Former players stood in a long line along the third-base line in 1991 as Lipscomb formally named its new baseball field for Coach Ken Dugan, honoring the coach who shaped generations of Bison players. Dugan coached at Lipscomb from 1960 to 1996, winning more than 1,000 games and leading the Bisons to NAIA national championships in 1977 and 1979. The prior home for Lipscomb baseball had been Onion Dell, where the Ezell Center now stands. The 35th anniversary anniversary is a reminder of who Dugan was – a coach whose character, faith and compassion shaped Lipscomb baseball as much as his skills did as a coach. For the Dugan family, the naming of the field was special. “It really means a lot to us,” said Kurt Dugan, Ken’s son and a Bison player from 1991-1996. “One of the things I heard him say several times that meant the most to him was knowing his grandkids would get to be able to drive by and see the field and his name would still be on it, and that means a lot to him.” Kurt’s daughter, Savanna, experienced that connection first-hand with her grandfather, who died in 2000. “She would go out to the baseball field all the time and just really felt connected to him without ever meeting him,” Kurt said. “She even wanted to go out there for her graduation photos where it said ‘Ken Dugan Field’ and have her photos taken.” Kurt grew up around Bison baseball and said he wanted to keep that bond of playing under his dad. “It was a weird thing, but I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Kurt said. “I wanted to stay in Nashville and play on the field named after him.” Former assistant coach AI Austelle remembers what made Dugan different on the field. “You knew that he was there to coach the kids,” Austelle said. “He was there to help the kids to get better, and when I say get better, he wanted them to be better people and as well as better baseball players. He inspired his players to be self-motivated and to go up and play to the best of your ability every time we played.” Austelle said that beyond baseball, Dugan valued the whole person. “He was very concerned about the people,” Austelle said. “I felt like I was working with an individual who was very concerned about the holistic perspective of people. Baseball was an opportunity or a vehicle to allow him to be successful.” Another former assistant coach, Randy Bostic, did not hesitate when asked what it was like working with Dugan. “Coach was absolutely one of the best,” he said. “He cared about his players and his coaches more than anything. He was an absolutely strong Christian man, Christian leader, and he would always put that first.” Bostic said that leadership was very visible every day. “His Christian attitude, effort and work ethic was always on display,” he said. Bostic said the players always felt appreciated because they were treated more than just athletes. “He interacted with them as if they were his sons,” Bostic said. “He loved all the players and treated them all very, very well.” In Bostic’s eyes, Dugan’s influence at Lipscomb surpassed the diamond. “I think he would be on the Mount Rushmore of Lipscomb people,” Bostic said. “Coach Dugan impacted everybody on campus – certainly his players and his coaches, but he had an impact on the campus as a whole.” Undergirding the impact, Bostic said, was love. “Coach Dugan loved his family; he loved his athletes,” Bostic said. “He treated his players and coaches as well as anybody could’ve ever expected, and he loved Lipscomb. He loved what Lipscomb stands for and how Lipscomb has made an impact on young people’s lives.” Kurt Dugan said that athletes who step onto the Ken Dugan Field should recognize how deep his father’s legacy is. “I meet many people who knew my dad,” he said, “and they all talk about what a great man he was, his integrity, his honesty and how good of a Christian man he was all before they talk about what a good baseball coach he was.”
This afternoon, Mississippi State women’s soccer announced that Lipscomb women’s soccer Head Coach Kevin O’Brien would be coming to coach for the Bulldogs. O’Brien recently led the Bisons to their second consecutive ASUN Championship victory this season. He also took them back to the NCAA Tournament, where they beat Mississippi State 1-0 in the first round. O’Brien also won the ASUN Coach of the Year award for the 2025 season, making it his fifth career ASUN Coach of the Year. After 14 seasons coaching women’s soccer at Lipscomb, O’Brien is the winningest head coach in program history. He boasts more than 150 career victories, having reached that milestone this season. Lipscomb women’s soccer says that “O’Brien has elevated the Lady Bisons into the national conversation and established Lipscomb as one of the premier mid-major programs in NCAA Division I women’s soccer.” “Under O’Brien’s leadership, the Bisons have captured 12 ASUN championships in the past nine seasons, including five ASUN Tournament titles and seven ASUN Regular Season championships. He has guided the program to five NCAA Tournament appearances, solidifying Lipscomb as a consistent postseason contender,” says Lipscomb women’s soccer. Mississippi State referred to O’Brien as “a proven winner” in their announcement. O’Brien has brought much to Lipscomb’s team over the seasons, molding young women in their sport and their faith. He has coached 50+ All-Conference performers, 15 All-Freshmen honorees, 32 All-Academic selections, and 45 ASUN Players of the Week. He is among the top 50 winningest active coaches in NCAA Division I, with a career record of 155-81-37. In 2018, his staff earned one of the nation’s highest honors as the United Soccer Coaches South Region Staff of the Year. O’Brien will be Mississippi States’ women’s soccer’s eighth head coach in program history, and Lipscomb will begin their search for a new women’s soccer head coach.
