The GLIAC Staff Jeff Ligney Assistant Commsissioner
Penny Cook Assistant Commissioner
Ligney enters his 11th year with the GLIAC after taking over as the league’s first full-time Director of Media Relations on July 1, 2000. A native of Bay City, Michigan, Ligney has over 15 years of college athletic experience in a variety of capacities. Most recently he served as student assistant sports information director at Saginaw Valley State University in separate stints since September of 1996. While at SVSU he served as webmaster for the athletic web site, while assisting in virtually every facet of the department’s operation. He assisted in the production of media guides, wrote press releases and hosted a weekly half-time segment on Cardinal football radio broadcasts. Ligney was interim sports information director for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference for a year and a half. In addition to composing the league’s weekly newsletter, he developed and maintained the PSAC web site. Assistant men’s basketball coach at SVSU for five seasons, he assisted with recruitment and other administrative duties, as well as on-floor coaching and was codirector of the Cardinal basketball camps. The Cardinals advanced to three GLIAC tournament appearances during his tenure. A product of Bay City All Saints High School, he played varsity tennis all four years and was a regional runnerup in 1989. He led the basketball team to back-to-back district titles his last two seasons. Ligney currently resides in Midland, Michigan, with his wife, Kim, and stepdaughter, Jordan.
Penny Cook began her duties as Assistant Commissioner for Compliance/Senior Woman Administrator on July 1, 2008. Cook received a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and exercise science, with an emphasis in exercise physiology, from Michigan State University in 1987. She went on to earn a State of Michigan provisional teaching certification from MSU in 1989. She earned certification in physical education (K-12) and biology (7-12). Prior to working for the GLIAC, Penny served as Compliance and Academic Services Coordinator at Saginaw Valley State University, a position she started in March of 2005. Cook’s prior work experience also includes serving as Womens Director of Athletics at Division III Alma College, a position she held from January of 1999 to April of 2000 and then Assistant Director of Athletics from April 2000 to August 2002, where she oversaw nine varsity programs and acted as the schools NCAA Compliance officer. She held the title of Senior Woman Administrator at Alma from April 1997 to August 2002. Cook also brings 18 years coaching experience with her to the GLIAC, having most recently been the head volleyball coach at Alma College from May 1996 to August 2002. She served as assistant track and field coach at Alma from May 1996 through May 2005. A native of Perry, Michigan, Penny currently resides in Freeland, Michigan, with her husband, Tim, and two children, Anthony and Betsy.
Adam Tom GLIAC Intern Adam Tom began his duties as the Conference Office Intern on December 6, 2010. Tom received his Master of Science in Administration degree with a Sport Administration concentration from Central Michigan University in August of 2008. Proceeding CMU, he earned his Bachelors of Arts in Education from the University of Kentucky in August of 2005, majoring in kinesiology. Tom was a member of the football team at UK from 2000-04. Tom also serves at the Football Stadium Manager at Saginaw Valley State University, a position he has held since 2008. Prior to working for the GLIAC, Tom was an Assistant Baseball Coach at SVSU for the 2008-10 seasons. He has also served internships in the CMU Athletic Department and with the Lexington (Ky.) Horseman Arena football team helping with athletic operations and game management. 5