By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports
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Ranking the Mountain West Football Coaches for 2026
The Mountain West was reshaped by realignment, and the 2026 version of the league will have a very different look.
When talking about the football head coaches in the league, we see plenty of new faces but some familiar ones as well.
So how do all 10 of those head coaches stack up against one another?
Well, for that, we bring you our rankings of the 2026 MW Football Coaches.
1. Dan Mullen, UNLV
Mullen was hired with a proven track record and an SEC pedigree. He certainly delivered in season one with the Rebels.
Let us not forget that in his stints with Mississippi State and Florida, he compiled a 103-61 mark while leading the teams to 11 bowl games in 13 seasons.
His 10-win season in the debut campaign in Las Vegas led to a trip to the MW Title game and Frisco Bowl.
Mullen can recruit and has utilized the portal to load up the Rebels.
With the departure of some of the former conference heavies, the Rebels look to be the flag bearer for the conference—and they have the right man to carry that flag in Vegas.
2. Jason Eck, New Mexico
Eck followed up a highly successful stint at Idaho with a tremendous opening act in Albuquerque.
Year One saw the Lobos finish with nine wins and a 6-2 mark in league play, good enough for a four-way tie for the regular season crown. And UNM played a postseason game for the first time since the 2016 season.
While the OT loss to Minnesota had to sting, there is progress to build on.
Eck has not known losing in his time as a head coach, and it looks like that will continue at a school that has experienced nothing but losing in the decade before his arrival.
3. Timmy Chang, Hawaii
When Chang took over his alma mater, the Hawaii program was a mess.
Chang has turned things around in his four seasons, culminating with a nine-win season a year ago, capped off by a bowl win over California, the school’s first bowl game and bowl win since the 2025 season.
Chang has proven he can develop talent and has done wonders in cultivating the QB position.
Perhaps facing a win-or-else situation one year ago, Chang’s seat now looks comfortable, and success should continue on the Islands.
4. Troy Calhoun, Air Force
The dean of Mountain West head coaches is set to lead the Air Force Academy for the 20th season in 2026.
The last two seasons were a bit forgettable in Colorado Springs as the Falcons struggled in a pair of losing campaigns, something Calhoun has not experienced very often in his career.
Despite the 4-8 mark last year, the Falcons did finish strong, winning three of their final six.
There is no denying that Calhoun gets more out of the talent at his disposal than perhaps anyone else in the nation.
5. Tim Polasek, North Dakota State
In two seasons guiding the Bison, Polasek has led NDSU to a 26-3 mark, including the 2024 National Championship in his debut season as a head coach.
With an offensive background, it is no shock that NDSU has had a ton of success on that side of the ball during his tenure.
The Bison as they averaged 500+ yards per game last season and have run for 240+ per outing in each of their two seasons with Polasek at the helm.
NDSU was a powerhouse program at the FCS level. In Polasek, they seem to have a quality coach directing them as they make the jump to the FBS.
6. Ken Niumatalolo, San Jose State
After winning 109 games and nearly 54% of his games but wearing out his welcome at Navy, Niumatalolo is set to begin his third season with San Jose State.
Following a successful debut season, expectations were certainly not met in the second season with the Spartans. SJSU struggled in 2025 and ended up dropping six of its last seven.
It was a difficult stretch that Niumatalolo has not experienced many of during his 17 years as a head coach. His teams have played a postseason game in 12 of his 17 seasons.
The only other time a Niumatalolo-led team finished with a three-win season was 2018, when Navy went 3-10; the Mids followed that up with an 11-2 campaign in 2019.
The Spartans would certainly welcome that kind of turnaround in 2026.
7. Jeff Choate, Nevada
The Wolf Pack showed improvement between Year One and Two under Choate, improving from a winless conference mark in his first season to a 2–7-mark last season.
While modest, it was an improvement, and the Pack were much more competitive a season ago.
When making a list such as this, you can’t ignore the run of success he had leading Montana State to consecutive playoff appearances in 2018 and 19 before leaving to coach the defense at Texas.
