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Bryant & Stratton College – Wisconsin Receives $10,000 Grant from
NJCAA Foundation, First Point Volleyball Foundation to Start Men's Volleyball

Bobcats Set to Launch Men's Volleyball Season in Spring 2023

WAUWATOSA, WI (June 30, 2021) – Bryant & Stratton College – Wisconsin Athletics has received a $10,000 grant from the NJCAA Foundation and First Point Volleyball Foundation to start an NJCAA men's volleyball program.

"We are very happy to receive this funding from the wonderful collaboration of the NJCAA Foundation and First Point Volleyball Foundation," said Greg Brandner, Bryant & Stratton's Athletic Director. "This is a great opportunity for Bryant & Stratton to attract young men to compete in NJCAA volleyball while having the opportunity to receive an athletic scholarship while pursuing a degree. Wisconsin has a strong collegiate men's club volleyball circuit and the boys high school and club programs continues to grow. We are very excited to get started and help grow the sport."     

The Bobcats plan to start men's volleyball competition in Spring 2023 and will offer athletic scholarships to student-athletes. The grant will help support the launch of the program including a coach's salary, uniforms, and equipment.

"The ability to create more opportunities for student-athletes to compete in college and take part in a growing sport is one of the ultimate wins the NJCAA Foundation can achieve," said Brian Luckett, NJCAA Foundation Executive Director. "We are appreciative of First Point Volleyball Foundation for making this possible and the NJCAA member colleges who have stepped up to make history by bringing back men's volleyball to the association."

First Point Volleyball Foundation is taking men's volleyball participation to unprecedented heights, supporting and creating opportunities for young men around the nation.

"As one of 19 First Point Foundation board members, I can say we are so proud to be able to support the NJCAA and these 15 institutions starting men's volleyball," said Mick Haley, First Point Volleyball Foundation volunteer board member and AVCA Hall of Famer. A former men's volleyball coach at Kellogg Community College (MI), Haley led the program to four NJCAA national championships, back when the sport was sponsored, before stints as head women's coach at the University of Texas, University of Southern California, and the 2000 US Women's Olympic Team in Sydney. "Two-year colleges present the most affordable opportunity for young people to play college volleyball during a time when students want to stay closer to home," Haley continued. "Our hope at First Point is to see 35 or 40 more two-year colleges follow these 15 and sponsor men's volleyball."  

Bryant & Stratton currently offers women's court volleyball and women's beach volleyball. The addition of men's volleyball will bring the Bobcats to 21 sports programs.

"As we work to prepare for the Tokyo Olympic Games, all of us at USA Volleyball are excited by this awesome news of 15 newly announced men's collegiate volleyball programs at two-year colleges," stated John Speraw, First Point Volleyball Foundation Founder and volunteer Chairman and head coach of the US Men's National Team and UCLA Men's Volleyball. "I suspect it won't be long before an NJCAA athlete will play for Team USA," Speraw added. "I want to personally thank all the donors to First Point Volleyball Foundation, past and future, for making these grants possible."

A nationwide men's volleyball head coaching search will begin in Fall 2021.

For more information on Bryant & Stratton College – Wisconsin Athletics, visit wisconsin.bscbobcats.com

About First Point Volleyball Foundation

Founded in 2016 by John Speraw, head coach of the USA Men's National Team and UCLA Men's Volleyball and Wade Garard, First Point Volleyball Foundation exists to provide opportunities for young people to mature and develop through volleyball. Specifically focused on growing boys' and men's volleyball in the United States, First Point Volleyball Foundation initiates and celebrates FIRST POINTS whether that is a first point of a new collegiate team, or a new high school team, or a first point of competitive volleyball for a 12-year-old. The Foundation has three strategic initiatives: (1) Growing collegiate opportunities; (2) Growing high school boys' opportunities; and (3) the Extending Reach Diversity Initiative – expanding volleyba­ll opportunities to boys and men of color.  

About NJCAA Foundation

The mission of the NJCAA Foundation is to enhance the NJCAA national organization, student-athletes, member colleges and local communities through financial support, scholarships, program initiatives and community service. 

About Bryant & Stratton College

Bryant & Stratton College is a private career college that provides career relevant education with a focus on employability and student success in a personalized environment. The College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Bryant & Stratton College has campus locations in New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as an Online Education division, and a Professional Skill Center. For 160 years, Bryant & Stratton College has offered students access to career relevant education leading to bachelor's degrees, associate's degrees and professional certificates in the fields of business, criminal justice, design, financial services, healthcare, hospitality, human resources, paralegal studies and information technology. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program and other important information, please visit http://www.bryantstratton.edu/disclosures General information can also be found on the College's website at http://www.bryantstratton.edu/