The Sidelines

To thrive in today's collegiate athletics landscape, coaches are required to constantly adapt and remember their purpose behind the work they do. For Adams State football head coach, Levi Gallas, that purpose lies in his faith, family and helping young men capitalize on the gifts they've been given, both athletically and academically. As a former Adams State football student-athlete himself, Coach Gallas continues to build on his connections and relationships within the Adams State community to foster a culture of support, highlighted by his players' "Knuckle Thursdays" at local elementary schools. Tune in to celebrate the impactful work of Coach Gallas and his staff as they prepare for the Grizzlies' homecoming weekend against the Hardrockers of South Dakota Mines this Saturday.

The Mountaineers are off to a strong 2-0 start for the 2026 football season, led by redshirt senior, Caden Measner. A Greeley, Colorado native, Measner represented Western Colorado at the 2026 RMAC Football Media Day and sat down with The Sidelines to discuss his love for not only the game of football, but his Mountaineer family. Throughout Episode 80, Caden emphasizes the impact his coaching staff has had on his collegiate career, particularly highlighting the leadership of Coach Bains. From a humble recruiting journey and the nickname of "Blender" his freshman year, Caden has developed into one of the RMAC's best wide receivers, commanding an impressive offense that's sure to see continued success this fall. Join The Sidelines in celebrating Caden's last season representing Western Colorado and looking ahead to the Mountaineers' first RMAC matchup this Saturday against the Eagles of Chadron State.

Fall seasons are officially underway in the RMAC! To celebrate the beginning of the 2026-27 academic year, The Sidelines sat down with Colorado Christian University Athletics Director, Jon Poag, and Fort Lewis College Director of Athletics, Shawn Jakubowski. Both Jon and Shawn have made a recent transition from coaching to administration, having both led successful RMAC track and field and cross country programs. In Episode 79, Jon and Shawn share some of the challenges and opportunities associated with transitioning from the coaching role into a larger campus leadership role, while also honoring the legacy and precedent set by those before them. Through budget cuts and enrollment pressures that many DII schools in the country are facing, both Shawn and Jon keep an optimistic outlook and continue to focus on competing with integrity, capitalizing on community partnerships, and positioning their departments to be cornerstones of their university's future success. Join The Sidelines in celebrating two respected leaders who epitomize the RMAC spirit as they prepare for an exciting year ahead.

The Sidelines is back for its third season, kicking off the 2026-27 academic year with special guest, Danielle Harris, Commissioner of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. In Episode 78, Commissioner Harris shares her leadership style and approach to building trust and relationships amongst RMAC membership as the league's first woman of color in the commissioner seat. After her time on campuses, Danielle applauds the resilience and commitment to academic excellence she has seen from RMAC student-athlete, and recognizes the profound impact of RMAC administrators.After her first eight months of service, Commissioner Harris shares how recent updates to the conference office staff structure will help enhance the future of the RMAC Network, emphasize the importance of strategic partnerships, prioritize the recruitment, education and retention of quality officials, and create a more targeted approach to RMAC social media engagement. Commissioner Harris also shares opportunities for the league to enhance its competitive excellence nationally, while developing student-athletes to feel prepared for life beyond their sport. Tune in to Episode 78 for an inspiring start to the 2026-27 year for RMAC athletics!

For the second consecutive year, a Colorado School of Mines student-athlete is the RMAC’s Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, as Alex Dunagan was named the recipient of the league’s top academic award. Dunagan, a baseball athlete from Cypress, Texas, completed his collegiate career this May with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering while maintaining a 4.00 GPA. He was named the RMAC Baseball Academic Player of the Year and the Summit Award winner at the RMAC Baseball Championship in 2026.On the field, he batted .346 with 25 doubles, 12 home runs, and 73 RBI over 54 games. He earned all-tournament honors at the RMAC Baseball Championship, leading the Orediggers to the championship game. Dunagan was tied for the Division II lead with 25 doubles and ranked No. 23 in RBI, leading the RMAC in both categories. At the RMAC's Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet last Thursday, The Sidelines sat down with Alex for Episode 77 to learn more about his journey to earning the league's highest academic honor.