2017 Cross Country Media Guide

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

Table of CONTENTS

2017 ROSTER

2

Sept. 1 at ULM Warhawk Invite 5:30 p.m.

2017 Coaches/ PLAYERS STAFF 16 4

Sept. 16 at Louisiana Tech 8:45 a.m.

Sept. 30 at McNeese 9:15 a.m.

Oct. 3 at Mississippi College 9: 15 a.m.

Table of Contents

1 Jasmine Dansby

11

2017 Roster

2 Emily Heard

12

2017 Season Preview

3 Hannah Heidebrecht

12

MEET THE DEMONS

Isabella Hudson

13

Grant Butts

4 Atianna Parks

13

Blake Cantrell

4 Jacqueline Rushford

14

Colby Clark

5 Emily Sitarz 14

Tyler Corwin

5 Erin Sitarz

15

Adam Courville

6 Erin Wrozek

15

Dylan Dunford

6 HEAD COACH

Darius Groves

7 Chris Sauer

Jacob Hammons

7 NORTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY

Brandon Lewis-Graham

8 Dr. Chris Maggio

17

Denim Reeves

8 Jerry Pierce

18

9 Greg Burke

19

Hayden Robertson

9 Athletic Administration

20

Hunter Wamack

10 Sports Medicine

23

Joshua Wilkins

10 Sports Information

24

Sasha Ballard

1

Academics 25 11 Campus Life

2017 SCHEDULE DATE

LOCATION

TIME

Sept. 1

ULM WARHAWK INVITE

5:30 p.m.

Sept. 16

LOUISIANA TECH MOOK TRIPLE DUALS

8:45 a.m.

Sept. 30

MCNEESE COWBOY STAMPEDE

9:15 a.m.

Oct. 14

MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE CHOCTAW OPEN

9:15 a.m.

Oct. 27

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

TBA

16

Anthony Renteria

MEET THE LADY DEMONS

Oct. 30 vs.

Southland Conference TBA

26

SPORTS INFORMATION

Director Doug Ireland Graduate Assistant (Cross Country Contact) Lloyd Courtney Office Phone 318-357-6467 Cell Phone 318-716-8605 Email sportsinfo@nsula.edu Assistant Director Jason Pugh Administrative Assistant Ronnie Pellegrin Athletics Website nsudemons.com Facebook /forkemdemons Twitter @NSUDemons XC Instagram NSUDemons Snapchat NSUDemons

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

2017 ROSTER

DEMONS

EMILY SITARZ

NAME HT.

CLASS

HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL

Grant Butts

6-2

SR.

Whitesboro, TX/Whitesboro HS

Blake Cantrell

6-3

FR.

Leesville, LA/Rosepine HS

Colby Clark

5-10

FR.

Decatur, GA/Decatur HS

Tyler Corwin

5-5

SO.

Slidell, LA/Slidell HS

Adam Courville

5-11

FR

Maurice, LA/Kaplan HS

Dylan Dunford

5-6

FR

Broussard, LA/Comeaux HS

Darius Groves

5-10

FR

DeRidder, LA/DeRidder HS

Jacob Hammons

5-11

SO.

Bossier City, LA/Parkway HS

Brandon Lewis-Graham

5-10

SR.

Shreveport, LA/Captain Shreve HS

Denim Reeves

5-9

FR.

Belle Chasse, LA/Belle Chasse HS

Anthony Renteria

5-8

FR

San Antonio, TX/San Antonio Christian HS

Hayden Robertson

5-10

FR

DeQuincy, LA/DeQuincy HSS

Hunter Wamack

5-11

SR.

Joshua Wilkins

5-7

SR

JOSHUA WILKINS

Grand Prairie, TX/Mansfield Lake Ridge HS Bowie, MD/Bowie HS

LADY DEMONS

NAME HT.

CLASS

Sasha Ballard

5-8

FR.

Jasmine Dansby

5-6

FR.

Emily Heard

5-6

SO.

Nachitoches, LA/St. Mary’s HS

Hannah Heidebrechtz

5-11

JR.

Minnetonka, MN/Hesston College/Hutchinson CC

Isabella Hudson

5-4

FR.

Waco, TX/China Springs HS

Atianna Parks

5-11

FR.

Lancaster, TX/Lancaster HS

Jacqueline Rushford

5-1

R-JR.

DeRidder, TX/DeRidder HS

Emily Sitarz

5-4

SR.

Mount Albert, Ontario, Canada/Bill Crothers Secondary School

Erin Sitarz

5-5

SR.

Mount Albert, Ontario, Canada/Bill Crothers Secondary School

Erin Wrozek

5-4

SR.

