Athletics

 Charlotte 49ers head football coach Brad Lambert has hired Matt Wallerstedt as the 49ers defensive coordinator. Wallerstedt is a veteran coach with more than 20 years of coaching experience, including a six-year stint at Wyoming and recent stops at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Louisiana-Lafayette. During his career, he has spent eight seasons as a defensive coordinator at four institutions.

Charlotte 49ers head men’s basketball coach Alan Major will be taking an indefinite medical leave of absence, effective immediately.

Major, who took a similar medical leave during the summer, approached Director of Athletics Judy Rose to request the leave due to a return of health conditions.

An alcohol-free tailgate for the Charlotte 49ers Nov. 8 football game against Coastal Carolina has been scheduled. The “Straighten Up” sober tailgate will be held at the tent in the Black parking lot from 7:30 a.m. until game time. The event is sponsored by the Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC); Center for Wellness and Promotion and Foundations Recovery Network.

The tailgate, which is open to anyone who attends the game, will feature:

UNC Charlotte’s marching band will not perform until fall 2015, but it has a uniform and a name: the UNC Charlotte “Pride of Niner Nation” Marching Band.

The Office of Parent and Family Services and the Alumni Association invite Niner Nation family members to the 2014 Fall Family Festival on Saturday, Nov. 15.

“The Office of Parent and Family Services is excited for the Niner Nation family to have a second opportunity to attend a 49ers tailgate and football game,” said Kesha Williams, assistant director for parent and family services. “We are expecting an even bigger crowd then Family Weekend.” 

The Charlotte 49ers Basketball Madness event starts at 9 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 23, in Halton Arena. This annual celebration kicks off the basketball season, with fans getting the chance to meet the 2014-15 men’s and women’s squads. In addition, there will be skits and activities, dunking contests and more.The first 400 fans in attendance will receive a free 49ers rally towel to use at home games; admission to Charlotte 49ers Basketball Madness is free and open to the public.

The Charlotte 49ers will play at the University of Kentucky, a member of the Southeastern Conference, during the 2015 season, which will be the team’s first as a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision. The game is slated for Nov. 21, 2015.The 49ers, whose football program has played the 2013 and 2014 seasons as an FCS Independent, will compete in Conference USA in 2015 with an opportunity to gain full FBS member status with bowl eligibility in 2016.

UNC Charlotte is one of four “large category” finalists for the 2014 Wells Fargo Green Awards for its zero-waste initiative in Richardson Stadium, and the public can vote for the winner.

The Wells Fargo Green Awards recognize member companies who have incorporated innovative, sustainable practices in the products they produce, the services they provide and within the culture of their company.

First was football, and starting in fall 2015 the UNC Charlotte Marching Band will take the field. UNC Charlotte alumni Vickie and Gene Johnson have been the driving force behind the band, and they are donating $2 million to support the endeavor.

The Charlotte 49ers football team is into its second season, which means for home games in Richardson Stadium, the focus is on zero waste.
Last year’s efforts resulted in new initiatives for 2014, according to Brad Green, director of catering and special services for Chartwells, the University’s contracted food vendor.