Since returning to his alma mater in the fall of 2018, Uhuru Adem has reaffirmed the Fresno State
Bulldoggers' place among the nation's elite rodeo programs.
In national rodeo trips in that span, the men’s team celebrated a 13th-place finish
at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in 2022 after placing 27th in 2021 and
17th in 2019.
The men's and women's team were also primed for strong showings in 2020 with top-25
national rankings and second-regional standings in March before the CNFR event was
canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Individually, among the 15 CNFR men’s qualifiers between 2019-23, Colton Campbell
won the all-around men’s national title in Adem’s first season as coach. Cole Dodds
added reserve national champion honors in the all-around category in 2022 and a third-place
finish in the team roping heeler category.
The women’s team has also shined under his guidance and placed nationally 19th in
2022, led by Maren Powers, who placed 13th in barrel racing. Other CNFR women's qualifiers
in his tenure include Hailey Wilbur (2022, breakaway roping); Jillian Muray (2021,
team roping heeler, breakaway roping) and Rylee George (2021, breakaway roping).
In the West Coast Region, the team has claimed seven West Coast Region men's individual
titles and another on the women's side.
Adem, the 2023 West Coast Region Coach of the Year, was also a two-time, CNFR saddle
bronc qualifier while receiving his agricultural business degree from Fresno State.
The program, which started in 1946, officially became a club in 1949 — the same year
the first national finals were held in San Francisco.
To learn more about recent happenings with the team, follow its Facebook and Instagram social media accounts.