As federal SNAP benefits remain limited, the conversation about food insecurity is growing. Dr. Autumn Marshall, chair of Lipscomb’s Department of Nutrition and a registered dietitian, said people underestimate how common food insecurity is on college campuses. “I was really surprised when I did some digging on this, that about 19% of college students experience some level of food insecurity,” Marshall said. “Typically, the ones who live on campus, that’s not a problem because they’re required to have a meal plan. But students who move off campus to save money or who are living at home may be experiencing food insecurity, especially if they’re not able to work as much because they’re in school.” This year, Lipscomb created the Nourish Nook, a small food resource space located in the Office of Student Success and Well-Being. It provides microwavable meals and snacks for students who don’t have easy access to food options. Students can take up to five items every two weeks, after completing a check-in form. “When you’re hungry, you can’t concentrate in class,” Marshall said. “And, you know, we’ve seen this in little kids. That was the whole reason for the creation of school lunch and school breakfast programs was to make sure that kids weren’t sitting in class, not able to pay attention because they’re so hungry. So this just kind of brings it up to the college level.” Marshall said the rising cost of groceries and limited time to work while in school creates barriers for many students who live off campus. Some juggle multiple jobs, and that reduces the time they have to study. “I’m sure that we do have students whose families have been on SNAP benefits,” she said. “They may be here on scholarship, but that means there’s no money left over for food. So that is complicated by the government shutdown and the limit to payments.” Marshall explained that SNAP benefits are based on the federal Thrifty Food Plan, which sets the lowest-cost model for feeding a household. “The thrifty food plan is supposed to be based on the Consumer Price Index, and it’s designed to provide adequate food for the least amount of money possible. So if you look at the Thrifty Food Plan, it will tell you this is the amount of money we’re going to give per week for a family of four. And then it will define the family of four as two adults and two children under the age of 18.” Lipscomb also participates in Swipe Out Hunger, a program run through Sodexo where students can donate unused meal swipes to peers who may not have enough meals. “It provides for students who can’t afford the biggest meal plan,” Marshall said. “Sodexo manages all of that and helps students who are in need get some extra meals.” Marshall said she sees a rising need both in Nashville and nationally. She volunteers regularly with Room in the Inn, where shelters and food pantries have been strained by increased demand. “If you are a college student experiencing food insecurity, please explore the options that are available through Student Life,” she said. “Education is key, and I don’t think a lot of people get the nutrition education they need.”
Former players stood in a long line along the third-base line in 1991 as Lipscomb formally named its new baseball field for Coach Ken Dugan, honoring the coach who shaped generations of Bison players. Dugan coached at Lipscomb from 1960 to 1996, winning more than 1,000 games and leading the Bisons to NAIA national championships in 1977 and 1979. The prior home for Lipscomb baseball had been Onion Dell, where the Ezell Center now stands. The 35th anniversary anniversary is a reminder of who Dugan was – a coach whose character, faith and compassion shaped Lipscomb baseball as much as his skills did as a coach. For the Dugan family, the naming of the field was special. “It really means a lot to us,” said Kurt Dugan, Ken’s son and a Bison player from 1991-1996. “One of the things I heard him say several times that meant the most to him was knowing his grandkids would get to be able to drive by and see the field and his name would still be on it, and that means a lot to him.” Kurt’s daughter, Savanna, experienced that connection first-hand with her grandfather, who died in 2000. “She would go out to the baseball field all the time and just really felt connected to him without ever meeting him,” Kurt said. “She even wanted to go out there for her graduation photos where it said ‘Ken Dugan Field’ and have her photos taken.” Kurt grew up around Bison baseball and said he wanted to keep that bond of playing under his dad. “It was a weird thing, but I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Kurt said. “I wanted to stay in Nashville and play on the field named after him.” Former assistant coach AI Austelle remembers what made Dugan different on the field. “You knew that he was there to coach the kids,” Austelle said. “He was there to help the kids to get better, and when I say get better, he wanted them to be better people and as well as better baseball players. He inspired his players to be self-motivated and to go up and play to the best of your ability every time we played.” Austelle said that beyond baseball, Dugan valued the whole person. “He was very concerned about the people,” Austelle said. “I felt like I was working with an individual who was very concerned about the holistic perspective of people. Baseball was an opportunity or a vehicle to allow him to be successful.” Another former assistant coach, Randy Bostic, did not hesitate when asked what it was like working with Dugan. “Coach was absolutely one of the best,” he said. “He cared about his players and his coaches more than anything. He was an absolutely strong Christian man, Christian leader, and he would always put that first.” Bostic said that leadership was very visible every day. “His Christian attitude, effort and work ethic was always on display,” he said. Bostic said the players always felt appreciated because they were treated more than just athletes. “He interacted with them as if they were his sons,” Bostic said. “He loved all the players and treated them all very, very well.” In Bostic’s eyes, Dugan’s influence at Lipscomb surpassed the diamond. “I think he would be on the Mount Rushmore of Lipscomb people,” Bostic said. “Coach Dugan impacted everybody on campus – certainly his players and his coaches, but he had an impact on the campus as a whole.” Undergirding the impact, Bostic said, was love. “Coach Dugan loved his family; he loved his athletes,” Bostic said. “He treated his players and coaches as well as anybody could’ve ever expected, and he loved Lipscomb. He loved what Lipscomb stands for and how Lipscomb has made an impact on young people’s lives.” Kurt Dugan said that athletes who step onto the Ken Dugan Field should recognize how deep his father’s legacy is. “I meet many people who knew my dad,” he said, “and they all talk about what a great man he was, his integrity, his honesty and how good of a Christian man he was all before they talk about what a good baseball coach he was.”
