DePaul University Athletics
| Blue Demon Room Podcast |
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On this episode of The Blue Demon Room, DePaul men's basketball alum Bobby Simmons shares his story of perseverance, pride, and purpose. Simmons reflects on growing up on Chicago's South Side, his rise through Simeon High School, and joining a nationally ranked recruiting class that helped shape DePaul Basketball in the late '90s. He takes us behind the scenes of his NBA Draft night, including a surprise call from one of the greatest to ever play the game, and opens up about why giving back to DePaul means so much to him, from creating a scholarship fund to mentoring current student-athletes. Plus, he offers a glimpse into what's next in his journey. A must-watch episode for every Blue Demon fan.
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
Episodes drop every other Tuesday and are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube, and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 10/28/2025
From the English countryside to the heart of Chicago, DePaul senior Ryan Thomas has made the most of every step in his soccer journey. In this episode, Ryan reflects on his transition from junior college to Division I, how he's seen the Blue Demons program grow during his time at DePaul, and the team's continued hunger for more and more success. Off the field, he shares how cooking helps him stay grounded and which TV shows he can't stop binging.
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
Episodes drop every other Tuesday and are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube, and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 10/14/2025
In this episode, we sit down with Mohammed Abdullahi, a runner, content creator, and storyteller whose journey is deeply rooted in faith, family, and resilience. Mohammed opens up about his upbringing in Chicago, the values instilled in him by his family, and how his faith has served as a guiding compass throughout his life. From formative travels to Kenya and back to the U.S., to discovering his passion for running, Mohammed shares how these experiences shaped his identity and purpose. He also gives insight into how he balances athletic performance with spiritual commitment, especially during Ramadan, and what drives his creative work today.
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Tuesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 9/30/2025
Heading into her final season as a Blue Demon, women's soccer senior midfielder Nahla Dominguez sat down with Kacy and Jenna to discuss her transition to DePaul, finding her love for the sport again and lessons learned from one of her greatest mentors, Coach Alex. Dominguez also shares on her step-by-step gameday routine as well as her career aspirations postgrad.
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Tuesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 9/16/2025
Coming off a U23 Gold Medal with USA Volleyball, DePaul head coach Marie Zidek sits down with Kacy and Jenna to kick off season two of the Blue Demon room. The Chicago native speaks of her journey to leadership at the highest level, intentionality behind program building and previews the season ahead. Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok. Don't forget, episodes are available every other Tuesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 9/2/2025
Wrapping up season one of Blue Demon Room, we welcome Rachel Krasowski (Volleyball), Schuyler Riese (Women's Soccer), Kash Allen (Track and Field), and Ryder Henares (Golf) to the show to reflect on their athletics journey with DePaul just before graduation.
Thank you for your support of the inaugrual season of the Blue Demon Room. Stay tuned for season two coming in August of 2025.
As always, stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast and DePaul Athletics by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Published on 6/16/2025
On this episode of the Blue Demon Room, we are joined by DePaul Men's Basketball forward, NJ Benson! Benson tells us about his familial bond with his team, how he dealt with his first big injury this year, and what led him to come to DePaul and play BIG EAST basketball! He also shares what inspired him to study psychology and how important of a role his family has played in his academic and athletic journey.
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Wednesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 6/5/2025
On this episode of the Blue Demon Room, we are joined by DePaul cheer co-captains Gwen Halik and Jamya Whitman. The two four-year members share their journey of growing up together, finding their love for the sport and choosing to compete collegiately in Chicago. Through many shared expeiences, the two seniors detail what's next after a lifelong commitment to cheerleading.
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Wednesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 5/14/2025
Published on 4/30/2025
On this episode of the Blue Demon Room, we welcome new Women's Basketball head coach, Jill Pizzotti! Join us to learn what went on behind the scenes this past season with Pizzotti serving as interim head coach, and now, how she is embracing her new role of head coach! We cover her years as Manager of Women's College Basketball at Nike and how she has learned and been inspired by the work of other coaches and, of course, her players.
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Wednesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 4/16/2025
On this episode, we welcome three-time All-American track athlete, Darius Brown! We begin with recapping Brown's most recent outing at the 2025 NCAA Indoor National Championships and continue our conversation ranging from Brown's special bond with his teammates, his middle and high school track career, and connecting with Grant Holloway at the Olympic Qualifiers last year. Finally, we wrap up with questions from fans and teammates concerning everything from how he spends his free time to improving as a hurdler.
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Wednesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 4/4/2025
To celebrate National Athletic Training month, we spend this episode highlighting our partnership with RUSH Physical Therapy. Noreen Vlamakis, the National Director of Sports Partnerships at Rush Physical Therapy, and Rachel Wilhelm, athletic trainer for DePaul through Rush Physical Therapy tell us how their experiences as students shaped their love for helping student-athletes. Rachel shares a behind-the-scenes look at her role, explaining what her typical day looks like in season while using a multitude of resources to keep DePaul's Men's Soccer and Golf teams healthy. We also discuss how these professionals handle the mental side of athletics and how an athlete's identity is tied to sport. Noreen and Rachel also give insight into what these long yet rewarding hours look like for those interested in a career path in athletic training!
