Washington State Athletics is entering the new academic year with football camp already underway, a season-opening matchup with Washington on the horizon, and a growing list of accomplishments the department says span the classroom, the field and the fundraising front.
In a Monday newsletter dated Aug. 24, Jon Haarlow said football began camp on Aug. 6 and is “charging full speed toward their season opener against Washington on September 6.” He also noted that Coach Citowicki picked up his first win as a Coug with a 4-1 victory over South Florida, while Cougar Volleyball will open this weekend at the Cougar Invitational in Pullman.
Haarlow opened by thanking supporters for their backing of student-athletes and the department’s mission. He said the first day of classes in Pullman was Sunday, but the work for Washington State’s athletes has been going all summer.
The newsletter also highlighted what Haarlow called the accomplishments of the 2025-26 year. Academically, Washington State posted a 3.36 cumulative GPA across all student-athletes, with 75% earning a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. All 17 programs finished with team GPAs above 3.0, and nearly 80% of student-athletes returned from fall to spring.
On the competitive side, the department listed a 2025 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl championship, an NCAA title in the women’s 1,500 meters, a 2026 Mountain West baseball championship, and 2025 WCC men’s and women’s cross country championships. Washington State also had postseason and NCAA Championship representation in football; men’s and women’s cross country; men’s and women’s indoor track & field; men’s and women’s outdoor track & field; men’s golf; and baseball.
Haarlow said the department’s strategic growth included a historic partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, described as the largest annual sponsorship in WSU Athletics history. He also cited $10.2 million raised for fan experience enhancements, $3.6 million invested in football locker room renovations and more than $21 million raised through the Cougar Athletic Fund.
“These accomplishments are a testament to the dedication of our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and generous supporters,” Haarlow wrote. “Together, we continue to move Cougar Athletics forward and position our programs for sustained success.”
He also pointed to a busy stretch of outreach since the start of 2026, saying he has spent nearly 60 days on the road over the past eight months, met with more than 2,000 Cougs across 26 events and shared Washington State’s vision for the future as the program moves into the next era of the Pac-12.
“The passion and energy of Cougar Nation continue to inspire me,” Haarlow wrote. “Every conversation reinforces the strength of our community, and I look forward to building even greater momentum as we deepen relationships and continue strengthening the Cougar family.”
Asked how fans can help, Haarlow laid out three paths: buy tickets and attend games, support student-athlete scholarships and institutional revenue sharing through the Cougar Athletic Fund, and become a corporate partner. He added one more instruction, too: “Most importantly, spread the word. Tell a friend, tell a neighbor, or tell a total stranger about the many ways they can get involved and help support our student-athletes.”
In Other News...
Cougs Get One More Chance To Build Momentum Before September Grind
Washington States women get one more home chance to keep things moving in the right direction before September starts to crowd the calendar. The Cougars host UC Irvine at Lower Soccer Field in Pullman, a useful early-season test as Chris Citowicki settles into his first stretch as head coach and a roster with several new faces begins to take shape. Between the additions, the fresh captaincy structure and a few encouraging individual performances, there is still a lot of sorting out to do, but the broader picture has started to come into focus.
UC Irvine brings a familiar sort of measuring-stick matchup for a program trying to build momentum rather than chase a finished product in August. Washington State has already shown it can handle some of the early-season pressure, and another solid showing would matter heading into a September slate that quickly gets more demanding. The real question is whether the Cougars can keep stacking those small signs of progress before the schedule starts asking for more. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Volleyball Enters A New Era With Plenty To Prove
Washington State volleyball will open its 2026 season on Aug. 28 against Omaha at Bohler Gym in Pullman, kicking off a schedule that already has a little extra intrigue built in. The Cougars will also host the 2026 Cougar Invitational, with Central Michigan, Montana and Omaha coming through town, and fans who cannot make it to the gym will be able to follow along on the Pac-12 YouTube channel.
It is a lineup that fits a program in transition, but also one with enough continuity to make the next step feel realistic. Korey Schroeder heads into his third season with new assistant coaches beside him, and the roster will look markedly different after a wave of arrivals around a returning core, leaving Washington State with both experience and uncertainty as it tries to establish itself in a new era. [Read more 🡒]