Nothing holds truer for the 16 former ASU student-athletes and over 60 current full-time Sun Devil Athletics staff with an ASU degree.
Walking through the halls of SDA, it's normal to see an ASU diploma hanging in a co-worker's office or chat with a head coach about the changes to campus since they were a student.
We share memories of monumental games, our first hike up 'A' Mountain, cheering when Sparky stomps the bus, standing in gold pride at a rival stadium – all the defining moments of being a Sun Devil.
In honor of Labor Day, we recognize the employees working in Sun Devil Athletics that graduated from Arizona State. On this list you will see individuals who attended ASU as an undergrad or earned a Master's degree.
Check out the list of ASU alumni who bring their school pride to work at Sun Devil Athletics:
Former Sun Devil Student-Athletes (17):
Herbie Behm, Assistant Swim Coach (B.S. Psychology, 2013)
– Before being named an Assistant Coach on Bob Bowman's staff, Behm swam at Arizona State from 2010-2013.
It's #tbt today, so we're throwing it back to when Coach @SirHerb_the3rd was a Sun Devi from 2010-13! pic.twitter.com/WMXXydQVYi
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) August 23, 2019
Adam Blossey, Sun Devil Athletics Manager (B.S., Business Finance, 2005/Masters of Business Analytics, 2019)
– From 2001-05, Adam played for ASU's ACHA DI team, serving as a team captain his junior and senior seasons, named team MVP from 2002-05, three-time All-American Honorable Mention, and two-time ACHA Academic All-American. In 2005, he finished his career as a selection for the World University Games with Team USA in Innsbruck, Austria. He was inducted into the ASU Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.
Jean Boyd, Deputy Athletic Director (B.A. Liberal Arts, History, 1994/M. Ed. Higher Education, 1998)
– Boyd played football under Bruce Snyder in 1991 and 1993. Boyd was elevated to his current position after serving as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student Athlete Development.
It's a family thing@jboyd_sb4life & Kevin Miniefield wore the maroon & gold on the field, now they wear it in the office https://t.co/S4XgHGoqX3 pic.twitter.com/HXI5L1Mlbj
— Sun Devil Club (@sundevilclub) September 7, 2018
Michelle Estill, Associate Head Coach, Women's Golf(B.S., Business Management, 1989)
– Estill and coach Farr-Kaye both played under Linda Vollstedt at Arizona State. She was the NCAA runner-up at the 1986 Championship and was Farr-Kaye's assistant when the Sun Devils won the NCAA team title in 2017.
?? ???????????????? ???????? ??@SunDevilWGolf Assistant Coach Michelle Estill has been ???????????????? to ?????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? pic.twitter.com/OBfx0Df4le
— Sun Devil W. Golf (@SunDevilWGolf) June 25, 2020
Missy Farr-Kaye, Head Women's Golf Coach (B.A., Organizational Communication, 1990)
– Farr-Kaye recently led the Sun Devil women's golf team to an NCAA team title in 2017. She played for the Sun Devil golf program, served as an Assistant during the 2009 National Championship run, and was a member of the team that won the 1990 NCAA title.
#DidYouKnow...
— Sun Devil W. Golf (@SunDevilWGolf) September 5, 2020
Not only have Missy Farr-Kaye and Linda Vollstedt won National Titles while in charge of @SunDevilWGolf, they also graduated from @ASU! #SunDevils4Life ??
?? Vollstedt (B.A., Education, '69/M. Ed., Mathematics, '71)
?? Farr-Kaye (B.A., Org. Communication, '90) pic.twitter.com/RgCQgoyDLP
Natelle Gentile, Coordinator, Game Presentation (B.S. Communications, 2015)
-Gentile competed primarily on vault, bars and beam for the Sun Devils from 2012-13.
Derek Hagan, Assistant Coach, Co-Wide Receivers, Football (BIS Interdisciplinary Studies, 2005)
-2015 Arizona State University Hall of Fame Inductee Derek Hagan, who graduated from ASU as the Pac-12 Conference's all-time leader in receptions, Hagan played wide receiver for the Sun Devils from 2002-05, a period in which the program enjoyed some of the greatest offensive success in school history. He appeared in 50 games across four seasons at Arizona State, finishing his career as one of the greatest receivers in both school and Pac-12 history.
Zeke Jones, Head Wrestling Coach (B.S., Corporate Financial Management, 1990)
– Jones took over as Head Coach in 2014 and has won multiple Pac-12 titles and Pac-12 Coach of the Year Awards. A member of ASU's 1988 NCAA Wrestling Championship team, Jones was a three-time All-American and Pac-10 Champion for the Sun Devils.
