Cal State Fullerton athletic teams have been stepping it up of late.

The men's and women's hoops squads both reached the Big West Basketball Championship tournament, which is being held this week in Henderson, Nev. The women's program is having its most successful season in 35 years.

The men's track and field team just captured its first-ever Mountain Pacific Sports Federation indoor title. And the women's tennis team has won nine straight matches and is tied for first place in the conference.

The Titans players are also dialing it up in the classroom. Last fall, the school's 330 student-athletes averaged a combined 3.21 grade point average. Allyson Kelly, director of Fullerton's Athletics Academic Services, or AAS, said it was the highest all-athlete GPA in school history, excluding a pandemic-era 3.41 mark when sports were suspended and credit/no credit options were expanded.

The goal each semester is a combined 3.0 GPA, but the student-athletes have been exceeding that standard. They posted a 3.08 GPA in fall 2024 and raised it to 3.13 in spring 2025. There are multiple reasons for the improvement, said Kelly, whose full-time staff in Langsdorf Hall provides counseling and academic advising.

"This was the first time we were fully staffed for a full year since I've been the director. That had a huge impact," said Kelly. "Our students are being tracked more closely, and they are building better and more meaningful relationships with their counselors."

She credits AAS programs such as DEGREE and Life Skills for boosting grades. DEGREE supports retention and graduation goals by providing mentoring and tutoring that allows them to thrive in their college curriculum. Life Skills focuses on development and equips student-athletes with the ability to handle everyday demands and challenges as they advance toward graduation and careers.

The AAS Learning Center offers study space for student-athletes. At the center, undergraduate students and interns act as mentors, providing tutoring and tips on writing while undergraduate students offer math tutoring. They also walk through homework assignments and help ensure research is done properly. Student-athletes can print their work for free.

Another factor, Kelly said, is the NCAA-imposed roster limits. "Some team rosters have shrunk. That means the student-athletes get more one-on-one attention and have the opportunity to build stronger relationships with support staff. In turn, we help them connect with their professors and as well as campus resources.

Kelly and the other rest of the Athletics Academic Services team take a hands-on approach to ensure the student-athletes receive the information they need to follow NCAA rules for academic eligibility.


Cal State Fullerton's Athletics Academic Center staff includes, top row, DEGREE coordinator Jim Ghezzi; AAS director Allyson Kelly; academic counselor Adam Sarrail; assistant director and counselor DeeDee Kingsbury; learning specialist Amber Perez; bottom row, academic counselor Rick Glenn, academic counselor Katie Thompson, administrative assistant Debra Amezquita. Not pictured is Eugenia Miller, Life Skills coordinator. 

Each counselor works with one or two teams. "We meet weekly with head coaches or assistant coaches, who are constantly communicating with us," said Kelly. "For example, if a player has a big school project due and hasn't completed it, the coach will follow up with the student-athlete to ensure the student stays on track in the classroom."

"The trust with coaches has been really great. If we need something, the coaches follow up and ensure the students are following through for us."

"We are very proud of our student-athletes and what they have accomplished," said Fullerton Director of Athletics Jim Donovan. "I also give credit to Allyson Kelly and her Athletics Academic Services team for the support they give to the Titans athletes. Additionally, our head coaches have done an excellent job of creating a culture that values the importance of academics."

Fifth-year baseball head coach Jason Dietrich tries to challenge his players on and off the field. "A lot of kids won't be drafted or play pro ball. The discipline and accountability they are learning will help them in everything they do in life."

Titans baseball players' GPA average jumped from 2.2 to 3.1 in his five years at Fullerton, Dietrich said. "We meet with the academic people every Wednesday to get updates on all the players. If someone slips below a 2.5, that's a red flag. If they need to skip practice to receive extra tutoring, the counselors have a game plan for them."

Deedee Kingsbury, the AAS assistant director, and learning specialist Amber Perez have been unbelievable, said Dietrich. "They communicate at a high level and go above and beyond for our players. We're lucky they have a passion for their work."

Demian Brown, who is in his 19th year as the women's soccer head coach, said his players' academic success is in part a culture thing. "A lot of our women come in with Advanced Placement and college units and understand the importance of their academics. They bring the same discipline to the classroom that they carry onto the field."

"The academic services program is our lifeline to success. What they are doing with the DEGREE program has changed the success of a lot of our student-athletes."

Mya Tillman and Dominic Gates were among the 74 Fullerton student-athletes who were named to the 2024-25 Big West Commissioner's Honor Roll with Highest Honors.

Mya Tillman, a senior, was a setter and three-year performer for the Titans volleyball team. "As a senior captain, I wanted to lead by example and let my younger teammates know what resources were available. By attending the Learning Center and checking with a mentor, I was able to create a game plan and identify my academic opportunities.

"The academic counselors are really welcoming. Whether it is tracking our academic progress or helping us build resumes, they always want us to maximize all available resources. The student mentors are closer to our age and can easily relate to the situations we face," she said.

Tillman, 22, who hails from Bellflower, will graduate this spring with a degree in communications with a concentration in public relations. She has a cumulative 3.56 GPA and recorded a 3.5 GPA last fall.

She envisions a career in marketing and would like to pursue a master's degree after taking a year off from studies. She is doing an internship with Titans Sports Network and will work at a volleyball camp this summer.

Gates, a 22-year-old senior from Rancho Santa Margarita, is on the Fullerton track and field team. He placed fourth in the 100 meters at the 2025 Big West Championships – his 10.31 was the second-best time in school history. He also competed in the 100m and the 4x100m relay at the NCAA West Prelims last year.

"Right from the start, the coaches have stressed that you have to be a student first and an athlete second," said Gates. "In my four years here, I've noticed an increased sense of community among the student-athletes. I'm sure the academic services have played a major role in building this connection."

Gates, who has a cumulative 3.62 GPA and earned a 3.75 GPA in the fall, will graduate with a business degree with a concentration in finance. He is ready to join the work force.

Being in a mid-major conference, Fullerton athletes have a different experience than their counterparts from major Division 1 programs, who receive funding from name, image and likeness, or NIL.

"I feel like our student-athletes are getting the real college experience because they are grinding for everything they are getting. They are doing it for the love, not the pay. Some are on partial scholarships; some of them are working," said AAS director Kelly, who previously served as a women's basketball assistant coach and a men's basketball administrative assistant at Fullerton.

"By being successful at Fullerton, they are building a lot of character that will prepare them for life. They are great kids. The coaches are doing a great job of recruiting high-quality student-athletes. That really has contributed to our higher GPA."