This afternoon, Mississippi State women’s soccer announced that Lipscomb women’s soccer Head Coach Kevin O’Brien would be coming to coach for the Bulldogs. O’Brien recently led the Bisons to their second consecutive ASUN Championship victory this season. He also took them back to the NCAA Tournament, where they beat Mississippi State 1-0 in the first round. O’Brien also won the ASUN Coach of the Year award for the 2025 season, making it his fifth career ASUN Coach of the Year. After 14 seasons coaching women’s soccer at Lipscomb, O’Brien is the winningest head coach in program history. He boasts more than 150 career victories, having reached that milestone this season. Lipscomb women’s soccer says that “O’Brien has elevated the Lady Bisons into the national conversation and established Lipscomb as one of the premier mid-major programs in NCAA Division I women’s soccer.” “Under O’Brien’s leadership, the Bisons have captured 12 ASUN championships in the past nine seasons, including five ASUN Tournament titles and seven ASUN Regular Season championships. He has guided the program to five NCAA Tournament appearances, solidifying Lipscomb as a consistent postseason contender,” says Lipscomb women’s soccer. Mississippi State referred to O’Brien as “a proven winner” in their announcement. O’Brien has brought much to Lipscomb’s team over the seasons, molding young women in their sport and their faith. He has coached 50+ All-Conference performers, 15 All-Freshmen honorees, 32 All-Academic selections, and 45 ASUN Players of the Week. He is among the top 50 winningest active coaches in NCAA Division I, with a career record of 155-81-37. In 2018, his staff earned one of the nation’s highest honors as the United Soccer Coaches South Region Staff of the Year. O’Brien will be Mississippi States’ women’s soccer’s eighth head coach in program history, and Lipscomb will begin their search for a new women’s soccer head coach.
As federal SNAP benefits remain limited, the conversation about food insecurity is growing. Dr. Autumn Marshall, chair of Lipscomb’s Department of Nutrition and a registered dietitian, said people underestimate how common food insecurity is on college campuses. “I was really surprised when I did some digging on this, that about 19% of college students experience some level of food insecurity,” Marshall said. “Typically, the ones who live on campus, that’s not a problem because they’re required to have a meal plan. But students who move off campus to save money or who are living at home may be experiencing food insecurity, especially if they’re not able to work as much because they’re in school.” This year, Lipscomb created the Nourish Nook, a small food resource space located in the Office of Student Success and Well-Being. It provides microwavable meals and snacks for students who don’t have easy access to food options. Students can take up to five items every two weeks, after completing a check-in form. “When you’re hungry, you can’t concentrate in class,” Marshall said. “And, you know, we’ve seen this in little kids. That was the whole reason for the creation of school lunch and school breakfast programs was to make sure that kids weren’t sitting in class, not able to pay attention because they’re so hungry. So this just kind of brings it up to the college level.” Marshall said the rising cost of groceries and limited time to work while in school creates barriers for many students who live off campus. Some juggle multiple jobs, and that reduces the time they have to study. “I’m sure that we do have students whose families have been on SNAP benefits,” she said. “They may be here on scholarship, but that means there’s no money left over for food. So that is complicated by the government shutdown and the limit to payments.” Marshall explained that SNAP benefits are based on the federal Thrifty Food Plan, which sets the lowest-cost model for feeding a household. “The thrifty food plan is supposed to be based on the Consumer Price Index, and it’s designed to provide adequate food for the least amount of money possible. So if you look at the Thrifty Food Plan, it will tell you this is the amount of money we’re going to give per week for a family of four. And then it will define the family of four as two adults and two children under the age of 18.” Lipscomb also participates in Swipe Out Hunger, a program run through Sodexo where students can donate unused meal swipes to peers who may not have enough meals. “It provides for students who can’t afford the biggest meal plan,” Marshall said. “Sodexo manages all of that and helps students who are in need get some extra meals.” Marshall said she sees a rising need both in Nashville and nationally. She volunteers regularly with Room in the Inn, where shelters and food pantries have been strained by increased demand. “If you are a college student experiencing food insecurity, please explore the options that are available through Student Life,” she said. “Education is key, and I don’t think a lot of people get the nutrition education they need.”