As impressive as that background may be, results will need to be seen on the scoreboard this season if Choate is to remain in Reno long term.
8. Jay Sawvel, Wyoming
The first two seasons for Sawvel in Laramie have not gone well. The Cowboys have struggled to a combined 7-17 mark and mustered just a 4-11 mark in conference play.
Sawvel has a defensive background, and the Cowboys have been solid on that side of the ball, but the offense has not produced nearly enough for UW to find success.
He has proved his willingness to make the difficult decisions needed to right the ship as he completely overhauled his offensive staff ahead of this season.
Will it be enough to get positive results? If it is, then his leadership will prove valuable. If it is not, then the next change might need to be at the top.
9. Scotty Walden, UTEP
When Walden arrived in El Paso in 2024, he was coming off a successful four-year run with Austin Peay, where he led the Governors to a 26-14 mark and playoff appearance in 2023.
His time in West Texas has brought far less success. The Miners have limped to just five wins in the last two seasons and struggled to a 1-7 mark in Conference USA in 2025.
With the move to the MW, 2026 looks to be a pivotal season for the program and the head coach.
A successful transition to the new conference will go a long way in securing a long tenure for Walden, another struggle and it could mean the Miners are looking elsewhere in 2027.
10. Rob Harley, Northern Illinois
Rob Harley jumps into the top spot at Northern Illinois in 2026 with a bit of a tenuous situation.
Following the departure of Thomas Hammock to the Seahawks last February, Harley was named the interim head coach for the Huskies.
The interim tag remains as we inch closer to fall camp starting this summer. It will be trial by fire and a chance to earn the job this season for the first-time head coach.
He brings a defensive background with him as NIU makes the move from the MAC to the MW.
writes about various topics for SuperWest sports, including stats and records, college sports, and motorsports. He also founded and runs the Sports and Entertainment Research Center (SERC).
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Soulja Boy went live shirtless and issued a direct threat to Kai Cenat and DDG over not being invited to Streamer University. He gave Kai one more chance and the internet has thoughts.
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Twitch Streamer Kathelina Speaks Out After Being Accused Of Cheating On Imnotkenneth With A Blood Cousin
Twitch streamer Kathelina, better known as Kvrtez, has addressed the allegations made by her ex-boyfriend Imnotkenneth. In a new YouTube video, she apologized, accepted responsibility for her actions, and announced a break from content creation.
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Everton in talks with Idrissa Gueye over new contract as club targets Championship player to strengthen midfield
Everton are in talks with Idrissa Gueye about a new deal to keep the veteran midfielder on Merseyside until he is almost 38.
Gueye’s contract expires at the end of this month but Everton are keen to keep him for an eighth season and a fifth since returning from Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.
The former Aston Villa player, who is representing Senegal at the World Cup, made 25 appearances this season, interrupted by a suspension for a strange sending-off, when he slapped teammate Michael Keane in the win at Old Trafford, and the African Cup of Nations, which his country first won and then had the title stripped from them.
The defensive midfielder has scored 10 goals in 236 games for Everton and formed a partnership in the centre of the pitch with James Garner last season.
Everton are nevertheless interested in strengthening their midfield with Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney, who was named the Championship’s player of the year, a target.
They are also expected to try to bring in a right-back, with captain Seamus Coleman ending his playing days with them after 17 years and 435 games.
At left-back, Vitalii Mykolenko has committed his future to Everton, signing a new three-year deal.
Meditation is a key progression system in VV: Ultimatum, facilitating the final forms of each of the three playable Factions. Activated by pressing the dedicated key on the keyboard or the controller, meditation allows players above level 25 to start refining their builds. In addition to facilitating endgame build-crafting, meditation can also be used to recover HP and boost your avatar.
Let’s explore meditation in detail in VV: Ultimatum.
An overview of meditation in VV: Ultimatum
In VV: Ultimatum, Meditation can be performed by players above level 25 using the key assigned to it. By default, the buttons assigned to this function are L on the keyboard, L2 + D-Pad Down on the Playstation controller, and LT + D-Pad Down on the Xbox controller. In the Keybind section of the Settings menu, it’s referred to as Race Prog. instead. Upon pressing this button, your avatar will stop moving and enter a meditative state.
