FARMINGTON, Utah (July 10, 2025) – For the seventh time since 2018, the Big Sky Kickoff Weekend returns to the Inland Northwest, as the event expands to four days and hosts student-athletes, head coaches, administrators, and media from around the conference.
The 2025 Big Sky Kickoff Weekend, sponsored by the Northern Quest Resort & Casino and the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, is slated for July 18-21 at Northern Quest in Airways Heights, Washington, just four miles from the Spokane International Airport.
For the first time, the league will host its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Summer Meeting as part of the Big Sky Kickoff Weekend, with members from around the conference traveling for the annual gathering that starts on Friday, July 18. This meeting includes student-athletes representing all 10 Big Sky current full member institutions, with participants sharing ideas and providing input on a variety of conference and national issues related to their student-athlete experiences. SAAC representatives will also receive media training, take part in promotional content for the conference, and volunteer for local community service initiatives.
2025 Big Sky SAAC Attendees
Rhiannon Davies, Eastern Washington, Women’s XC/T&F
Jake Schakel, Eastern Washington, Football
Naomi Alvarez, Idaho, Women’s Soccer
Holden Bea, Idaho, Football
Cam Collman, Idaho State, Women’s Basketball
Alyssa Yee, Idaho State, Softball
Abigail Case, Montana, Women’s XC/T&F
Karli Heidemann, Montana State, Women’s Volleyball
Teya Yeomans, Montana State, Women’s Volleyball
Ava Mitchell, Northern Arizona, Women’s XC/T&F
Audrey Taylor, Northern Arizona, Women’s Basketball
Brooke Holmberg, Northern Colorado, Women’s Soccer
Emma Osborne, Northern Colorado, Softball
Anna Jardin, Portland State, Softball
Tom Thake, Portland State, Men’s XC/T&F
Jamisen Rasmussen, Sacramento State, Women’s Rowing
Amanda Caswell, Weber State, Women’s Soccer
Abby Grundy, Weber State, Softball
The weekend continues on Saturday, July 19, as the league hosts its annual free youth football clinic from 2:00-3:30 p.m. PT at North Central High School. Clinic participants will be instructed by student-athletes from the Big Sky’s 12 football teams and will receive a free poster for autographs immediately following the event. Spokane Sports will support the event by providing essential gear and supplies, reinforcing their commitment to creating opportunities through sport and connecting young athletes with collegiate role models. The clinic is limited to the first 100 kids to register for the event at
BigSkyConf.com/YouthClinic.
Saturday evening will feature the 2025 Big Sky Hall of Fame Gala, beginning promptly at 6:30 p.m. PT from the Northern Quest Resort & Casino, as the ceremony honors all 10 inductees from the 2025 class. The gala will be held at the Pend Oreille Pavilion located on the north side of the Northern Quest Resort & Casino property. Tickets for the gala, which sold out the past two years after reaching full capacity, can be purchased at
BigSkyConf.com/HOF. Each ticket is $85, plus fees, which includes admission to the gala, a commemorative poster, and a meal. Purchasers will get to choose from among three options for their meal.
2025 Big Sky Hall of fame Class (Alphabetical Order)
Cass Bauer-Bilodeau, Women’s Basketball, Montana State
Charles “Chip” Dunn, Football, Portland State
Tim Hauck, Football, Montana
David McNeill, Men’s Cross Country/Track and Field, Northern Arizona
Ida Nilsson, Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field, Northern Arizona
Johanna Nilsson, Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field, Northern Arizona
Doug Nussmeier, Football, Idaho
Dan O’Brien, Men’s Track and Field, Idaho
Naseby Rhinehart, Athletic Trainer, Montana
Arnie Sgalio, Administrator, Big Sky Conference
Prior to Sunday’s annual meetings for head coaches and athletic directors, attendees will learn how to best leverage their Name, Image and Likeness opportunities with members from Teamworks, while Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde will also be on hand to speak with the groups about the future of college athletics.
Following the Commissioner’s Conference Address at 8:00 a.m. PT, Monday will be highlighted by over four hours of live coverage from the Northern Quest Resort & Casino beginning at 9:00 a.m. PT on ESPN+. The Big Sky’s Meghan Robinson and Scripps Sports’ Kyle Hansen will co-host coverage for the day, with interviews from all 12 football teams, Commissioner Tom Wistrcill and special guests throughout the day.
Scripps Sports will produce both the Hall of Fame Gala and Monday’s media day for the Big Sky Conference, with the shows airing on select stations and on ESPN+.
2025 Big Sky Football Kickoff Weekend Attendees
Cal Poly: Paul Wulff (HC), Michael Briscoe (WR), Ethan Rodriguez (DL)
Eastern Washington: Aaron Best (HC), Jared Taylor (QB), DaJean Wells (DB)
Idaho: Thomas Ford Jr. (HC), Nate Azzopardi (OL), Sam Brown (DL)
Idaho State: Cody Hawkins (HC), Stryker Rashid (OL), Nathan Reynolds (LB)
Montana: Bobby Hauck (HC), Dillon Botner (OL), Kellen Detrick (DL)
Montana State: Brent Vigen (HC), JT Reed (OL), Kenneth Eiden IV (DL)
Northern Arizona: Brian Wright (HC), Ty Pennington (QB), Fou Ho Ching (DL)
Northern Colorado: Ed Lamb (HC), Jack Ziebell (OL), Cam Chapa (DB)
Portland State: Bruce Barnum (HC), Tanner Beaman (TE), Spencer Elliott (DL)
Sacramento State: Brennan Marion (HC), Aidan Meek (OL), Xavier Williams (DL)
UC Davis: Tim Plough (HC), Samuel Gbatu, Jr. (WR), Rex Connors (DB)
Weber State: Mickey Mental (HC), Gavin Ortega (OL), Matt Herron (DL)
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