(Interesting Notes about Patriot athletics)

Former Francis Marion University men's basketball player Nieja Jordan has recently signed a professional contract to join BG Hagen in Germany.  A 6-8 forward, Jordan played the 2021-22 season with the Patriots as a graduate student and averaged 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in 25 contests. He is a native of Jacksonville, Fla.

Former FMU men's soccer player Travis Bally ('13) is currently working as an associate in Asset & Wealth Management for J.P. Morgan Chase & Company in his hometown of Plano, Texas.  A 5-9 midfielder, he appeared in 43 matches over three seasons (2010-12) for the Patriots after transferring from the University of Louisville.  He tallied three goals and two assists on 17 shots.
 
Former Francis Marion women's basketball player Joleen Sloper Burnett ('97) is currently serving as president of Energy Wind & Renewables LTD (a Myshak Group company) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  A 5-4 guard from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, she was a four-year letterwinner for the Patriots appearing in 96 games. She was a member of the 1996-97 squad that earned a bid to the NCAA Division II national tournament.  Her career totals include 298 points, 158 rebounds, 99 assists, and 64 steals. She was named to the Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll all four years.
 
Former Francis Marion men's basketball player Billy Spraul ('01) is an agency owner of Covenant Insurance Group, LLC, in Mount Pleasant, S.C.  A 6-8 forward-center from Amityville, N.Y., Spraul played two seasons for the Patriots (1998-2000) after transferring from Indiana State University.  At FMU, he averaged 6.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 53 contests.
 
Two current Francis Marion baseball players were named as All-Star Game participants in their respective collegiate summer leagues in 2022: outfielder Will Hardee in the Coastal Plain League and right-handed pitcher Halton Hardy in the Sunbelt Baseball League.
 
Former Patriot women's soccer player Kiley Williams recently played the 2022 summer season with the Tampa Bay United squad in the USL W League.  At 32 years of age, she returned to the pitch this year alongside teammates nearly half her age. She was among the team's top 5 in minutes played, tallied three goals on nine shots, and helped her team to a 7-2-1 mark – just missing a playoff berth in the Southeast Division.  A forward originally from Dallas, Pa., she played three seasons at FMU (2008-2010) and totaled 10 goals, nine assists, and 98 shots in 52 career matches. She is married to former FMU men's soccer player Kyle Clinton, has two young children, and works as a personal trainer and health coach.