Handball: A Lifetime Pursuit
25m | Jun 11, 2026Join Chelsea Reber as she welcomes Texas A&M handball icons Donald Johnson and Martin Mulkerrins to explore the rich history and explosive growth of the university's handball program. In this episode, Don Johnson, university first national champion from 1952, shares his journey from the wrestling mat to the handball court and his mission to document the program's century-long legacy. Martin Mulkerrins, an assistant instructional professor and world-class player, discusses the transformative power of recent multi-million dollar endowments and how the program has scaled from two students to nearly 100. We’ll also discuss the unique bridge between academic kinesiology classes and competitive club sports, the role of Irish culture in the sport's global expansion, and why participating in athletics leads to better academic outcomes. Whether you are a student looking for a physical outlet or a sports enthusiast interested in campus traditions, this episode highlights how handball fosters lifelong health and camaraderie. For more information on the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, visit us at https://knsm.tamu.edu/.
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Host: Chelsea Reber
Guests:
Martin Mulkerrins - Assistant Instructional Professor | Texas A&M
Donald Johnson - Handball Coach | Texas A&M
Time Stamps:
00:00 Intro
00:54 Donald Johnson’s Handball History
04:05 Martin Mulkerrins’ Journey
06:45 Impact of Program Endowments
10:03 Handball as Lifetime Sport
12:48 Student Experience and Camaraderie
15:27 Academic Classes and Clubs
19:47 Building a Winning Future
22:45 The Student Athlete Pitch
25:20 Closing