While in this state, your HP will recover, and you will be able to unlock advanced abilities specific to your Faction. For Shinigami players, this means making progress towards attaining your Shikai, while for Arrancars, this is the first step towards achieving Resurreccion. Quincies’ progression is tied to a quest line offered by the Lieutenant, meaning meditation doesn’t provide them the same benefits that it does the other two Factions.
As a Shinigami, once you’ve reached the level 25 threshold, you can meditate to enter the Shikai World, a white void. This world typically features puzzles and combat challenges, completing which grants you XP. Completing them will cause you to return to the main game world, and you will be able to meditate again to progress further onto the path to your Shikai.
Repeat this process until you find a special NPC in the Shikai World, whom you can challenge and begin a boss battle. This is a challenging enemy, and defeating them will unlock the basic form of your Shikai. In order to gain mastery over it, you can continue meditating and engaging in combat until the special Shikai abilities are made available to you.
The process for unlocking Resurreccion as an Arrancar is broadly similar to the one described above. The only differences are the presence of yellow Whispers that indicate your Resurreccion progress, the building of the Inner World, and the boss battle structure. This boss battle has three phases, mirroring the different stages of Arrancar progression.
It’s best to meditate in safe zones to avoid being picked off by stray enemies or other players. After all, the meditative state leaves you vulnerable for several seconds, and the opponent may decimate your HP by the time you recover from it.
Also read: Unique Roblox username ideas for new players
FAQs on VV: Ultimatum
How do I meditate in VV: Ultimatum?
You can meditate when above level 25 using the L key on the keyboard, L2 + D-Pad Down on the Playstation controller, and LT + D-Pad Down on the Xbox controller.
What does meditation do?
Meditation recovers your HP and allows you to engage with the progression path specific to your Faction.
Is VV: Ultimatum free to play?
Yes, you can play through the game for free without engaging with its premium elements.
Edited by Swapnil Joshi
A clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has been the most in-demand fight in British boxing for some time now, and a signed contract has brought it closer than ever. However, assumptions that the event would take place in the United Kingdom may have been taken for granted.
Fury vs Joshua has been rumoured and attempted for years, with both men deemed to be the pillars of boxing’s glamour division. However, the long-winded rivalry has so far failed to make it inside the ropes.
British boxing fans were given hope this year when it was announced that the pair have agreed terms for a 2026 bout, pending an official ‘warm-up’ for ‘AJ’ against Kristian Prenga in July, and Fury potentially having a similar level fight of his own.
While the UK has been regarded as an obvious frontrunner for location, Boxing Scene recently reported that Fury-Joshua may instead land at the SoFi Stadium, near Los Angeles.
The SoFi Stadium is home to the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers and will be used on eight occasions during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as well as for next year’s Super Bowl LXI.
Whilst the venue, which could hold up to 100,000 fight fans, has not been used for a boxing event before, it did stage WrestleMania 39 in 2023, which would follow a similar plan to a fight night.
However, in response to the reports, boxing journalist Dan Rafael offered a conflicting insight.
“Per source with direct knowledge of the plans, assuming Joshua and Fury win warm up fights, their showdown in November will take place in the UK. It will not be in Los Angeles.”
Per source with direct knowledge of the plans, assuming Joshua and Fury win warm up fights, their showdown in November will take place in the UK. It will not be in Los Angeles. #boxing
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) June 9, 2026
As Rafael states, both Fury and Joshua must come through their respective ‘warm-up’ bouts unscathed in order to tee up their fight and unveil the official details regarding their meeting. Until then, fans will presumably be left to speculate where that mega-fight could take place.
The location talk adds further confusion to the event, following claims from Zuffa Boxing’s Dana White that he will be the lead promoter. This has been strongly refuted by both Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, who represent Joshua and Fury respectively.