On this date in 1992, @USAWrestling's @ZekeJones wins silver in freestyle at the Olympics. Learn more about Zeke, a Distinguished Member inducted into @NWHOF in 2005, at https://t.co/LGt7Fti15n @TheSunDevils @ASUWrestling @ASU pic.twitter.com/je2iMcFzBT
— NWHOF (@NWHOF) August 5, 2019
Ryan Kelley, Manager, Ticket Sales (B.I.S., Interdisciplinary Studies, 2009)
– Kelley played on the Sun Devil golf team from 2005-09.
Kevin Miniefield, Associate Director, Sun Devil Letter Winners (B.S., Liberal Arts, 2007)
– Former ASU cornerback who competed for the Sun Devils from 1988-1993. Miniefield earned first-team All-Pacific-10 Conference honors in 1992, and he played in the Blue-Gray Classic, an all-star bowl game, after his senior season.
Petra Pardi, Assistant Water Polo Coach (B.S., Sociology, 2015/ M. Ed. Postsecondary and Higher Education, 2018)
– Before joining the Sun Devil water polo coaching staff, Pardi was a standout member of the team from 2011-2015.
Greg Powers, Ice Hockey Coach (B.A., Broadcast Journalism, 1999)
– In the late 1990's, coach Powers helped turn the ASU men's club hockey program around as a four-year starting goaltender, and made his "coaching debut" while still playing as a senior. He was a three-time ACHA DI All-American and helped qualify the Sun Devils for three national tournaments while earning two team MVP awards. He was named to the ASU Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009. Powers was recently named the 2019 Frank Kush Coach of the Year by his peers.
?? Back-to-back ??
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) March 31, 2020
Head coach @asucoachpowers
named Spencer Penrose Coach of the Year finalist for second-straight year. pic.twitter.com/l99EirrLSu
Jessica Richardson, Associate Director Academic Support Programs (B.A.E., Secondary Education/Mathematics, 2011/M. Ed., Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2015)
– Richardson is former Sun Devil soccer player from 2007-10.
Dale Ryndak, Group Events Consultant (B.S., Family and Human Development, 2018)
– Ryndak pitched for the Sun Devil Softball team from 2015-18.
Natalie Thackrah, Associate Director, OSAD (B.A., Communication, 2002/M. Ed., Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2011)
– A local graduate from Greenway High School, Natalie was Sun Devil diver from 1999-2002.
Linda Vollstedt, Development Director, Sun Devil Club (B.A., Education, 1969/M. Ed., Mathematics, 1971)
– Before she was winning six national titles as a coach, she was playing golf at Arizona State the 1960s.
Brett Wallerstedt, General Manager of Corporate Sponsorships, (B.S. Business, 1997)
– Brett was a linebacker for the Sun Devil football team and a recent inductee into the Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Fame.
Congrats @brw44 and Joe Spagnola on being selected to the 2019 class of the Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Fame ???? pic.twitter.com/3Cw8dnUtKz
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) August 11, 2019
Four Arizona State Degrees:
Tyson Roberts, Ticket Office Assistant Manager (B.A. in history 2010, B.A. in sociology 2010/Masters of Liberal Arts 2015/M. Ed., Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2017)
Two Arizona State Degrees (19):
Krista Banke, Special Assistant to the Senior Associate Athletic Director (B.S., Business Management/Honors College, 1996/M.B.A., 2001)
Jean Boyd, Deputy Athletic Director (B.A. Liberal Arts, History, 1994/M. Ed. Higher Education, 1998)
Adam Blossey, Sun Devil Athletics Manager (B.S., Business Finance, 2005/Masters of Business Analytics, 2019)
Ryan Cohan, Women's Basketball Director of Operations (B.A., Journalism & Mass Communication, 2013/M.Ed., Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2015)
Tony Grandlienard, Special Events Coordinator (B.A., Journalism, 2012/ Masters of Sports Law and Business, 2018)
Mark Gorski, Athletic Facilities Maintenance Coordinator (B.S. Sociology, 2015/ Masters of Sports Law and Business, 2018)
Paul Hogen, OSAD Coordinator/Learning Specialist (B.A.E., Physical Education, 1978/M.S., Physical Education, 1980/Principal Certification)
Whittany Horton, Events Coordinator (B.S., Biological Sciences, 2015/Masters of Legal Studies, 2019)
Bill Kennedy, Associate A.D. (B.S., Broadcasting, 1986/M.M.C., Masters of Mass Communication, 1992)
Andrew Matheson, Sun Devil Hockey Director of Operations (B.A., Communications, 2017/Masters of Sports Law and Business, 2019)
