This week's guest on Mocs on the Mic, presented by SmartBank, is Gerry Pacitti, the Mocs’ new strength and conditioning coach.

Host Chris Goforth explores Pacitti’s past as a player and coach and discusses his transition to strength and conditioning and his path to Chattanooga.

Pacitti comes to the Scenic City from Southeastern Louisiana where he trained 2020-21 Walter Payton Award winner Cole Kelley. The West Depford, N.J., native led the Lions sports performance efforts from August 2017 until this move. There he focused on football and baseball with the Lions reaching the second round of the 2019 FCS Playoffs on the gridiron. Both programs consistently competed for Southland Conference titles.

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This week’s guest on Mocs on the Mic, presented by SmartBank, is the now officially retired Mike Royster.  UTC’s legendary equipment manager retired at the end of June after serving the University for 47 years.

Host Chris Goforth dives into Mike’s long career that began with the 1974 football season.  Royster’s responsibilities include overseeing the equipment purchases and inventory of UTC’s 16 intercollegiate athletic programs as well as the repair and maintenance of athletic equipment.

Over the last 20 years, he had served as the assistant athletics director, directing the many facets of gameday management for all UTC sports, including game administration, game officials, promotional event coordination and facilities scheduling and use.

A respected leader in his profession, Royster has served on the Schutt Athletic Council, the Russell Athletic Council, the Adams Athletic Council and the executive committee of the Chattanooga Quarterback Club.  He was elected to the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.  He has been a certified athletic equipment manager since July, 1991, and has served as the executive director of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association since 2010.

All episodes of Mocs on the Mic can be found on most Podcasting services, including Spotify, Apple and GoMocs.com/Podcasts. Be sure to rate the podcast and leave a review to help us spread the word about Mocs on the Mic.

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University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Assistant Football Coach Tyrus Ward joined host Chris Goforth for this week’s episode of Mocs on the Mic, presented by SmartBank.

Chattanooga football coach Rusty Wright named a new coach to his football staff. Tyrus Ward comes back to Chattanooga by way of Tyner Academy where he was recently named head coach. He spent four seasons prior to that at Brainerd High School where he took the team to the Class 3A playoffs in 2018 and 2020. Ward graduated from Chattanooga completing his playing career with an 18-game stint over 2004-05. He began his collegiate trek at ETSU before the school abruptly ended the program following the 2003 campaign. That led to 52 catches, 745 yards and five touchdowns in the correct shades of blue and gold. 

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University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Vice Chancellor & Director of Athletics Mark Wharton joined host Chris Goforth for this week’s episode of Mocs on the Mic, presented by SmartBank.

Goforth and Wharton touch on a number of topics at the end of one of the strangest and difficult seasons in the history of college athletics.  From fundraising, to attendance, to managing the COVID-19 pandemic, the pair dives into some interesting topics to cap off the semester.

All episodes of Mocs on the Mic can be found on most Podcasting services, including Spotify, Apple and GoMocs.com/Podcasts. Be sure to rate the podcast and leave a review to help us spread the word about Mocs on the Mic.

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The week's Mocs on the Mic podcast, presented by SmartBank, takes a look back on the softball program's outstanding spring campaign.

The Mocs finished third and earned a spot in the modified Southern Conference Tournament. Hayleigh Weissenbach was named to the SoCon All-Conference First Team, Emily Coltharp earned a spot on the Second Team and Courtney Ball was selected to the All-Freshman Team.

Senior Hayleigh Weissenbach added to her trophy case with her second All-Conference selection. She and host Chris Goforth take a look back the season and her favorite moments.

Freshman Liz Rodenbaugh talks about her route to Chattanooga and her experience in her first season as a member of the Mocs softball team amid a global pandemic and what she hopes for the future.

Head coach Frank Reed takes a look back at the team's improvement from the start to the end of the season and the three departing seniors.

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This week’s episode of Mocs on the Mic, presented by SmartBank, takes a look back women’s golf’s 2020-21 season. Head coach Colette Murray and freshman standout Beatriz Barrios visit with host Chris Goforth about the year and competing during the pandemic. 

Murray, a four-time Southern Conference Coach of the Year, completed her 14th season leading our ladies to the tee. The season included All-SoCon honors for Esme Hamilton, All-Freshman performance by Barrios along with the first career win for sophomore Dorota Zalewska along with the usual fantastic performance in the classroom.

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This week’s episode of Mocs on the Mic, presented by SmartBank, takes a look back men’s golf’s 2020-21 season. Head coach Mark Guhne and junior A.J. Lintunen visit with host Chris Goforth about the year and playing competing during the pandemic. Guhne, a four-time Southern Conference Coach of the Year, just wrapped up his 16th season at his alma mater. The team won the J.T. Poston Invitational in September for the 18th win under Guhne. Lintunen led the Mocs with a 72.93 stroke average collecting two wins and three top 5s on his way to All-SoCon honors. His two wins this year came at the J.T. Poston Invite and the Sea Palms Invitational in March.

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This week’s episode of Mocs on the Mic, presented by SmartBank, takes a look back at the men’s and women’s tennis seasons. Host Chris Goforth breaks down the year with women’s head coach Chad Camper and men’s head coach Chuck Merzbacher. Camper led the Mocs to a 9-9 overall record and a fifth place finish in the Southern Conference with a 2-5 league mark. Junior Emma Van Hee led the team with a 19-7 singles record, including a 14-4 tally at No. 2 in the spring. She and sophomore Caroline Gibbens went 13-9 in doubles, playing the No. 1 position in the spring. Van Hee and Jessie Young were both honored by the league in the postseason. Van Hee was a second team All-SoCon pick in singles, while Young made the SoCon All-Freshman team after playing No. 1 singles. On the men’s side, Merzbacher ended his fourth year at UTC with a 9-11 overall mark and a fifth place finish in the SoCon at 3-4. Sophomore Tomas Rodriguez led the team with a 20-10 singles record and an 11-8 mark at No. 1. He and freshman Peyton Gatti were 15-9 In doubles and 11-6 at No. 1. Senior Turner Voges won the Don Bunch/Buddy Hartsell SoCon Sportsmanship Award, the ninth time since 2000 a Moc has earned the honor. Rodriguez and Gatti were first team All-SoCon in doubles, while Rodriguez was first time in singles and Jeffrey Dewald made the SoCon All-Freshman team.

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This week’s Mocs on the Mic podcast, presented by SmartBank, features track and field head coach Andy Meyer and senior Nicole Buehrle. Meyer talks about the first three meets of the season and looks forward to the Southern Conference Championships in Cullowhee, N.C., May 1-2. Senior Nicole Buehrle is having an outstanding season with three personal records and ranks high in the Southern Conference in the 800 meter and the 1500 meter races.

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The week’s Mocs on the Mic podcast, presented by SmartBank, takes a look back on the soccer program’s outstanding spring campaign. Coach Gavin McKinney and host Chris Goforth discuss the record-breaking season and what it means for the team moving forward. UTC had a record six postseason awards including Coach of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. The Mocs graduate four seniors and will return both keepers. Senior Lauren Dluzewski earned her first-ever postseason honor when she was named to the SoCon Coaches All-Conference Second Team. She was a member of the Mocs’ defense who had six shutouts in 11 matches. She talks about her time as a member of the soccer team and what she plans to do in the future.

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