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FIFA World Cup: The beautiful game meets ugly realities before kick-off | FIFA World Cup 2026
The FIFA World Cup has always been more than football. For one month every four years, it becomes a celebration of national pride, cultural exchange and sporting excellence. It is one of the few events capable of bringing together people from almost every corner of the globe under a shared banner.
Yet, as the 2026 FIFA World Cup prepares to kick off across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the tournament finds itself engulfed in controversies that have little to do with football.
Referees have been deported. Players have been detained at airports. Fans have been denied entry despite securing tickets. Governments are trading accusations. Consumer groups are challenging FIFA’s ticketing policies. Environmental activists are warning about the event’s carbon footprint. And, on top of that, one of the three host nations is at war with one of the 48 participating countries.
Taken individually, none of these issues may be large enough to derail a tournament expected to attract billions of viewers worldwide. Together, however, they raise uncomfortable questions about whether football’s biggest spectacle can remain insulated from the political, economic and social tensions surrounding it.
This is not the first time a host nation has found itself at the centre of controversy. But unlike past World Cups, where criticism centred on a single issue — human rights in Qatar, corruption allegations in South Africa or Brazil, or labour concerns in Russia — the 2026 edition is facing multiple challenges simultaneously involving governments, FIFA, fans, players, referees and environmental groups.
The expanded 104-match World Cup begins on Thursday in Mexico and concludes on July 19 with the final in New Jersey. Of the total matches, 78 will be staged in the United States, including every fixture from the Round of 16 onwards.
And with the competition set to run for more than a month across three countries and 16 host cities, there is growing concern that many of these disputes could spill over into the tournament itself.
A World Cup host at war with a participant
For the first time in World Cup history, a host nation is involved in a military conflict with one of the participating countries. The United States’ confrontation with Iran has cast a long shadow over preparations.
Months before the tournament, US President Donald Trump publicly questioned whether Iran should even participate.
“The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I don’t really believe it is appropriate that they be here, for their own life and safety. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Although Iran ultimately qualified and received assurances from FIFA, visa issues continued to plague the delegation. Iranian officials said visas were granted to players only days before their departure for the World Cup, while several administrative and managerial staff members were reportedly denied entry altogether.
The dispute has triggered accusations that the United States failed to fulfil the obligations expected of a World Cup host.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticised restrictions affecting World Cup participants and media personnel, arguing that such measures run counter to the spirit of the tournament.
“The denial of visas for journalists from certain countries, or the rejection of a visa for a coach of a team, as well as single-day visas for specific foreign national teams, this is anathema to what this tournament is supposed to be about,” Mamdani said on Monday.
Responding to concerns over visa-related issues, a US State Department spokesperson said Washington was coordinating with multiple agencies and FIFA to facilitate travel for participating teams.
“The Department of State is working closely with the White House, the Department of Homeland Security, and FIFA to support qualifying national teams’ travel to participate in World Cup events through our visa process,” the spokesperson said in a statement issued on Monday.
The spokesperson added that national security considerations would remain paramount during the visa review process.
“At the same time, the Administration will not waver in upholding US law and the highest standards of national security and public safety in the conduct of our visa process. We adjudicate each visa application on a case-by-case basis after rigorous review and thorough vetting to determine whether the individual is eligible under US law.”
When geopolitics enters the dressing room
The most alarming controversies have centred on immigration and border controls.
The latest flashpoint involved Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, regarded as one of Africa’s leading match officials. Artan was reportedly denied entry at Miami International Airport and placed on a return flight despite travelling with valid documentation and diplomatic credentials.
The episode sparked outrage across African football circles and prompted a public intervention from Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire.
“I am deeply disappointed by the news that Omar Artan, Africa’s finest referee and one of the best in the world, may be unable to officiate at the FIFA World Cup due to visa-related circumstances,” said Hassan Ali Khaire.
“Omar has earned his place through talent, hard work, professionalism, and integrity. Having officiated at the highest levels of African and international football, his credentials speak for themselves. He represents not only Somalia, but also the aspirations of millions of young Africans who believe excellence should be recognised on the world stage,” he added.