Jessica Richardson, Associate Director Academic Support Programs (B.A.E., Secondary Education/Mathematics, 2011/M. Ed., Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2015)
Paige Shacklett, Strategic Communications Coordinator (B.A., Sports Journalism, 2017/Masters of Sports Law & Business, 2018)
Connor Smith, Assistant Director, Media Relations (B.A. Sports & Media Studies, 2018/Masters of Legal Studies, 2020)
Danny Stolper, Director of Baseball Operations (B.A., Sports & Media Studies, 2017/Masters of Sports Law and Business, 2019)
Susanna Tamol, Assistant Director, Athletics Compliance (B.S., Business Management, 1993/M. Ed., Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2005)
Mitch Terrell, Corporate Communications Specialist (B.A., Journalism & Mass Communication, 2013/Masters of Legal Studies, 2019)
Natalie Thackrah, Associate Director, OSAD, (B.A., Communication, 2002/M. Ed., Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2011)
Linda Vollstedt, Development Director, Sun Devil Club (B.A., Education, 1969/M. Ed., Mathematics, 1971)
Rich Wenner, Sports Performance Olympic Sports Head Coach (B.S., Physical Education, 1986/M.S., Exercise and Wellness, 2009)
Arizona State Undergraduate Degrees (43):
John Anderson, Associate Athletic Trainer (B.S., Exercise Science, 1996)
Bridget Arenson, Associate Director, SAF Events & Clubs (B.A., Communication, 1996)
Tayler Blackman, Partnership Activation Coordinator (B.A. Sports and Media Studies, 2017)
Adam Blossey, Sun Devil Athletics Manager (B.S., Business Finance, 2005)
Mike Chismar, Senior Associate A.D., Operations and Facilities (B.A., Communications, 1982)
Ryan Dytrt, Ticket Sales and Retention Consultant (B.S., Business Management/B.A., Sport and Media Studies, 2015)
Jonathan Erwin, Coordinator/Academic Coach (B.S., Management, 2007)
Michelle Estill, Associate Head Coach, Women's Golf(B.S., Business Management, 1989)
Natelle Gentile, Coordinator, Game Presentation (BS Communications, 2015)
Tony Grandlienard, Special Events Coordinator (B.A., Journalism, 2012)
Mark Gorski, Athletic Facilities Maintenance Coordinator (B.S. Sociology, 2015)
Missy Farr-Kaye, Head Women's Golf Coach (B.A., Organizational Communication, 1990)
Derek Hagan, Assistant Coach, Co-Wide Receivers, Football (BIS Interdisciplinary Studies, 2005)
Whittany Horton, Events Coordinator (B.S., Biological Sciences, 2015)
Logan Hirka, Assistant Swim Coach (B.S. Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, 2017)
Nicole Hunt, Ticket Service and Retention Consultant (B.A., Sports & Media Studies, 2016)
Kate Janczewski, Senior Associate A.D., Digital Media and Communications (B.A., Broadcast Journalism, 2003)
Alonzo Jones, Associate Athletic Director, Championship Life (B.S. Justice Studies, 1991)
Zeke Jones, Head Wrestling Coach (B.S., Corporate Financial Management, 1990)
On this date in 1992, Distinguished Member @ZekeJones wins a silver medal in freestyle for @USAWrestling at the Olympics.
— NWHOF (@NWHOF) August 5, 2020
READ more about Zeke, inducted into the @NWHOF in 2005 -> https://t.co/LGt7Fti15n@ASUWrestling @TheSunDevils pic.twitter.com/viUCKkjmVQ
Mike Klakulak, Athletic Facilities Maintenance Coordinator (B.S. Anthropology, 2017)
Ryan Kelley, Manager, Ticket Sales (B.I.S., Interdisciplinary Studies, 2009)
Andrew Matheson, Sun Devil Hockey Director of Operations (B.A., Communications, 2017)
Kevin Miniefield, Associate Director, Sun Devil Letter Winners (B.S., Liberal Arts, 2007)
Nicole Nolan, Ticket Sales and Retention Consultant (B.S., Community Sports Management, 2017)
Dylan Patterson, Account Executive (B.S., Global Politics, 2016)
Greg Powers, Ice Hockey Coach (B.A., Broadcast Journalism, 1999)
Dale Ryndak, Group Events Consultant (B.S., Family and Human Development, 2018)
Pauletta Riggs, Senior HR Specialist (B.I.S., Interdisciplinary Studies, 2015)
Rob Roberson, Producer/Manager Olympic Sports Video (B.A., Broadcast Journalism, 1998)
Tyson Roberts, Ticket Office Assistant Manager (B.S., History/Sociology/Communications, 2011)
Steve Rodriguez, Associate Media Relations Director (B.A., Journalism, 1998)
Amy Schramm, Senior Associate A.D. (B.S., Finance, 1992)
Paige Shacklett, Strategic Communications Coordinator (B.A., Sports Journalism, 2017)
Connor Smith, Assistant Director, Media Relations (B.A. Sports & Media Studies, 2018)
Danny Stolper, Director of Baseball Operations (B.A., Sports & Media Studies, 2017
Mitch Terrell, Corporate Communications Specialist (B.A., Journalism & Mass Communication, 2013)
