Expanded Big Sky Kickoff Weekend set for July 24-27

For the eighth time since 2018, the Big Sky Kickoff Weekend returns to the Inland Northwest, as the event will host student-athletes, head coaches, assistant coaches, administrators, and media from around the conference. 

The 2026 Big Sky Kickoff Weekend, sponsored by the Northern Quest Resort & Casino, is slated for July 24-27 at Northern Quest in Airway Heights, Wash., just outside Spokane.

For the second-straight year, 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 24. This meeting includes student-athletes representing all 11 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. 

2026 Big Sky SAAC Attendees

Alton Hamilton IV, Eastern Washington, Men’s Basketball

Boden Gardner, Eastern Washington, Football

Amelia Ward, Idaho, Women’s Swim & Dive

Ella Uriarte, Idaho, Women’s Basketball

Chelsea Uba, Idaho State, Women’s Track & Field

Seth Babbel, Idaho State, Men’s Track & Field

Kate Bogenschutz, Montana, Women’s Golf

Drake Wilkes, Montana State, Men’s Track & Field

Ronan Gallagher, Northern Arizona, Women’s Track & Field

Emma Dasovich, Northern Arizona, Women’s Basketball

Malaina Alifano, Northern Colorado, Softball

Mireya Ruiz, Northern Colorado, Women’s Swim & Dive

Simon Walsh, Portland State, Men’s Track & Field

Anna Jardin, Portland State, Softball

Kendall McGuire, Southern Utah, Women’s Gymnastics

Tanner Crosland, Southern Utah, Men’s Track & Field

Makayla Pitcher, Utah Tech, Women’s Track & Field

Ryan Marks, Utah Tech, Football

Amanda Caswell, Weber State, Women’s Soccer

Braylyn Bayer, Weber State, Women’s Golf

The weekend continues on Saturday, July 25, as the league hosts its annual free youth football clinic from 2:30-3:45 p.m. at North Central High School. Clinic participants will be instructed by student-athletes from the Big Sky’s 13 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 2026 Big Sky Hall of Fame Gala, beginning at 6:30 p.m.  from the Northern Quest Resort & Casino, as the ceremony honors all eight inductees from the 2026 class. The gala will be held at the Pend Oreille Pavilion located on the north side of the Northern Quest Resort & Casino property. Saturday night's ceremony will air live on ESPN+ at 7 p.m.

2026 Big Sky Hall of Fame Class (Alphabetical Order)

Dennis Erickson, Idaho/Montana State (Football Student-Athlete/Head Coach)

Frank Hawkins, Nevada (Football Student-Athlete)

Eric Heins, Northern Arizona (Cross Country/Track and Field Head Coach)

Amber Henry, Weber State (Cross Country/Track and Field Student-Athlete)

Pam Parks, Eastern Washington (Volleyball Coach/Administrator)

Michael Ray Richardson, Montana (Men’s Basketball Student-Athlete)

Jackie Ross Mattox, Idaho (Track and Field Student-Athlete)

Willie Sojourner, Weber State (Men’s Basketball Student-Athlete)

Prior to Sunday's annual meetings for head coaches and athletic directors, attendees will participate in educational sessions led by Teamworks focused on maximizing Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities, followed by industry-led discussions covering the rapidly evolving collegiate athletics landscape. Sunday's meetings will also feature the return of "Big Sky U" to the Kickoff Weekend's programming, as 13 assistant coaches identified as emerging head coaching candidates will take part in training, mock interviews, and roundtable discussions to help prepare them for the next step in their coaching careers. 

2026 Big Sky U Attendees

R. Todd Littlejohn, Cal Poly

Marc Anderson, Eastern Washington

Loren Endsley, Idaho

Devin Holiday, Idaho State

Eric Sanders, Montana

Jody Owens, Montana State

Bryan Larson, Northern Arizona

Aaron Fernandez, Northern Colorado

Patrick Belony, Portland State

Will Brunson, Southern Utah

Cody vonAppen, UC Davis

Ray Clark, Utah Tech

Tanner Jacobson, Weber State

On Monday, the Commissioner's State of the Conference Address will stream live on the Big Sky Conference's Facebook page at 8 a.m., followed by four hours of live coverage beginning at 9 a.m. on ESPN+ and select Scripps Sports stations. The Big Sky's Meghan Robinson and Scripps Sports' Kyle Hansen will co-host the broadcast, which will feature interviews with representatives from all 13 football programs, Commissioner Tom Wistrcill and special guests throughout the show.

2026 Big Sky Football Kickoff Weekend Attendees

Cal Poly: Tim Skipper (HC), Leif Magnuson (OL), Mikey D'Amato (LB)

Eastern Washington: Aaron Best (HC), Malik Dotson (RB), Isaiah Perez (DL)

Idaho: Thomas Ford Jr. (HC), Joshua Wood (QB), Cruz Hepburn (LB)

Idaho State: Cody Hawkins (HC), Jordan Cooke (QB), Nathan Reynolds (LB) 

Montana: Bobby Kennedy (HC), Eli Gillman (RB), Peyton Wing (LB)

Montana State: Brent Vigen (HC), Taco Dowler (WR), Caden Dowler (DB)

Northern Arizona: Brian Wright (HC), Ty Pennington (QB), Ammon Allen (LB)

Northern Colorado: Ed Lamb (HC), Levi Johnson (OL), Blake Weslin (DL)

Portland State: Chris Fisk (HC), Terence Loville (WR), Jaxton Helmstetler (LB)

Southern Utah: DeLane Fitzgerald (HC), Will Burns (QB), Lincoln Tuioti-Mariner (LB)

UC Davis: Tim Plough (HC), Samuel Gbatu, Jr. (WR), Drew Cofield (DB)

Utah Tech: Lance Anderson (HC), Ace Chatman (RB), Fasitootai Sagapolu (DL)

Weber State: Eric Kjar (HC), Devin Brown (QB), Trevian Tribble (DB)