Meanwhile, Somalia is not the only country affected by US policies.
Iraq vice-captain Aymen Hussein, whose goal secured his country’s place at the World Cup, was reportedly detained and questioned for seven hours upon arrival in the United States. Another player and a team photographer were also held for questioning, while the photographer was ultimately denied entry.
Such episodes have intensified scrutiny of US immigration procedures ahead of the tournament.
The beautiful game meets ugly economics
If politics has become one source of controversy, money has become another.
World Cup tickets have never been cheap, but many supporters argue that FIFA has pushed pricing into unprecedented territory.
Consumer groups in Europe filed formal complaints alleging that FIFA abused its dominant market position by imposing excessive prices and opaque sales practices.
The numbers explain the outrage.
|
Ticket category |
Reported price |
|
Cheapest group-stage tickets |
Around $140 |
|
Final tickets (standard categories) |
Up to $8,680 |
|
Premium final packages |
Around $11,000 |
|
Last remaining final seat reported on sale |
$690,000 |
The biggest source of anger has been FIFA’s use of dynamic pricing, a model more commonly associated with airlines and concert promoters.
Under the system, prices rise as demand increases, meaning supporters purchasing identical seats may pay vastly different amounts.
For many fans, that feels fundamentally at odds with football’s tradition of accessibility.
Fans paying more — and seeing less
Supporters have also complained about long online queues, technical glitches and unclear seat allocations.
Some fans who purchased premium viewing locations later alleged that temporary structures and additional seating arrangements would partially obstruct their view of the pitch.
Others accused FIFA of encouraging speculation through its official resale platform.
Critics note that the governing body takes a commission on resold tickets while imposing few restrictions on resale values, creating incentives for ticket flipping rather than discouraging it.
The result is a growing perception among supporters that football’s biggest event has become increasingly inaccessible to ordinary fans.
The supporters left behind
Ticket prices are only part of the problem.
Even fans willing to spend thousands of dollars face uncertainty over whether they can enter the country.
Supporters from several nations have encountered visa complications or travel restrictions. Reports suggest that fans from countries including Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast face significant barriers to attending matches.
Scottish supporters have also reported cases in which travel authorisations appeared to have been approved before later being rejected, leaving many facing substantial financial losses on flights and accommodation.
For an event that markets itself as the world’s most inclusive sporting festival, the image of ticket-holding supporters stranded outside host nations presents a serious reputational challenge.
The climate bill arrives
Then there is the environmental debate.
The 2026 edition is the largest World Cup in history.
The tournament has expanded from 32 teams to 48, increasing the number of matches from 64 to 104.
That expansion has come with significant environmental costs.
Researchers estimate that the competition could generate more than nine million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, largely due to extensive air travel between host cities spread across North America.
Environmental groups have described the event as potentially the most climate-damaging World Cup ever staged.
Even local transport plans have attracted criticism.
Fans have complained about expensive train fares, costly shuttle services and parking charges that, at some venues, run into hundreds of dollars per vehicle.
The contrast between FIFA’s sustainability messaging and the tournament’s projected environmental footprint has become another point of contention.
FIFA’s neutrality under scrutiny
The governing body has also faced criticism over its relationship with the Trump administration.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s increasingly close public association with Trump has prompted questions about whether the organisation is maintaining its traditional stance of political neutrality.
Critics point to appearances alongside the US president and symbolic gestures, including the presentation of a FIFA Peace Prize, as evidence that football’s governing body risks becoming entangled in geopolitical narratives.
The challenge for FIFA is obvious.
Every future visa dispute, airport detention or diplomatic disagreement involving participating nations now risks becoming a World Cup story.
And with teams, officials and supporters continuing to arrive throughout the tournament, further incidents cannot be ruled out.
Historically, World Cups have often managed to leave pre-tournament disputes behind once the football begins. The 2026 edition may not enjoy that luxury.
Many of the issues dominating headlines today are not one-off controversies tied to construction delays or organisational mistakes. They are ongoing disputes rooted in immigration policy, international politics, consumer rights and environmental concerns.