Natalie Thackrah, Associate Director, OSAD, (B.A., Communication, 2002)
Chris Tudor, Assistant Athletic Director of Finance (B.S., Finance, 2006)
Colton Turner, Group Events Consultant, (B.S. Marketing, 2016)
Brett Wallerstedt, General Manager of Corporate Sponsorships, (B.S. Business, 1997)
Cierra Weimer, Partnership Activation Manager (B.A Sports and Media Studies, 2016)
Pete Wozniak, Athletic Facilities Maintenance Manager (B.S., Business, 1989)
Derrick Wrobel, Men's Basketball Special Assistant to the Head Coach, (B.A. Broadcasting, 2001)
Arizona State Master's Degrees (38):
Krista Banke, Special Assistant to the Senior Associate Athletic Director (M.B.A., 2001)
Kelli Benjamin, Academic Coach (Master's of Sports Law and Business, 2018)
Adam Blossey, Sun Devil Athletics Manager (Master's of Business Analytics, 2019)
Jean Boyd, Deputy Athletic Director (M. Ed. Higher Education, 1998)
Stephanie Bukarau, Assistant Athletic Trainer and Special Asst for Pac-12 Equipment Grant Program (M. Ed., Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2013)
Jacque Blaser, Associate Director of the Sun Devil Club Annual Fund (M.A., Public Administration, 1999)
Denzel Burrell, OSAD Associate Director (Masters of Higher and Post-Secondary Education, 2015)
Ryan Cohan, Women's Basketball Director of Operations (M. Ed., Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2015)
Maggie Corbett, Athletic Trainer (M.Ed., Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2020)
Michael Elliott, Athletic Facilities Maintenance Manager (Masters of Sports Law and Business, 2018)
Tony Grandlienard, Special Events Coordinator (Masters of Sports Law and Business, 2018)
Mark Gorski, Athletic Facilities Maintenance Coordinator (Masters of Sports Law and Business, 2018)
Taylor Green, Softball Director of Operations (Masters of Exercise and Wellness – Physical Activity and Health Promotion, 2017)
Paul Hogen, OSAD Coordinator/Learning Specialist (M.S., Physical Education, 1980/Principal Certification)
Whittany Horton, Events Coordinator (Masters of Legal Studies, 2019)
Kayla Kort, Assistant Director of Athletics Compliance (Masters of Sports Law and Business, 2015)
Bill Kennedy, Associate A.D. (M.M.C., Masters of Mass Communication, 1992)
Johnny Marcinkowski, Assistant Athletic Trainer-Football (M. Ed., Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2017)
Andrew Matheson, Sun Devil Hockey Director of Operations (Masters of Sports Law and Business, 2019)
Alex Minniti, Athletic Facilities Maintenance Coordinator (B.A. Sports Business, 2019)
Josh Richard, Director, Game Presentation (M.Ed., Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2012)
Jessica Richardson, Associate Director Academic Support Programs (M. Ed., Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2015)
Tyson Roberts, Ticket Office Assistant Manager (Masters of Liberal Arts 2015/M. Ed., Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2017)
Derek Schmitt, Assistant Swim Coach (Masters of Sports Law and Business, 2017)
Paige Shacklett, Strategic Communications Coordinator (Masters of Sports Law & Business, 2018)
Connor Smith, Assistant Director, Media Relations (Masters of Legal Studies, 2020)
Jen Stewart, Director, Partnership Operations (M.B.A., 2010)
Danny Stolper, Director of Baseball Operations (Masters of Sports Law and Business, 2019)
Susanna Tamol, Assistant Director, Athletics Compliance (M. Ed., Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2005)
Mitch Terrell, Corporate Communications Specialist (Masters of Legal Studies, 2019)
Natalie Thackrah, Associate Director, OSAD, (M. Ed., Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2011)
Hailey Trudo, Assistant Athletic Trainer (Masters of Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2019)
Linda Vollstedt, Development Director, Sun Devil Club (M. Ed., Mathematics, 1971)
Marcus Castro-Walker, Football Manager of Player Personnel (Masters of Higher and Post-Secondary Education, 2011)
Nicole Welling, Triathlon Assistant Coach (Masters of Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2015)
Rich Wenner, Sports Performance Olympic Sports Head Coach (M.S., Exercise and Wellness, 2009)
Christina Wombacher, Associate Athletic Director, Office of the Vice President for University Athletics (M. Ed., Higher and Postsecondary Education, 2003)
Drew Zamora, Associate Director of Major Gifts, Sun Devil Club (Masters of Higher Education, Education Administration, 2014)