Park Ridge, Ill. – The Big Ten office announced the conference schedule for the 2014 football season today, as approved by the Big Ten Directors of Athletics. The 2014 schedule will consist of eight games for each of the Big Ten’s 14 teams, feature a new division alignment, include the conference debut of Maryland and Rutgers and culminate with the fourth annual Big Ten Football Championship Game.

The 2014 Big Ten season begins on Sept. 13, with Rutgers making its Big Ten debut by hosting fellow East Division member Penn State. Maryland will take part in its first Big Ten game two weeks later on Sept. 27 with an East Division match-up at Indiana. Four other conference games will be held on Sept. 27, including two West Division match-ups with Illinois at Nebraska and Iowa at Purdue and two cross-division contests with Minnesota at Michigan and Northwestern at Penn State. The Oct. 4 schedule will feature the Terrapins’ first home Big Ten game against fellow East Division member Ohio State along with an East Division match-up in Michigan at Rutgers and West Division contests in Nebraska at Michigan State, Purdue at Illinois and Wisconsin at Northwestern.

From Sept. 27 to Nov. 29, the 2014 Big Ten schedule will feature 10 consecutive weeks of Big Ten competition, boasting at least five conference games each week. All 14 teams will be in action during the final two weeks of Big Ten play, including six division games each week. The final weekend of the 2014 season begins with Nebraska at Iowa in a match-up of West Division rivals on Friday, Nov. 28. The Saturday, Nov. 29, schedule feature two more West Division match-ups in Illinois at Northwestern and Minnesota at Wisconsin, three East Division contests in Michigan at Ohio State, Michigan State at Penn State and Rutgers at Maryland and a cross-division game with Purdue at Indiana. The winners of each division will meet in the 2014 Big Ten Football Championship Game, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Beginning in 2014, the Big Ten football division alignments will feature Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers in the East Division and Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin in the West Division. Each school will play the other six schools in its division plus two teams from the other division in 2014 and 2015, which will serve as transitional years in which the schools will still be playing eight-game schedules. Beginning in 2016, each school will play three teams from the other division as part of its nine-game schedule. The cross-division games will include one protected matchup on an annual basis between Indiana and Purdue.

The Big Ten will hold the 2013 Football Media Days and 42nd annual Kickoff Luncheon on Wednesday and Thursday, July 24 and 25, at the Hilton Chicago, featuring all 12 head coaches and some of the nation’s top returning players. The 118th season of Big Ten football kicks off Thursday, August 29, and culminates with the third annual Big Ten Football Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 7, to be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and televised by FOX. The winner of the title game will earn the Big Ten Championship and a chance to play in either the Rose Bowl Game or Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game.

THE SIOUX CITY MUSKETEERS ARE ALREADY INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES WHO WANT TO BECOME THEIR NEW HEAD COACH.

BRETT LARSON RESIGNED MONDAY TO TAKE AN ASSISTANT COACHING POSITION AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY:



MUSKETEERS GENERAL MANAGER RICH ZABER SAYS TEAM OWNERS ARE ALREADY TALKING TO POTENTIAL REPLACEMENTS:



LARSON THANKED HIS COACHES AND STAFF AS WELL AS THE MUSKETEERS FANS FOR SUPPORTING HIM DURING HIS TWO YEARS IN SIOUX CITY.

Sioux City, IA. - The Sioux City Musketeers, in conjunction with the Ohio State hockey team, announced today that Musketeer Head Coach and General Manager Brett Larson has accepted the Associate Head Coach position with the Ohio State Men's Hockey Team. Larson will begin his new position with the Buckeyes immediately.

“We're thrilled to have a member of our organization move up to the Ohio State program. That's why we're here, to move not only hockey players, but hockey staff on to bigger and better opportunities. Brett is a first class person, the Buckeyes will be a better organization with him on board. It's a good move for all.” stated Sioux City Musketeers Owner and President, Lloyd Ney.

Prior to joining the Musketeers, Larson served as the Assistant coach at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he worked along side fellow assistant coach, and newly named Ohio State Men's Hockey Head Coach Steve Rohlik. Rohlik was named to the Head Coaching spot for the Buckeyes on April 24^th of this year.

As Head Coach and General Manager of the Musketeers, Larson compiled a regular season record of 52-60-12 in 124 games coached over 2 seasons. He guided the Musketeers to the playoffs in 2011-12.

He answered the call to coach the US Junior A Select team this past fall. Under his guidance, Team USA won the gold medal with a thrilling come from behind 6-3 win over Canada West in the championship game on November 11, 2012. The US squad, which included Musketeers players Dan Molenaar and Blake Heinrich, went 4-0 in the tournament.

