Call it a slam dunk: West Virginia University is scoring new opportunities for students to pursue and complete their degrees with a $5 million gift from Steve Ballmer, chairman of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, and his wife, Connie, honoring late Mountaineer great Jerry West. The announcement coincides with Jerry West Day, a celebration of West’s memory and legacy at the WVU men’s basketball game Saturday (Jan. 18) versus Iowa State.
Athletics
Men’s basketball head coach Darian DeVries is the Jim Phelan Award National Mid-Season Coach of the Year. The award is presented annually to the top head coach in Division I college basketball.
The YSU Collegiate Invitational will be held Friday (Jan. 17) at the Watson and Tressel Training Site in Youngstown, Ohio, and the Nittany Lion Challenge will take place Saturday (Jan. 18) in University Park, Pennsylvania.
The National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame have announced former Mountaineer running back Steve Slaton is a member of the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class. An elusive running back who torched defenses with his explosive speed, Slaton led WVU during one of its most successful times in history.
The No. 20 women’s basketball team rolled past Colorado, 73-46, Wednesday (Jan. 15) at the Coliseum. Four Mountaineers finished the contest in double figures — senior guards JJ Quinerly and Kyah Watson, junior guard Sydney Shaw and fifth-year forward Kylee Blacksten.
The gymnastics team opens its home slate in a dual meet against Kent State at 7 p.m. tonight (Jan. 16) inside the Coliseum. It will be ‘90s Night, with ‘90s throwback music playing throughout the meet and a band tee giveaway for the first 200 fans.