Episodes

  • Connecticut College Head Coach Tim Lasusa + The Squash U Preseason Watchlist
    Nov 8 2024

    Jackson and Gilly are back with a jam-packed show for the people this week, starting off with the first official update on Jackson’s Squashstache, which he’s growing out all month to raise money for Movember. Please consider donating to this great cause by clicking the link at the bottom of this episode description (1:41).

    Next, Gilly recaps his weekend with the Penn team at the Ivy Scrimmages and discusses why the event is outdated and needs a revamp, before Jackson talks about Denison’s first match of the season against Navy (5:17).

    The gents then breakdown Jackson’s Squash University Preseason Watchlist, as he tells us the 5 men’s and women’s players in the CSA he’s most looking forward to watching this season (15:12).

    Tim Lasusa is the first individual to have played or coached in every conference in college squash. The 30 year old played in the Liberty League for Saint Lawrence, was an assistant coach in the Ivy League for Yale, was a head coach in the MASC for Georgetown, and is now set to embark on his first season as head coach of the Connecticut College Camels in the NESCAC. After first coming on the show back in December of last year, Coach Lasusa returns to Squash University to talk about why the Conn job was the right one for him at this point in his career, the culture he’s hoping to implement at Conn, the school’s plan for a new facility, key players on his men’s and women’s teams everyone should keep an eye out for, his favorite part about coaching squash at the collegiate level, and more (55:59).

    Huge thanks to Coach Lasusa for joining us, huge thanks to you for listening along, and, as always, enjoy!

    Support men’s mental health by donating to Movember: https://movember.com/m/15278513?mc=1

    Follow Squash University on Instagram below!!! https://www.instagram.com/squashuniversitypod?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==


    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 35 mins
  • CSA Commissioner Harry Smith
    Nov 3 2024

    Harry Smith has college squash in his blood. Growing up on Long Island, he, and his three siblings, had success on the junior squash circuit before each going on to play in college. Harry, his older sister, and his younger brother all played under the tutelage of Sakhi Khan at Colby College, while his twin sister played for John White at Franklin & Marshall. Upon graduating, Harry started working at US Squash, planning and organizing events and tournaments. Last year, he had the opportunity to step into an interim role as commissioner of college squash’s governing body. A successful 2023-2024 CSA season led to the Colby grad being named full-time commish this past spring, and his impact has already been felt. This week, Harry joins Squash University to talk about his experience playing college squash at a small NESCAC school like Colby and how it has aided him early on in his new role, the notorious "Maine Big 3" rivalry between Colby, Bowdoin, and Bates, his early days at US Squash, his hesitations about taking on the role of CSA commissioner, the updates and changes coming to the CSA Individual National Championships this season, his short term and long term goals and vision for the CSA, the 2024-2025 preseason CSA rankings, and more (3:04).

    Huge thanks to Harry for joining us, huge thanks to you for listening along, and, as always, enjoy!

    Follow Squash University on Instagram below!!! https://www.instagram.com/squashuniversitypod?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==


    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 46 mins
  • Bowdoin Head Coach Brendan McClintick
    Oct 25 2024

    With the 2024-2025 CSA season only one week away, Jackson and Gilly are back for another fun episode of Squash University. The gents kick things off by recapping Penn alumni Aly Abou Eleinen’s huge upset win over Moustafa Asal at the US Open, and check in on Jackson’s Detroit Lions and Gilly’s Philadelphia Eagles, before getting to this week’s interview (0:16).

    Since squeaking onto the Connecticut College roster as the team’s #15 his freshman year, Brendan McClintick has had a burning passion for the game of squash. This passion drove him to improve leaps and bounds over his collegiate player career, as he worked his way up to the #1 spot for the camels by his senior year. Almost a decade later, Coach McClintick finds himself with an opportunity he’s been dreaming of for years, a college squash head coaching job. The 2016 Conn grad served as an assistant coach for Bowdoin College for the last three seasons before being promoted to head coach this past summer. Coach McClintick joins Jackson and Gilly this week to talk about what people can expect from the Polar Bears this season and in seasons to come with him at the helm (24:24).

    As always, thanks for listening and... Enjoy!

    Follow Squash University on Instagram below!!! https://www.instagram.com/squashuniversitypod?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==


    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 14 mins
  • A Big Red Bonanza
    Oct 12 2024

    Tarun Mammen and Juan Felipe Hernandez are the captains of one of college squash’s newest varsity programs, the Denison University Big Red. This week, they join Squash University host (And their loving teammate) Jackson Bragman to talk all things college squash and beyond (1:27).

    Huge thanks to the lads for stopping by and thanks to each of you for listening along... Enjoy!

    Follow Squash University on Instagram below!!! https://www.instagram.com/squashuniversitypod?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==


    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 11 mins
  • MC Bill Buckingham
    Sep 27 2024

    Jackson and Gilly are back this week with a loaded show for the people this week. The gents kick things off by breaking down the latest CSA coaching carousel update, as former Georgetown head coach Tim Lasusa has accepted the head coaching position at Connecticut College. Gilly and Jackson talk through the huge acquisition for the Conn Camels and the fallout for the Hoyas women’s program. They also discuss last week’s Platinum PSA event in Paris and Gilly provides a Liverpool FC update (0:25).