Richardson, TX/Bishop Lynch HS

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL

JACQUELINE RUSHFORD

Corsicana, TX/Mildred ISD 6 McKinney, TX/McKinney HS

2

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

2017 PREVIEW Entering his second season as the Northwestern State cross country coach, Chris Sauer had his first recruiting experience this offseason in which he was able to get a group that he hopes can make a difference.

ERIN WROZEK

“This year we are bringing in a set of freshman and a few transfers that are almost doubling our team size,” Sauer said. “So we are hoping that they push some of the upperclassmen as well.”

Some notable names returning for NSU are seniors Joshua Wilkins and Erin Wrozek, both of whom were named to the All-Louisiana Cross Country Collegiate teams in the previous season.

However, Sauer does not want his veterans resting on their laurels, as he expects some healthy competition between the incumbents and newcomers.

“We had quite a few individuals do well during the indoor and outdoor season, and we have a lot of new faces that will push them even harder,” Sauer said.

According to Sauer, this is the beginning of NSU returning to power in the sport of distance running.

GRANT BUTTS

“We’ve been going through a lot to make sure that this is the team that started a change in the way that Northwestern State is looked at,” Sauer said.

If one thing is certain, Sauer knows he has the backing of the newly elected university president, Dr. Chris Maggio.

Maggio, a former distance runner for the 1985 Gulf Star Conference Championship Demons, also coached for the program starting in 1988 under the legendary Leon Johnson.

“There has been no one more supportive of our program as a whole than Dr. Maggio,” Sauer said.

“I’ve walked recruits around campus, and the person they see the most is the president of our university.”

HUNTER WAMACK

3

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

2016 Season: • Competed in three events with two top-40 finishes, where his best result was 33rd at the ASICS-McNeese State Cowboy Stampede (18:04, 5K).

• Participated in the Southland Conference Championships where he was 90th (29:42, 8K).

2015 Season: • Ended the year with two top-20 finishes in five meets. Best result was 10th at the SFA Lumberjack Open (17:13.85, 5K).

• Placed 19th at the McNeese Cowboy Stampede (22:03.60, 5 miles).

• Finished 69th at the Southland Conference Championships (28:14.4, 8K).

2014 Season: • Had three top-15 finishes in seven meets, and placed 10th at the NSU pre-conference meet (29:32.50, 8K).

• Two 11th-place finishes included the McNeese Relays (26:47.84) and the Louisiana Tech Mook 5 (16:39.30).

• Second-best time for NSU at the conference championships (66th, 27:08.60).

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Fall Honor Roll

GRANT BUTTS

SR • 6-2

Whitesboro, Texas Whitesboro HS

High School: • Was part of the district champion team for cross country his sophomore and junior years as well as track junior and senior year.

• Captain of high school’s first team to make it to state meet, where he ran a 16:16 for his best 5000m time.

• 1600m best time of 4:24 during senior year, 800m best time 1:53.7 his senior year (breaking 40 year school record).

• Ran for coaches Brand and Barbara Urban.

Personal: • Son of Jeff and Carrie Butts.

• Has one younger brother Nicholas.

• Born February 15, 1996.

• Majoring in Computer Information Systems.

• Plans on getting a career in database administration.

High School • Happily competed for the Rosepine high cross country team for four years.

• Graduated with a 3.9 GPA and participated in student council.

Personal • Son of Cindy and Anthony Cantrell.

• Has one brother, Austin.

• Cousin is Olympic trampolinist Savannah Vinsant, who placed sixth at the 2012 London Olympics.

• Plans to become a pastor.

BLAKE CANTRELL

FR • 6-3

Leesville, Louisiana Rosepine HS

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

4

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

High School • Four-year letter winner in track and field for Decatur High School in Decatur, Georgia.

• Member of the two-time GHSA 3A state runner up 4x4 team that posted a time of 3:21.6 his junior year.

• Three-time all-region selection with personal best times of 49.1 in the 400m and 1:58 in the 800m.

• Member of the National Society of High School Scholars.

Personal • Son of Jenell and Christopher Clark.

• Has one sister, Gloria Clark and one brother, Xavier Barclay.

• Majoring in psychology with plans to work in law enforcement at the federal level.

COLBY CLARK

FR• 5-10

Decatur, Georgia Decatur HS

2016 Season: • Competed in four events with one top-50 finish in his third year with the Demons.

• Best result was 42nd (28:37, 4 miles) at the Louisiana Tech Mook Triple Duals.

• Participated in the Southland Conference Championships where he finished 92nd (32:22, 8K).

2014 Season: • Three top-30 finishes in his seven meets.

• Best places came at the McNeese Relays (17th, 34:41.63, 8K) the NSU pre-conference meet (20th, 33:45, 8K) and the Louisiana Tech Mook 5 (27th, 19:25, 5K).

