clinches Walker Cup for U.S.
Nov. 7, 2019—Vanderbilt golfer John Augenstein showed his match-play prowess at the 47th Walker Cup, clinching the victory for the United States at Royal Liverpool on Sept. 8.
Top of the Heap: Soccer team enjoys stellar season
Nov. 7, 2019—This soccer season has provided Vanderbilt fans plenty of reasons to cheer, including a top-10 ranking, a 200-victory milestone for Head Coach Darren Ambrose, and a record 19-game win streak at home dating back to 2017.