News

NAPA - On Sunday, August 6, the Oakland Raiders invited U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Matt Martinez to re-enlist at Raiders Training Camp in Napa. Martinez, who was raised in Madera, Calif., requested his re-enlistment ceremony to continue his 18 years of service in the U.S. Navy take place in the end zone of the same field the Raiders are using for training camp in preparation for the 2017 NFL season.

Martinez entered military service in September 1999 and has completed multiple deployments aboard Navy aircraft carriers, including two deployments circling the globe. As an aviation electronics technician, he repaired, maintained and launched F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Now as a technical instructor, he trains the “Elite of the Fleet” in highly skilled aircraft repairs.

FRESNO – At Fresno State football’s home opener on September 2, the Bulldogs’ all-time leading passer, Derek Carr (2009-13), will be in attendance as the University is set to retire his No. 4 jersey during a halftime ceremony. It will be the seventh retired jersey in the 95-year history of the program.

Carr, entering his fourth season with the Oakland Raiders, will make his way back to the Valley following the team’s final preseason game on Aug. 31 in Oakland. Week one of the NFL regular season is September 10.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Barry King, who turned the women’s program at Indiana University into a national power through the course of a 19-year stint, has been named head coach for men’s and women’s water polo at George Washington University. At IU, King brought the Hoosiers from a club squad to a powerhouse that made six national championship appearances and achieved 20 or more wins in 17 of 19 seasons. His career coaching record stands at 426-225-2 (.654).

“Barry has proven himself to be one of the elite coaches in college water polo,” said George Washignton Director of Athletics Patrick Nero. “He took Indiana from a club program to one that competed regularly for conference championships and he will be a great fit to lead GW Water Polo to new heights. His experience coaching in our conference and leading IU to six national championship appearances will serve our student-athletes well.”

FRESNO. – The Mountain West released the 2017 football season's predicted order of finish on Tuesday morning, prior to its two-day media summit getting underway. Fresno State was picked to finish sixth in the West Division by the media.  The' Dogs are looking to bounce back from a 1-11 season in 2016 under first-year head coach Jeff Tedford in 2017.

Fresno State's new leader brings a wealth of experience, having left Cal as its all-time winningest coach in program history with 82 wins in his 11 seasons from 2002-12. All this for a program that won one game prior to his arrival in 2001 that was quickly turned around into a 7-5 mark in his first year guiding the Golden Bears,

FRESNO – The United Soccer League (USL) has awarded a franchise to a Fresno investor group headed by local businessman Ray Beshoff.  At a press conference earlier today at Chukchansi Park, USL President Jake Edwards officially presented Mr. Beshoff with the franchise for Fresno Football Club.  Fresno will join Nashville SC and one more club to be announced for the 2018 USL season.

“As professional soccer continues to grow in this country, the USL stands at the forefront, leading the sport’s next phase of expansion to fantastic markets like Fresno,” said USL CEO Alec Papadakis. “Fresno is a vibrant community with passionate soccer fans, a strong corporate base, and a regional population of nearly one million people. Today’s announcement is another step toward the USL’s goal of becoming one of the best Division II professional soccer leagues in the world, on par with the English Championship, Liga Adelante and 2. Bundesliga. Our success is possible due to the league’s strong ownership group, one of the best in professional soccer, and we welcome Ray and his team to the family. We are thrilled to be a part of this community, and officially welcome another fantastic club to the USL.”

FRESNO - Fresno State baseball head coach Mike Batesole has announced the addition of Jermaine Clark to the Bulldogs coaching staff on Wednesday. "We are very excited to have Jermaine on board," said Batesole. "He fully understands and is committed to our program goals of 'Degrees and Rings.' We were diligent in our search to hire a coach who would move forward with our 22 straight semesters of over a 3.00 Team GPA as well as fight to win our ninth championship ring."

A scout with the Oakland Athletics for the last nine years, Clark brings major league baseball playing experience to the Bulldogs as the Vacaville, Calif., native played for five franchises over a four-year playing career from 2001-05. A left fielder as well as a second baseman during his professional career, Clark played in 46 games collecting 12 hits in 78 official at-bats and added three doubles, three stolen bases, nine RBIs and nine runs scored in his career.