Fall sports report back to campus early, looking forward to successful seasons
UW-Stout is gearing up for the start of the 2025-26 academic year and is already welcoming some student groups to campus.
Blue Devil fall athletes are reporting to their sports camps, including more than 300 soccer, volleyball, cross country, tennis, golf, dance, and cheer athletes, as well as the 152-player-strong football team that reported to camp on Aug. 13.
Season tickets for the 2025 Blue Devils fall sports seasons are on sale.
“This is my favorite time of the year. It is great to start seeing student athletes fill the Recreation Complex, the campus and the community. It means we are ready to go for another year and see what we can achieve,” said Director of Athletics and Recreation Erin Sullivan.
“Sports are typically something easy to get behind, so it’s always nice to see the support we get from the campus community. Our Athletics Department and the student athletes really do appreciate it,” added Sullivan, a 20-year veteran of Blue Devil Athletics, who began as director this summer.
For Blue Devils, every day is ‘game day’
Student athletes move into their assigned residence halls, and each sport participates in team building activities and practice, meetings, film sessions and weightlifting. They often use their leadership and team-building skills that they learn from their sport in other campus activities and student organizations as well.
Football Head Coach Clayt Birmingham is looking forward to building off of last year’s success, evaluating newcomers, and “simply being around our guys.”
“Our goals and expectations never change – to win at everything we do in life, on and off the field. Every day is ‘Game Day,’” he said.
Last season, Blue Devil’s football went 6-5, and 4-3 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Their season concluded with a 32-35 fall to Wheaton College in the Culver’s Isthmus Bowl. Eleven players received 12 spots on the All-WIAC team.
Women’s soccer Head Coach Marcos Rogriguez is excited to see how the team bounces back this fall. The roster has 34 players, including a strong returning group and 10 incoming players.
“The biggest goal we have is to compete day in and day out, giving our best effort each day. I want them to set high goals for themselves, including making the playoffs and to see where it goes from there. This group is fully capable of reaching that goal,” Rodriguez said.
Recreation Complex Renovation
A new renovated recreation complex to improve the student experience with expanded, improved fitness and recreation space.
The Recreation Complex renovation is an investment in Blue Devils’ health and wellness, and was endorsed by students, athletes, coaches and administration. The project will include a new entrance and addition to increase recreational fitness space, a multiuse gym, relocation of the weight room to create space for three multiuse studio gyms, and expanded locker rooms and restrooms to improve convenience, privacy and accessibility. Construction could begin in early 2026 and finish in 2027, pending enumeration in the state’s capital budget.