A visa denied during the group stage. A supporter detained near a stadium. A diplomatic dispute involving a participating nation. Another ticketing controversy. Any of these could quickly overshadow events on the pitch.
The football itself is likely to be spectacular. The expanded format promises more matches, more nations and more stories than ever before. Stadiums are expected to be full. Television audiences will reach into the billions.
But as the countdown to kick-off nears its end, the tournament arrives carrying more baggage than perhaps any World Cup in modern history.
The question now is whether the football can become the story again.
Or whether the controversies that have defined the road to the World Cup will continue to follow the tournament long after the opening whistle.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has agreed “in principle” to the club-led model of running the Indian Super League (ISL) for two years and has conveyed it to the sports minister, a top official said on Tuesday.
The development appeared to have cleared the decks for the start of the 2026-27 season of the ISL in September as scheduled.
AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan told PTI that a final agreement will be signed and formally announced on June 15 after “ironing out some details”. He also said that 2026-27 ISL will begin on September 4.
“We have agreed in principle to the proposal made by the ISL clubs and we have told this to the Sports Minister. The sports ministry also said it’s okay. So, we will make a formal announcement on June 15.
“We also have to see how it will work legally. So, there is no final agreement as of now. We have to work on some details and iron them out. That will happen in the next three-four days.
“The kick-off for ISL is finalised, it will begin on September 4. Durand Cup will be between June 25 and July 25.”
The 2026-27 ISL is expected to be a full seven-month season, with home and away matches for the 14 participating teams.
On Monday, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had asked the AIFF and ISL clubs to create a task force that would thrash out a “structured plan” for at least the next two seasons of the crisis-ridden league, in a meeting here.
The clubs had proposed a two-year club-led pilot model for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons as an interim solution before any long-term commercial arrangements.
Another official, however, said that the AIFF will still own and operate the ISL.
“The clubs will be in charge of the commercial part, but that will be under AIFF’s supervision. The AIFF will still own and operate the league.
“We are doing this in the interest of the clubs, because they have also gone under losses. But we are still looking at a long-term model. At the end of two years, we are going to review the situation (club-led model).
“The clubs said at least for two years you (AIFF) allow us to do this model and then you can review it. They can later say, we’ll do it for five years or for 15 years. We will take a call at that point in time. As of now, we (AIFF) have agreed in principle the two-year model part.”
He said the AIFF will also include Genius Sports in the discussions.
“We will also speak to Genius Sports. They (Genius Sport) will also be part of the whole thing. All three together will work on this.
“Moreover, the broadcast rights will have to be tendered.”
What is club-led model of ISL?
London-headquartered Genius Sports had emerged as the highest bidder for the commercial rights of the ISL after the AIFF floated the tender earlier this year. It had promised Rs 2,129 crore annually for ISL and a cup competition for the next 15+5 years, including 5% increase per year. That amounted to around Rs 64 crore per year.
Under the revenue sharing model as per the Genius Sports bid, the AIFF was to get Rs 12.4 crore in the first year. The AIFF also wanted to charge the clubs an entry fee, a proposal that has not found favour with the ISL clubs.
The clubs had opposed to Genius Sports becoming the commercial rights holders.
They instead proposed to acquire the commercial rights of the ISL for the two-year period and pay the AIFF Rs 15 crore per year to cover the costs associated with the regulatory functions that the national federation is required to discharge in its capacity as the governing body, including refereeing, legal, integrity and anti-doping support.
In their proposal, the ISL clubs had made “unequivocal” commitment that the AIFF’s role as the regulatory body of Indian football will be fully preserved and respected.
All core regulatory functions shall continue to remain exclusively with the AIFF, including referee appointment and management, legal and integrity oversight, anti-doping support and compliance, sporting regulations, player registration and transfer systems, compliance with FIFA and AFC regulations.
They said the proposed structure ensures a clean and appropriate separation between the commercial and regulatory functions of the league.
East Bengal FC were crowned the champions for the first time in the history of ISL ahead of arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant with the winners being decided on the concluding day of the league last month.
