**Nate Strong set to join the Tigers**
This fall, four-star running back recruit Nate Strong will don the black and gold after all. The Hinds Community College transfer was a 2015 graduate of East St. Louis High School.
Media outlets previously reported that he would not join the Tigers until 2017 for academic reasons. Strong is now listed in the MU student directory and is reported to have academically qualified for the university.
Strong missed most of his one season at Hinds due to injury. He is listed as the No. 2 junior college running back recruit in the nation.
The 6-foot, 211-pound recruit will be a key addition to the Missouri backfield. He will join rising junior Ish Witter and Oklahoma graduate transfer Alex Ross.
**Volleyball gains transfer from Ole Miss**
Outside hitter Melanie Crow is transferring to Missouri from Mississippi, according to Mizzou Athletics. Crow is a Wildwood, Missouri, native and attended Lafayette High School.
The Southeastern Conference granted Crow a full release, so she will be eligible to play immediately. She took a medical redshirt season in 2015 after sustaining a concussion and will enter Missouri as a redshirt junior.
In her first two years at Mississippi, Crow started 60 matches for the Rebels. She recorded 42 aces in 2014 and was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
“She brings good size, physicality and athleticism to this year’s team,” coach Wayne Kreklow said in a press release. “Melanie is a very talented player and has proven herself in the SEC with Ole Miss.”
We're excited to announce the addition of transfer @melcrow20 to the Tigers!
RELEASE: https://t.co/shj4tn7ii9 pic.twitter.com/dqt3ngNs2f
— Mizzou Volleyball (@MizzouVB) July 5, 2016
**Missouri throwers fail to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team**
Missouri graduates Kearsten Peoples and Jill Rushin both failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics in shot put.
After finishing fourth in the 2012 Olympic Trials, Peoples finished 10th in 2016. The top three finishers qualified for the Rio Games.
Rushin was 17th in preliminaries and did not make finals.
**Cox gains international attention**
Rising senior J’den Cox has been on a tear for USA Wrestling. He has gone 12–2 in international competition since winning U.S. Olympic Trials in April.
On July 5, Cox moved into the United World Wrestling Freestyle Wrestling rankings. He is now ranked No. 10 at the 86 kilogram weight class.
**Steve Bieser picked as next baseball coach**
Former Southeast Missouri State baseball coach Steve Bieser will replace Tim Jamieson as the coach of the Missouri Tigers, according to a news release from Mizzou Athletics on Thursday.
Bieser was the head coach for four years at SEMO, guiding the Redhawks to an NCAA Regional in 2016. He previously served as an assistant coach at SEMO and was the head coach at Vianney High School in St. Louis.
The Saint Genevieve, Missouri, native said he is excited to join the Tigers.
“There is a strong tradition and rich history of Missouri Tiger baseball,” he said in the news release. “I understand the responsibility and I am fully committed and ready to continue building the tradition. As life-long Missourians, my family and I feel truly blessed to be part of the University of Missouri and the Columbia community.”
Bieser played professional baseball for 13 seasons, making his MLB debut with the New York Mets in 1997. He boasted a 138–97 record as head coach of the Redhawks, earning two Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors.
_Edited by Nancy Coleman | ncoleman@themaneater.com_