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Wednesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 3/19/2025
For the first episode of our Women's History Month series, we welcome Millie Shemluck, one of DePaul's first female athletes! Millie has given so much to the university through her playing and coaching career, vouching for women's sports and paving the way for DePaul athletes to come. She speaks on how her lessons learned as an athlete launched her into a successful real estate career.
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Wednesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 3/12/2025
On this episode of the Blue Demon Room Podcast we welcome men's basketball assistant coach and general manager LaVall Jordan. LaVall recounts his playing days which led him to a career in coaching, his journey to DePaul and the importance of participating in sports at a young age.
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Wednesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 2/20/2025
On this episode, we welcome DePaul Softball's Baylee Cosgrove and Bella Nigey! Leading up to their season, we discuss what that preparation has been like, especially with the addition of new coach Liz Bouck-Jagielski and Christina Sutcliffe. We also touch on how they found softball and ended up playing in college, the growth of softball as a sport, and what that homefield advantage is like underneath the L!
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Wednesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 2/5/2025
In our second part of the Hall of Fame series, guest host Paul Pabst (The Dan Patrick Show) welcomes track and field athlete, Missy Fraser and Dr. Robert Hamilton Special Service Award recipient, Karen Loiacono!
Missy Fraser was a four time BIG EAST Champion and second team All-American in the Javelin throw. She explains to Pabst how track and field was her "accessory sport" and was more of a softball player before she got recruited to DePaul. She tells us of how it was to leave Canada for school and how she found an identity beyond being the red haired Canadian girl once everyone saw how far she could throw!
Karen Loiacono not only was a softball and basketball student-athlete at DePaul, but continued to work for Athletics for 35 years, being a constant source of spirit and enthusiasm. She tells us of the days playing basketball games at Alumni Hall and McGrath-Phillips Arena, sharing uniforms with the other DePaul women's teams and being coached by Doug Bruno early on in his career.
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Wednesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 1/22/2025
On this special episode of Blue Demon Room, special guest host Paul Pabst (The Dan Patrick Show) sits down with two of our 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees, Lindsay Chouinard Platt.
and Allie Quigley!
Chouinard Platt is not only one of the greatest softball pitchers in DePaul history, but also helped lead the team to the 2007 college world series as an associate head coach. She joins us to tell us about her journey to DePaul from Fresno, California and some of her most memorable moments on the pitch!
Former Chicago Sky and 4x three-point contest champion, and of course Blue Demon great, Allie Quigley joins us to reflect upon her time at DePaul and gives us the inside scoop of what it was like to play for Coach Bruno.
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Wednesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 1/15/2025
On this episode of the Blue Demon Room, we sit down with sixth-year women's basketball star, Jorie Allen to discuss her career at DePaul and what she has planned for the future. We also dive into her master's in Creative Writing and her unique perspective on sports' relationship with the arts. Her relationship with her teammates as a veteran player and her renewed love for basketball are all topics discussed in this wholesome episode to start your new year off right!
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Wednesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts
Published on 1/2/2025
On our final episode of 2024, we speak to DePaul University's Vice President and Director of Athletics, DeWayne Peevy! We highlight this past season's successes and explore how Peevy's previous experiences as a student-athlete and college athletics administrator inform how he is leading DePaul back to athletic and academic excellence! Through what he looks for in coaches and the new facilities coming to campus, Peevy shares how DePaul is Dreaming Big!
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Wednesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 12/17/2024
Eleanor Nobbs, senior, and Hannah Smith, junior, join us in the Blue Demon Room to talk about DePaul's close-knit Women's Tennis team and how their bond has led them to success on and off the court. From positive self-talk to learning how to communicate with teammates, Smith and Nobbs give us a behind-the-scenes look at the mental game of tennis. The two also hail from England, so we also discuss what tennis culture is like across the pond and why they love playing collegiate tennis in the United States!
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Wednesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 12/4/2024
On this episode of the Blue Demon Room podcast, Cross Country and Track & Field Athlete Damian Rodriguez joins the show to talk about his final season of collegiate competition. Rodriguez shares his methods of preparation, more on his rigorous training program and how he has fallen in love with running en route to finding success at DePaul.
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Wednesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 11/20/2024
In this humorous episode of Blue Demon Room, we welcome Erin Conroy, the manager of Women's Volleyball and Nick Krueger, the manager of Men's Soccer! We debunk common myths about team managers, discuss Erin's sister-like bond with her team, and Blue Demons Beyond, Nick's YouTube series that goes behind the scenes of men's soccer.
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Wednesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 11/5/2024
On this episode of Blue Demon Room, we are joined by senior setter for DePaul Volleyball, Ashley Cudiamat! We discuss how she was raised in a big volleyball family, what it was like transitioning from the competitive California volleyball culture to the Big East, and reflect on some of her most memorable games and favorite memories with her team!
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Wednesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 10/23/2024
On this episode of Blue Demon Room, we are joined by freshman golfer Dominic Lucchesi! We discuss the hot start to his collegiate career, his decision to choose DePaul, adjustment to life in college and love for all things Beatles. Dominic also join us for the second edition of our game "Walk With Me" where we find out his favorite movie, dream course to play and more.
Stay up to date with all things Blue Demon Room Podcast by following @DePaulAthletics on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.
Don't forget, episodes are available every other Wednesday and are available on Apple, Spotify, DePaulBlueDemons.com, YouTube and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Published on 10/10/2024