This season’s ISL was held in a single-leg round-robin format where all 14 participating teams competed against each other once. A total of 91 matches were played across the season, with each team playing 13 games.
The decision followed a safeguarding investigation opened by the the Football Association.
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A North Carolina judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by 31 ex-N.C. State male athletes who alleged sexual abuse by the athletic program’s former director of sports medicine.
The lawsuit was filed under the guise of treatment and harassment against Robert M. Murphy Jr., as well as N.C. State athletic officials who are tied to oversight rules.
However, Wake County Superior Court Judge Bryan Collins dismissed the claims, citing procedural reasons.
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North Carolina State Wolfpack club seats are prepared for fans during the college basketball game between North Carolina Tar Heels and North Carolina State at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C., on Jan. 8, 2019. (Michael Berg/Icon Sportswire)
This lawsuit, which was filed in February in state court, was a case that began in 2022 when a single athlete came forward with their own federal lawsuit. It was alleged that Murphy had years of misconduct, which included improperly touching genitals during massages and intrusive observation during urine sampling for drug tests.
In the end, Collins granted a motion from Murphy’s attorneys to seek dismissal of the case, ruling the statute of limitations had expired in claims that went as far back as 2013.
Also, Collins dismissed claims against athletics officials, including ex-athletic director Debbie Yow and current athletic director Boo Corrigan, on jurisdictional grounds.
Kery Sutton, who represented the N.C. State former athletes dating back to the original case, said they plan to appeal the judge’s decision.
“This dismissal has nothing at all to do with Mr. Murphy’s sexual abuse of these 31 former student-athletes,” Sutton said in a statement. “It was decided based only on questions of legal procedure. We plan to appeal this outcome and in coming days will be adding new claims against NCSU for men who have recently come forward.”
The NC State Wolfpack logo appears on a pair of shorts during a second-round game in the Southwest Maui Invitational against the Boise State Broncos at the Lahaina Center in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Nov. 25, 2025. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
“The truth is nothing happened but a man’s career being ruined for money,” Jared Hammett, Murphy’s attorney, said in a statement. “As a lawyer I am just glad that we have been able to help another person who needed support and found himself needing that defense.”
Hammett’s statement also described Murphy as “someone who dedicated his life to working with athletes.”
Only two of the athletes involved in the lawsuit filed without using “John Doe” as the plaintiff’s name to protect anonymity. One of them was Benjamin Locke, a men’s soccer player with the Wolfpack who filed the original lawsuit in August 2022.
The North Carolina State Wolfpack logo is displayed during the second half of the NC State game against the Miami Hurricanes at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C., on Jan. 15, 2020. (Jaylynn Nash/Icon Sportswire)
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“N.C. State does not condone sexual misconduct of any kind,” the school said in a statement. “The health and safety of our students and student-athletes is paramount to the university and our athletic programs.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Irish Provinces 2026/27 Transfer Tracker: Leinster Clear-Out, Connacht Rebuild and Ulster Overhaul
The 2026/27 Irish provincial transfer picture is beginning to take shape, and it already looks like one of the most interesting summers in recent memory.
Leinster, Connacht, Munster and Ulster are all heading in different directions. Connacht have added serious quality, Leinster are facing a major squad reset, Munster have kept their business tight, while Ulster are once again dealing with a sizeable turnover of players.
Connacht: Strong Recruitment Window
Connacht have been busy, and their recruitment looks the most eye-catching of the four provinces so far.
The arrivals of Ciarán Frawley, Will Connors and Jerry Cahir from Leinster give Connacht proven Irish provincial quality, while François van Wyk arrives from Bath to add front-row depth.
There is also a clear academy pathway in play, with Fiachna Barrett, Seán Naughton, Matthew Victory and Billy Bohan all promoted.
