Utah State University Announces $2 Million Endowment to Support Handball Club

Utah State University has announced a $2 million endowment to support the future growth and long-term success of the university’s Handball Club, marking a transformative investment in one of Campus Recreation’s emerging competitive programs.

The endowment will provide lasting support for student recruitment, national tournament travel expenses, coaching and instructional opportunities through Utah State’s handball classes.

Recently recognized as an official club sport at Utah State University, the Handball Club will coordinate with Campus Recreation to fulfill the requirements of the endowment agreement while expanding opportunities for student participation and competition.

“This extraordinary gift ensures that future generations of students will have the opportunity to discover and excel in a sport that builds discipline, focus, perseverance and lifelong community,” said Matt White, vice president of Advancement and president of the USU Foundation.

The endowment represents years of collaboration among coaches, university leaders and supporters of the sport. Longtime handball coaches Herm Olsen and Stacey Marble worked closely with Utah State Advancement, the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, Campus Recreation, and the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science to bring the endowment to fruition.

“I can’t say enough about the excitement on campus created by this endowment,” Olsen said. “The administration has been superb to work with, including Matt White, Lance Beckert, Julie Gast and Lance Bitner. Their willingness to support this vision has helped create an incredible opportunity for students.”

Olsen said two individuals played especially meaningful roles in helping make the gift possible:

• Martin Mulkerrins, an Ireland native, Texas A&M University handball coach, and the current No. 1-ranked handball player in the world.
• Donor Doug Randolph, a longtime advocate for the sport.

Olsen and Mulkerrins first crossed paths years ago through the United States Handball Association’s National Collegiate Championships, where Mulkerrins competed as a student-athlete.

“I found Martin to be not only a superb handball player and fierce competitor, but an extraordinary person,” Olsen said. “That has remained true to this day.”

For Mulkerrins, supporting the growth of collegiate handball has long been a passion. He said the opportunity to help strengthen Utah State’s program reflects a shared belief in the sport’s ability to build character, connection and lifelong community.

“I was delighted to assist Doug and Utah State throughout this process and to share experiences from Texas A&M and other collegiate handball programs,” Mulkerrins said. “I have no doubt this gift from Doug and the Randolph Foundation will have a tremendously positive impact on students at Utah State. It is especially meaningful that the endowment honors Herm Olsen, whose decades of dedication have made a lasting difference for handball at USU.”

Mulkerrins said he hopes the endowment encourages more students to explore the sport and experience the strong sense of community it creates.

“Whether students are looking for a social outlet, new friendships, or opportunities to travel and compete, handball offers something for everyone,” he said. “I encourage students to give it a try.”

Mulkerrins introduced Randolph to the Utah State handball program. Randolph, who first discovered handball at age 21, has long championed the sport and its lifelong benefits.

According to coaches, Randolph recognized handball’s unique ability to develop discipline, resilience and connection among participants while fostering a competitive spirit that can last a lifetime.

Randolph said his support for the Utah State program stems from a deep belief in the lasting value of handball and the opportunities it creates for young people.

“I first learned about Utah State handball through conversations with others in the handball community, and after reading about Herm Olsen’s decades of dedication to the program, I was incredibly impressed,” Randolph said. “Herm’s persistence, generosity and commitment to introducing students to the game are what bring us here today. We are proud to establish the Herm Olsen Endowment for Handball Excellence to honor his legacy and support the continued growth of handball at Utah State.”

For Utah State coaches, the endowment represents more than financial support — it signals a long-term investment in students and the future of handball on campus.

“Doug’s generosity will create opportunities for generations of students,” said Stacey Marble, Utah State handball coach. “Because of this gift, more students will be introduced to a sport that teaches persistence, focus and community while creating experiences they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.”

Handball is a fast-paced indoor sport played on a four-wall court in which players use their hands to strike a small ball against the front wall in strategic rallies. Known for its combination of athleticism, endurance and mental focus, the sport has long been a staple of collegiate recreation and competition, including national championship events organized by the United States Handball Association.

Utah State’s Handball Club provides students opportunities to play recreationally throughout the week while competing in tournaments across the country. With the establishment of the endowment, university leaders and coaches believe the club is poised for significant growth as interest in the sport continues to expand.

“This gift comes at an exciting moment for handball at Utah State,” Olsen said. “We are building something that will impact students for decades to come.”

To learn more about the USU Handball Club, visit https://my.usu.edu/communities/handball-club/feed.