The Olé Foundation is extremely saddened by the passing of Brian Matusz, one of the greatest athletes in University of San Diego history.

During his illustrious career as a Torero from 2006 to 2008, Matusz established himself as the most accomplished pitcher in program history. His dominant 2008 junior season saw him lead the NCAA with 141 strikeouts while posting a remarkable 1.71 ERA. That same year, he earned West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year honors and was named a Louisville Slugger First-Team All-American. He also became the first USD player to be named a finalist for the prestigious Golden Spikes Award.

Brian has left a legacy at USD that will be remembered forever. Our thoughts are with Brian’s family and friends during this time of mourning.

In a recent podcast conversation with The Olé Foundation's Executive Director J.T. Rogan, USD Men’s Basketball Coach Steve Lavin shared his perspective on navigating the changing landscape of college athletics, particularly regarding NIL opportunities and the transfer portal.

Lavin, now in his third year leading the Toreros, emphasized the importance of adaptation while staying true to USD's core values. "We understand moving forward that we need to be in the space and we've got to be competitive," Lavin noted. "We're not going to be Kentucky or Kansas or Duke or Notre Dame... but those that fit the alignment of the University of San Diego in terms of our mission and aims, the values, the virtues that leadership and USD believe in and always have, those players we do want to be able to take care of in the NIL space."

The combination of the new NIL collective and USD's state-of-the-art Wellness Center, which serves as the basketball program's practice facility, has Lavin optimistic about the future of Torero basketball. These developments, along with San Diego's attractive location and strong academic reputation, are expected to enhance both recruitment and retention efforts.

"Having the funds is different," Lavin explained. "It's going to allow us to recruit at a higher level and to retain the players that otherwise would be moving on." However, he emphasized that traditional values remain crucial: "There's no flip of the switch, no magic wand. You gotta keep working and building relationships. And all the things that were important in 1960 and 2000 and 2020... are still important."

The program aims to remain competitive while staying aligned with USD's institutional values as it adapts to this revolutionary period in college athletics.

GREAT PRICES, EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE

We're thrilled to kick off 2024 with immense gratitude for our incredible USD community! As the official NIL collective supporting University of San Diego student-athletes, the Olé Foundation is striving to empower our athletes to thrive both on and off the field.

Your continued support directly impacts the lives of our student-athletes, providing them with opportunities to build their personal brands while representing USD with pride. The engagement from our Torero family – alumni, fans, local businesses, and supporters – has been nothing short of remarkable.

As we move forward, community involvement remains at the heart of our mission. When you support the Olé Foundation, you're not just investing in individual athletes; you're strengthening USD's competitive edge in the evolving landscape of college athletics. Every contribution helps ensure our student-athletes can continue to excel while pursuing their academic and athletic dreams.

Thank you for being an essential part of this journey. Together, we're building something special for USD athletics, and we can't wait to see what 2024 brings for our student-athletes.

The USD athletic department is set to host a special Catholic Schools Day celebration on Saturday, February 15th, featuring an exciting triple-header of sporting events. The day-long festivities at the Jenny Craig Pavilion will showcase both USD basketball teams, with the women facing Santa Clara at 2:00 p.m. and the men taking on San Francisco at 7:00 p.m. Baseball fans can also watch the Toreros battle TCU at Fowler Park at 5:00 p.m.

In celebration of Catholic education, all Catholic school students will receive free admission to the games, while friends and family can purchase general admission tickets for just $1. Premium seating for basketball games is available at 50% off, excluding men's basketball courtside seats.

The event will feature performances by the San Diego Catholic Schools All-Star Cheer and Choir, along with family-friendly activities in the plaza including a bounce house, face painting, and lawn games. Attendees can also look forward to T-shirt giveaways and exclusive Torero merchandise.

To access these special offers, attendees should use the promo code CATHOLICSCHOOLSDAY25 when purchasing tickets. This community celebration aligns with USD Athletics' commitment to fostering excellence both in competition and in the classroom while honoring the university's Catholic intellectual tradition.

For more information and tickets, click HERE.

Former University of San Diego swimmer Abigail Russell has proven that the skills developed through collegiate athletics can launch careers to unexpected heights – quite literally. A January 2022 graduate, Russell has made waves in the aerospace industry, securing a position in finance at Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos's spaceflight company.

"Looking back, I truly appreciate my experience on a team, in a community, and in a disciplined lifestyle," Russell reflects. "Nothing prepared me better to excel and collaborate in a corporate environment." Working at Blue Origin's Cape Canaveral facility, she now presents strategic decisions to Jeff Bezos himself.

Russell credits her success to both her athletic experience and crucial mentorship at USD. Her financial derivatives professor, Tim O'Donovan, left an indelible impression with his advice: "Focus on the things that you can control and that will empower you. Your approach. Your attitude. Your ambition."

For current students, Russell emphasizes that a degree alone isn't enough in today's competitive job market. She urges students to utilize classroom experiences intentionally, build professional networks, and develop strong interviewing skills. Most importantly, she encourages student-athletes to recognize the unique value of their team experience – skills that she now leverages daily in the aerospace industry.

Her journey from early morning practice sessions at the USD pool to strategic meetings with Jeff Bezos demonstrates how the discipline, teamwork, and resilience learned through college sports can propel careers to extraordinary heights.

WHERE TOREROS OWN THEIR FUTURE…

That’s All For Now!

We hope you enjoyed this week’s newsletter! You can follow us on @olefoundation on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Please help us in continuing to spread the word, and thank you for supporting the Olé Foundation!

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