'Cat Tales - Weber State Athletics Podcast By 'Cat Tales - Weber State Athletics Podcast cover art

'Cat Tales - Weber State Athletics

'Cat Tales - Weber State Athletics

By: 'Cat Tales - Weber State Athletics Podcast
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The official podcast of Weber State Athletics featuring the top guests in an around Wildcat athletics. Hosted by Weber State Director of Athletic Communications Paul Grua.All rights reserved
Episodes
  • Kaleb Canales introduced as new Weber State men's basketball head coach

    Kaleb Canales introduced as new Weber State men's basketball head coach
    Apr 3 2026
    Kaleb Canales was named the new head coach for the Weber State men's basketball program on April 3, 2026. Canales comes to Weber State with more than 25 years of coaching experience, including 18 seasons in the NBA. Canales is the 11th head coach in the program’s Division I history and arrives in Ogden with nearly two decades of NBA coaching experience. He also spent last season as the associate head coach at Troy, where he helped lead the team to the NCAA Tournament. In his lone season at Troy, Canales helped guide the Trojans to a 22–12 record, capturing both the Sun Belt regular-season and tournament championships, and earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament. A native of Laredo, Texas, Canales began his coaching career in 2001 as a high school assistant coach before moving to the collegiate ranks at UT Arlington for the 2003-04 season, where he helped lead the Mavericks to a Southland Conference title. He then embarked on an 18-year career in the NBA, beginning with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2005 as a video intern. He was promoted to video coordinator, then to assistant coach in 2009. In 2012, he served as the Trail Blazers' interim head coach for 23 games and became the first Hispanic head coach in NBA history. He also served as Portland’s head coach in the NBA Summer League. Canales then spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks (2013–18), followed by two years with the New York Knicks and one season with the Indiana Pacers. In 2023, he was named associate head coach of the Texas Legends in the NBA G League. He also served as head coach of the Calgary Surge in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Canales, 47, has also been an active participant in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program and has served as associate head coach of the Mexico Men’s National Team since 2021. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from UT Arlington in 2001 and a master’s degree in Sports Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth in 2005. He and his wife Cristi, have a son, Bauer, and a daughter, Sloane.
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    13 mins
  • Rashid Shaheed - From Weber State to a Super Bowl Champion

    Rashid Shaheed - From Weber State to a Super Bowl Champion
    Mar 26 2026
    In February 2016, Rashid Shaheed signed to play football at Weber State out of high school. A decade later, he is a Super Bowl champion. Shaheed became the only four-time All-American in Weber State history and cemented himself as one of the greatest players ever to wear a Wildcat uniform. Since leaving Weber State in 2021, Shaheed has developed into an NFL standout, earning All-Pro honors and two Pro Bowl selections. In 2026, he reached the pinnacle of the sport, winning a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. In the latest episode of the ‘Cat Tales’ podcast with Paul Grua, Shaheed reflects on his remarkable journey—from signing with Weber State to becoming a Super Bowl champion. He discusses his growth as a player, his transition to the NFL, and his experiences in New Orleans and Seattle, including a mid-season trade, a new contract, and his “welcome to the NFL” moment. He also shares memories from his time at Weber State, his success returning kicks, and his passion for mentoring younger players. In four NFL seasons, Shaheed has earned two Pro Bowl selections while appearing in 51 regular season games with 32 starts. He has recorded three punt return touchdowns and one kickoff return touchdown, along with 153 receptions for 2,243 yards and 12 touchdowns. In the playoffs, he added a kickoff return touchdown in Seattle’s win over San Francisco. From 2017 to 2021, Shaheed played in 53 games at Weber State, helping lead the Wildcats to four consecutive Big Sky titles and four FCS Playoff appearances, including the semifinals in 2019. He remains the only player in school history to earn All-America honors four times and is one of just four players to be named first-team All-Big Sky four times. Shaheed finished his collegiate career as the FCS all-time leader in kickoff return touchdowns with seven and holds Weber State’s record for career kickoff return average at 29 yards. He totaled 5,478 all-purpose yards—third most in school history—and ranks third in punt return yardage. He also finished seventh in receiving yards (2,178) with 18 touchdowns and ranks 10th in career receptions with 147.
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    19 mins
  • Kyndahl Hill on playing professional basketball across the world

    Kyndahl Hill on playing professional basketball across the world
    Mar 6 2026
    Former Wildcat standout Kyndahl Hill has seen the world in the nine years since he left Weber State. Hill has been playing professionally in several countries across Europe, most recently in Israel. He has also played in Italy, Denmark, Ukraine, Germany, and Romania. In this ‘Cat Tales' podcast, Hill talks about his travels and playing in so many different places, learning languages, travel, memories of his time at Weber State, living in the Ogden area, family, and so much more. Hill, a native of Humble, Texas, played four seasons at Weber State from 2013-17 and was part of two Big Sky Championship teams and two teams that played in the NCAA Tournament. He never missed a game in his career and played in 130 games with the Wildcats, tied for the fifth-most games played in school history. He finished his career as the 32nd player in Weber State history to score 1,000 career points. He still ranks third in WSU history in career blocks with 126 and is eighth career rebounds with 734. He was named the Big Sky’s Top Reserve as a junior in 2016.
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    12 mins
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