As the associate head coach for the Buckeyes, Larson will have 11 returning players with USHL roots in 2013-14. Among them is Musketeer alum, Max McCormick, who spent the 2010-2011 season in a Musketeers Jersey. Max's younger brother, Sam, was picked up in a trade with Youngstown during Phase 2 of the USHL Draft on May 7^th, 2013.

The Musketeers head into their annual tryout camp in June, with a roster of veteran players that hasn't been equaled in several years. At last count, up to 19 players from the 2012-13 team are slated to return. Combined with the recently completed USHL Draft, where the they picked up 35 new players, Larson leaves the Musketeers well stocked for a championship run next season.

A press conference has been scheduled for 1:00pm on Wednesday, May 15^th in the Tyson Events Center lobby.

The Musketeers are preparing for their annual invitation only tryout camp, taking place June 19-23 at the IBP Ice Center. Players interested in being invited should call 712-252-2116 and ask to speak to recruiting coordinator, Keith Paulsen.

Season tickets are on sale now for the 2013-2014 season. Fans interested in purchasing season tickets can call 712-252-2116 for information or to purchase tickets. Musketeer office hours are Monday-Friday from 9AM-5PM.

Briar Cliff University Director of Athletics Steve Gast has announced that Trevor Schirman has been hired as the institution’s next volleyball coach.  Schirman, a former member of the United States National Team, is currently an assistant coach at the University of California – San Diego and a head coach within the Epic Volleyball Club in the San Diego area.

“We are extremely excited to introduce Trevor as our next volleyball coach,” said Gast.  “He possesses  that rare combination of having the tremendous athletic talent to have competed at the very top levels of US volleyball while still having the amazing demonstration and communication skills needed to be an incredible teacher to students at any development level.  He also represents another outstanding talent that, like many of our new coaches and faculty, have become amazed by the extensive new initiatives taking place at BCU and eagerly chose to become part of this institution's great future.”

Schirman was born and raised in Hawaii.  He graduated from Punahou High School, in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1986 and was the No. 1 high school volleyball recruit in the nation.  Schirman, who was taught by legendary coach Chris McLachlin at Punahou, went on to play collegiately for Hall of Fame coach Al Scates at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), where he was the national freshman of the year.  The three-time first team all-American was named the national player of the year in 1989.  He helped the top-ranked Bruins to two national championships and still holds several UCLA and NCAA records.  Schirman graduated from UCLA in 1990 and went on to compete as a member of the USA volleyball team from 1990-1993.  He then played within the Italian and Greek Professional Indoor Leagues from 1993 until 1995 and also played on the 4-man Bud Light Sand Volleyball Tour.  Along the way, he played for coaching legends such as Fred Sturm, Rudy Suwara and John Cook.  From 1990-95, as his playing and travel schedule allowed, Schirman served as an assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s volleyball programs at UCLA.

Schirman then returned to Hawaii to serve as assistant athletic director at Punahou School in 1995 before returning to UCLA as an assistant coach in 1997.  Schirman has also had coaching stops at the University of Cincinnati (2003-05) as an assistant, at Grossmont High School (2005-08) as co-head coach, at Great Oak High School (2008-10) as co-head coach and at Steele Canyon High School (2010-11) as head boys’ coach and assistant girls’ coach.  Aside from Epic, he has also been involved with the Bridge and Temecula Volleyball Clubs- top clubs in southern California.  In all, he has spent nine years coaching at the high school level, eight years coaching USAV junior national club volleyball and six years at the collegiate level.

“I am extremely excited about the opportunity to coach at Briar Cliff,” said Schirman.  “I hope to build on the solid foundation that already exists."

There is a significant amount of young talent in the gym, along with a strong core of seasoned players.  The future of Briar Cliff volleyball looks to be very exciting.  Eventually, I want our team to compete for the NAIA championship.”

The Chargers’ new coach inherits a program which went 20-15 last season, including a 7-9 mark in conference play.  In 2010, the Chargers made their first-ever appearance at the NAIA National Volleyball Championship, which was held in Sioux City.

Schirman is a member of the Nissan Hawaii State Hall of Fame, the Punahou Athletics Hall of Fame and was also an honorable mention selection to the USA All-Century team.  Through the years, he has continually given back to the community.  He has been active with the DARE program and has regularly directed camps and clinics.  He also served as head coach for the Starlings, a non-profit volleyball club and has volunteered his services to both the Boys & Girls Club and the YMCA.

Schirman and his wife Ann have two children, son Peyton (17) and daughter Jordan (10), and currently reside in Alpine, California.  Ann was also an all-American volleyball standout at UCLA and continues to be active in the sport as well.