    Then, Gilly and Jackson welcome a good friend onto the show for the first time. If there was a squash documentary series modeled after the NFL Network’s A Football Life, Bill Buckingham would be one of the first subjects of A Squash Life. Buckingham has a fascinating life in squash, with his first taste of the sport coming in the form of watching Dave Talbott’s Yale teams of the early 2000s. Fast forward 20 plus years; Buckingham is one of the most prominent MCs in squash, and, alongside Denison HUGE RED alumni Connor O'Malley, cohost of Squash Radio, one of the sport’s most prominent podcasts. Wild Bill, as lead PSA commentator Joey Barrington calls his PSA colleague, joins Squash University to talk about his involvement in the National Squash League, his thoughts on the CSA Individuals being moved to the middle of the season, his top 5 squash podcasts, the top 3 things he’d change about college squash, his top 3 favorite men’s and women’s CSA players of all time (We’re big list guys here at Squash University), and more. Bill is definitely a character, to say the least, and it was a blast to have him on the show (26:34)!

    As always, thanks for listening and... Enjoy!

    Follow Squash University on Instagram below!!! https://www.instagram.com/squashuniversitypod?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==


    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 32 mins
  • Rochester Head Coach Matt Dukarm With Cohost Yash Fadte
    Sep 13 2024

    This week's episode of Squash University has been a long time in the making, as Jackson welcomed University of Rochester #1, friend of the program, and this week's honorary cohost Yash Fadte onto the show. Jackson and Yash talked about being back on campus ahead of the upcoming CSA season, Yash's excitement to become a captain for the Yellow Jackets, helping the team's new freshman acclimate to college life, being snubbed from CSA Individuals last season, his goals for this season, what he's most looking forward to off the court in his senior year, and more (0:22).

    Then, Yash's former teammate, current coach, and good friend Matt Dukarm makes his long overdue debut on Squash University. The U of R head coach and reigning Liberty League Men's Coach of the Year discusses his roller-coaster journey to becoming the program's interim head coach this time last year and ultimately being named full-time head coach by season's end. Jackson and Yash also asked Coach Matt about leading the Yellow Jackets to the Hoehn Cup title, Rochester's legendary nicknames tradition, becoming a certified meditation instructor, and more (32:31).

    Huge thanks to Yash for cohosting this week's show and to Coach Matt for joining us, as we're wishing Rochester the best of luck this season!

    Follow Squash University on Instagram below!!! https://www.instagram.com/squashuniversitypod?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==


    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Trinity Women's Head Coach Lauren Patrizio
    Aug 16 2024

    Episode 16 kicks off with Jackson and Gilly discussing this week’s huge announcement regarding the future of the CSA Individual National Championships event, recapping Gilly’s experience cheering on his beloved Liverpool team in person in Philly last week, and previewing today’s interview with the newest individual to join the CSA head coaching ranks (1:02).

    After 40 years as the Head Coach of the Trinity College women’s squash team, Wendy Bartlett did what very few have, she went out on top, winning her 4th National Championship last season to put a bow on her legendary career. The individual entrusted in replacing the longest tenured coach in college squash, Trinity’s newly named ladies head coach Lauren Patrizio.

    Patrizio is a former CSA National Champion in her own right as a player as she helped lead Penn to their first National Championship in 2000 and is primed and ready for the opportunity to take over one of the most prestigious programs in college squash. Gilly and Jackson ask the former Mount Holyoke coach about her conversations with Coach Bartlett and legendary Trinity men’s squash coach Paul Assaiante, as well as what standards and culture she's hoping to implement, and what she’s most excited for as she embarks on her first season from Hartford (15:14).

    Huge thanks to Coach Patrizio for joining us, as we wish her and her team good luck in their quest to win back to back National Championships this season!

    Follow Squash University on Instagram below!!! https://www.instagram.com/squashuniversitypod?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==


    Show more Show less
    43 mins
  • Drexel's Nico Serna With Cohost Matias Knudsen
    Aug 8 2024

    On this week’s Squash University, Jackson was accompanied by honorary cohost Matias Knudsen! Matias graduated from Drexel University in 2023 where he played number 1 and helped lead the Dragons to a top 5 finish in the country (their highest in program history).

    Since graduating last spring, the Bogota, Colombia native has broken into the PSA World Tour top 100 and helped lead the New York City Knights to win the inaugural NSL Championship this past June, a league through which he met super-duper star commentator Jackson Bragman (see how it all comes together?)

    Jackson and Matias chatted about the Drexel grad’s offseason training and goals for this season on tour, as well as some of their favorite players on tour to watch, the upcoming NSL Legends match Matias is playing in this September, what it was like playing for Drexel Head Coach and former World number 1 John White and Colombia’s heartbreaking Copa America finals loss (0:39).

    Then, Drexel University’s men’s number 1 Nico Serna joined Squash University. Matias and Nico go way back to early in their junior days, both growing up in Bogota and playing international tournaments together across South America, and they reunited for 2 years in Philadelphia while playing for Drexel.

    As he’s now getting set for his senior season with the Dragons, Matias and Jackson asked Nico about junior squash in Colombia, starting his college career at Dickinson and transferring to Drexel his sophomore season, his best moments from last season (including the Dragons nearly taking down Trinity in the first round of CSA Nationals) and he shared some more John White stories, as well (39:49).

    Huge thanks to Matias for cohosting this week's show and to Nico for joining us, as we're wishing them each the best of luck this season!

    Follow Squash University on Instagram below!!! https://www.instagram.com/squashuniversitypod?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==


    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 36 mins