Connacht Players In
- Ciarán Frawley from Leinster
- Will Connors from Leinster
- François van Wyk from Bath
- Jerry Cahir from Leinster
- Thomas Connolly from Old Belvedere
- Fiachna Barrett promoted from Academy
- Seán Naughton promoted from Academy
- Matthew Victory promoted from Academy
- Billy Bohan promoted from Academy
Connacht Players Out
- Joe Joyce to Gloucester
- Matthew Devine to Ulster
- Jack Carty retired
- Denis Buckley released
- Peter Dooley released
- Temi Lasisi released
- Oisín Dowling released
- Oisín McCormack released
- David Hawkshaw released
- Chay Mullins released
- Jack Aungier to Munster
Leinster: Major Experience Leaving
Leinster’s list is the most striking. Joey Carbery returns from Bordeaux, while Stephen Smyth, Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Josh Kenny step up from the academy.
However, the outgoing list is significant. Will Connors, Ciarán Frawley, Luke McGrath, John McKee, Rabah Slimani, Jerry Cahir and Rieko Ioane are all listed as leaving, while James Lowe is also departing.
The academy departures are also notable, with Billy Corrigan, Mahon Ronan, Liam Molony, Páidí Farrell and Henry McErlean all leaving.
Leinster Players In
- Joey Carbery from Bordeaux
- Stephen Smyth promoted from Academy
- Conor O’Tighearnaigh promoted from Academy
- Josh Kenny promoted from Academy
Leinster Players Out
- Rabah Slimani to Toulon
- Jerry Cahir to Connacht
- John McKee to Scarlets
- Will Connors to Connacht
- Luke McGrath to Perpignan
- Ciarán Frawley to Connacht
- Rieko Ioane to Blues
- James Lowe destination Japan
- Billy Corrigan destination unknown
- Mahon Ronan destination unknown
- Liam Molony destination unknown
- Páidí Farrell destination unknown
- Henry McErlean destination unknown
Munster: Smaller but Important Changes
Munster’s business has been more contained. The arrival of Marnus van der Merwe from Scarlets adds experience, while Jack Aungier arrives from Connacht.
Academy promotions are also a big part of Munster’s summer, with Sean Edogbo, Ben O’Connor, Ronan Foxe and Max Clein moving up.
Munster Players In
- Marnus van der Merwe from Scarlets
- Jack Aungier from Connacht
- Sean Edogbo promoted from Academy
- Ben O’Connor promoted from Academy
- Ronan Foxe promoted from Academy
- Max Clein promoted from Academy
Munster Players Out
- Jean Kleyn to Gloucester
- Niall Scannell retired
- John Ryan retired
- Thaakir Abrahams to Bulls
Ulster: Another Big Reset
Ulster have again made major changes. Eli Snyman, Matthew Devine, Ben Donnell, Jamie Benson, Eduardo Bello and Bryn Ward are all coming in.
However, the departures list is long, with twelve players leaving or released. That includes Angus Bell, Werner Kok, Marcus Rea, David Shanahan and Sean Reffell.
Ulster Players In
- Eli Snyman from Benetton
- Matthew Devine from Connacht
- Ben Donnell from Cardiff
- Jamie Benson from Harlequins
- Eduardo Bello from Newcastle Red Bulls
- Bryn Ward promoted from Academy
Ulster Players Out
- Angus Bell to NSW Waratahs
- John Andrew released
- Matthew Dalton released
- Wilhelm de Klerk released
- James Humphreys released
- Werner Kok released
- Ben Moxham released
- Rory McGuire released
- Bryan O’Connor released
- Marcus Rea released
- Sean Reffell released
- David Shanahan released
Net Transfer Movement
- Leinster: 4 in, 13 out — net -9
- Connacht: 9 in, 11 out — net -2
- Munster: 6 in, 4 out — net +2
- Ulster: 6 in, 12 out — net -6
The biggest talking point is Leinster’s squad turnover. For a province known for depth, losing that level of senior experience and academy talent in one summer is still significant.
Connacht, meanwhile, look to have made the most aggressive moves, adding proven Leinster players while also promoting from within. Munster appear relatively stable, while Ulster’s rebuild continues.
There is still time for more movement, but as things stand, Connacht may be the province who have done the sharpest business ahead of the 2026/27 season.
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