Happenings at UVA Wise

UVA Wise announces return of coaches show, broadcast improvements

WISE — UVA Wise is excited to announce the return of the UVA Wise Coaches Show beginning August 31 at 7 p.m. from El Dorado Restaurant in Wise. The show can be heard weekly on FM 93.5 WAXM or online at waxm.com

Each week, Steve Curran and UVA Wise Head Football Coach Dane Damron will recap last week's contest and preview the upcoming game. Additionally, assistant coaches of the football program and coaches of other sports programs will be in attendance for live interviews.

The first show of the year will begin a new era of broadcasting for UVA Wise Athletics. Starting this fall, UVA Wise is now part of the South Atlantic Conference Digital Network. Fans can access the network by clicking Cavalier Sports Network in the upper right-hand corner of the uvawisecavs.com website or by downloading the South Atlantic Conference Application on their streaming device.

To download the application, search South Atlantic Conference and begin streaming your favorite UVA Wise and SAC events.

The first UVA Wise event on the network will be September 2, when King University visits for the season-opening volleyball match.

UVA Wise baseball announces assistant coaches

WISE — UVA Wise Head Baseball Coach Brandon Costa announced the addition of Bill Steven and John Chalupa to his coaching staff Monday. Steven will serve as the program's recruiting coordinator while also working with hitters, outfielders and first basemen. Chalupa will be the program's pitching instructor while also assisting in recruiting.

A native of Fonthill, Ontario, Steven had a successful career as a first baseman for the Cavaliers. As a senior, he did not commit an error while posting a .407/.438/.531 slash line at the plate en route to all-conference accolades.

"I'm excited that Coach Steven is a full-time coach, he's been on staff for five years now and he brings a lot to the program as a coach and from a development standpoint off the field," remarked Head Baseball Coach Brandon Costa. "I'm looking forward to seeing his continued success with everything he brings to the table."

As a coach, Steven has been with the program since graduating from UVA Wise in 2016. During that period, the Cavs advanced to postseason play for the first time as a NCAA Division II member when the program won a game in the Mountain East Conference Tournament in 2019.

Steven is certified by Driveline Foundations of Hitting, Foundations of Pitching and Pitch Design.

The coach obtained a bachelor's degree in accounting and economics from UVA Wise before later adding a master's degree in sport management from Wingate University in 2019.

Chalupa comes to UVA Wise after spending the last two seasons as the pitching coach at Lake Erie College in Painseville, Ohio. The coach has also spent time working with Kings Baseball Academy in Airmont, New York while also working with Max Velocity Pitching in Haverstraw, New York.

"Coach Chalupa is very passionate about developing pitchers," Costa stated. "He will impact our program immediately with the young pitching staff we have coming in.

Chalupa pitched collegiately at Fairleigh Dickinson University before pitching professionally for the Alpine Cowboys in the Pecos League and the Trainrobbers in the Can-Am League. While with the Cowboys, he aided the team to the Pecos League Championship.

The coach obtained a bachelor's degree in biology from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

UVA Wise Sports Media Department