Staff

Yvonne Wade is Nevada State University’s first Director of Athletics. Prior to joining Nevada State, she served as the Director of Athletics at the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) from July 2023, following her tenure as Assistant Athletic Director from 2021 to 2023. Prior to her leadership role at CSN, she spent 14 years at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where she served as the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country beginning in 2007. During her time at UNLV, she was a three-time Mountain West Coach of the Year, guiding her teams to multiple conference championships and helping numerous student-athletes compete at the NCAA Championships, Olympic Trials, and Olympic Games. Her programs consistently excelled both on the track and in the classroom, earning All-Academic honors, maintaining high team GPAs, and achieving strong graduation rates.

As an athlete, Wade was a standout at the University of Colorado, where she won multiple Big Eight Conference championships and NCAA All-American status. She was inducted into the University of Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. Internationally, she represented Japan at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Summer Olympic Games and was an eight-time national champion in the 100-meter hurdles. She held the Japanese national record in the event for more than 20 years, originally set in 1996.

With a lifelong passion for mentorship, leadership, and empowering young people, Yvonne Wade continues to champion causes and initiatives that provide opportunities and support for the next generation of student-athletes.

She and her husband, Larry Wade, have two sons, Jordan and Brandon.

Email: yvonne.wade@nevadastate.edu.

Brandon Pappillion enters the inaugural 2025–26 season as the Head Coach of the Nevada State University Women’s Flag Football program, bringing over 14 years of coaching experience and a championship-winning pedigree to the Scorpions.

Coach Pappillion has established himself as a leader in the flag football community, with a résumé highlighted by five world championships, three national championships (High School Boys, 14U Boys, and High School Girls), and numerous titles across elite circuits including Pylon, Battle, Shook, RedZone, and SD7 competitions.

Prior to joining Nevada State, Pappillion served as the Head Coach for Bishop Gorman High School’s Flag Football program, where he led a remarkable turnaround—taking the team from a two-win season to a 13-win campaign in his first year. Under his leadership, the Gaels captured a conference championship and earned a Nevada 5A state appearance.

In addition to his high school success, Coach Pappillion is the Founder and Head Coach of Game Changers Sports Academy (GCSA), where he has dedicated himself to coaching, teaching, and mentoring youth athletes. Through his guidance, GCSA has secured multiple championships, and he has helped over 20 student-athletes earn college opportunities in the past five years.

Coach Pappillion is a proud alumnus of Southern University, the University of New Mexico, and Western Governors University (WGU). He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and a Master’s Degree in the Science of Management and Leadership.

Known for his passion, energy, and commitment to developing both athletes and leaders, Coach Pappillion is focused on building a championship culture and a lasting legacy for Nevada State’s Flag Football program.

Email: brandon.pappillion@nevadastate.edu.

Roy L. Session was named the first Head Coach for Men’s Track & Field at Nevada State University. He brings over thirty-five years of coaching experience to NSU and has a long-standing history of helping students win, both in their academic endeavors as well as sports. Coach Session served as the Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Coach, as well as the Women’s Cross Country Coach at Centennial High School, where he won multiple Nevada State Championships. He was also named Nevada State Coaches Association Coach of the Year eight times, and USTFCCCA Nevada Coach of the Year nine times. He has taken a lot of athletes to the Junior Olympics and other national competitions.

Coach Session has a strong commitment to the community he serves. He is a retired Clark County Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief, keeping the citizens and visitors of Clark County safe for over 29 years. He is also the Founder and President of the Public Safety Vegas Flyers Youth Track and Field program. This program serves 100 plus underprivileged youth a year and gives police and firefighters an opportunity to work with young people to develop athletic and life skills. He has mentored hundreds of young students through his community involvement, his church, and through athletics.

Coach Session enjoys spending time with his wife Shonte, children Kionte, Danielle, Royal and Noah, and four grandchildren, and traveling.

Email: roy.session@nevadastate.edu.

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Angela Loya brings her passion, energy, and years of experience to the NSU Dance Team. She began her dance journey at Basic Academy High School, where she spent three years on the Varsity dance team and served as captain her senior year. After graduation, she continued dancing at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas as a proud member of the UNLV Scarlet Dance Line for four years, once again earning the title of captain in her senior season.

During her junior year at UNLV, Angela returned to Basic Academy to co-coach their JV dance team, helping them compete nationally for the very first time and proudly bring home two national championship titles.

With a strong background in competitive pom and hip hop, as well as collegiate style gameday and sideline, Angela thrives on blending precision, power, and performance to create routines that inspire both dancers and audiences alike. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology from UNLV and now serves as the Benefits and Wellness Coordinator at Nevada State University, where she continues to promote growth, confidence, and community, both on and off the dance floor.

Email: angela.loya@nevadastate.edu.

Nick Claus joined the Nevada State marketing and communications department in 2019 after seven years working for the Vegas Chamber in marketing, communications, and government affairs. He has been involved in many of the branding efforts to launch athletics at Nevada State, including creating a school spirit mark and eventual athletic logos, updating the school mascot, the institution’s name change and brand refresh to Nevada State University, and launching the first athletics website.

Nick is a first-generation college graduate and earned his degree from the Reynold’s School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno where he met his wife, Kelsey. They now have a son, Logan, and are loving introducing him to sports and seeing him grow in them.

Email: nick.claus@nevadastate.edu.

Sting took over the role of Nevada State University’s mascot in fall 2022, replacing the school’s first-ever mascot, SCOTTY the Scorpion. SCOTTY didn’t go anywhere, though, and can now be found supporting the university’s youngest Scorpions at the Early Childhood Education Center.

In 2022, with collegiate athletics on the horizon, and a new scorpion spirit mark recently unveiled, the campus community expressed excitement and desire for a fierce and strong mascot. Following a naming contest for students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members, Sting was born. Since then, Sting has been seen around campus at various events, performing alongside the dance team, and even texting students (with the help of AI) to ensure they feel supported and have what they need to succeed each semester.

With the launch of athletics, Sting will take their place on the sidelines with the rest of the community cheering on the Scorpions and always reminding everyone to put their #StingersUp!