High School: • Ran a personal-best 3-mile time of 16:45 and 1-mile time of 4:56 as a senior.

TYLER CORWIN

Personal: • Son of Keith and Chantel Crowin.

• Has one younger brother, Mason (16).

• Majoring in Computer Information Systems searching for a job that allows him to start a family.

SR • 6-3

Slidell, Louisiana Slidell HS

5

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

High School • All-district performer for Kaplan High School.

• Three-time regional qualifier in track and field.

• Won eight meets in the 800m where he was ranked first in his district, first in his region, and fourth in the state.

• Personal best times include 52.72 in the 400 and 2:02 in the 800m.

• Valedictorian who was selected to the Academic All-State team.

Personal • Son of Danielle and Ward Courville.

• Has two brothers, Adrian and Andrew.

• Plans to get his CPA.

ADAM COURVILLE

FR • 5-11

Maurice, Louisiana Kaplan HS

2016 Season: • Competed in four events with one top-30 finish.

• Best result was 26th (24:10) at the Louisiana Tech Mook Triple Duals.

• Participated in the Southland Conference Championships where he finished 88th (29:25).

2015 Season: • One top-30 finish in four races in 2015.

• Best finish (24th) came at ULL (30:40.2).

• Also placed 36th at the La. Tech Mook 5 Invitational (25:43.1, 4 miles).

• Finished 90th at the Southland Conference Championships (30:50., 8K).

High School: • Ran four seasons of cross country and track under coach Nicole Dooley.

• Graduated with a 3.9 GPA.

DYLAN DUNFORD

JR • 5-6

Personal: • Son of Bill and Shelly Dunford.

• One brother Derek (20).

• Biology major who wants to become a physical therapist.

Broussard, Louisiana Ovey Comeaux HS

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

6

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

High School • Placed sixth in the cross country state finals as a senior.

• Qualified for regionals, then finished 38th in the state finals as a junior.

• Elected team MVP and was first-team all-district of his soccer team as a senior.

Personal • Son of Susan Clinton and Danny Groves.

• Has two brothers, Brendon and Bradi along with one sister, Tamela.

• Majoring in music education with plans to teach music.

DARIUS GROVES

FR • 5-10

DeRidder, Louisiana DeRidder HS

2016 Season: • Competed in two events, the Louisiana Tech Mook Triple Duals (39th, 26:40, 4 miles) and the ASICS-McNeese State Cowboy Stampede (46th, 19:30, 5K).

High School: • Three-time All-District and All-Metro cross-country selection.

• Named to the All-State team in 2014.

• Placed 15th overall in USATF 1500m National Meet.

• 8th-ranked senior in 2016 cross country class rankings.

Personal: • Son of Rhonda and John Hammons • Jacob has one sister, Emily.

• Pre-Medicine major who plans to be a neurologist.

JACOB HAMMONS

SO • 5-11

Bossier City, Louisiana Parkway HS

7

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

Before NSU •Started career at Louisiana Tech, where he particpated in cross country and track and field for two years.

• •In his final year for the Bulldogs, had three top-five results in the Mook Triple-Duals. * Also finished 66th (28:16.9) at the CUSA Championships.

High School • Graduated from Captain Shreve High School in 2015.

• Holds the two-mile school record.

• Distinguished Scholar award winner three times.

• Recepient of the Wendy’s Heisman Award in 2014.

• Four-time letterwinner in Track and Field and Cross Country.

Personal: • Son of Derrick Graham and Nacole Lewis.

• Has one sibling, Brian.

• Psychology major who plans to join the United States airforce to become a pilot.

BRANDON LEWIS-GRAHAM

JR • 5-8

Shreveport, Louisiana Captain Shreve HS/Louisiana Tech

High School • State champion in cross country his senior year for Belle Chasse High School in Louisiana.

• Three-time letter winner in both cross country and track.

• Finished sixth at the state finals twice.

• First in his district in the mile.

Personal • Son of Ruby and Scott Reeves.

• Has one brother, Hayden.

• Majoring in accounting with plans to graduate in 2021.

DENIM REEVES

FR • 5-9

Belle Chasse, Louisiana Belle Chasse HS

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

8

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

2016 Season: • Competed in four events with two top-50 finishes.

• Best result was 41st (27:55, 4 miles) at the Louisiana Tech Mook Triple Duals.

• Participated in the Southland Conference Championships where he finished 93rd (32:34, 8K).

2015 Season: • Two top-30 finishes in three meets.

• Best finsh (26th) came at ULL (32:04.80, 5 miles).

• Placed 29th at La. Tech Mook 5 Invitational (24:18.8, 4 miles).

• Had a 31st-place finish at the McNeese Cowboy Stampede (23:33.40, 4 miles).

ANTHONY RENTERIA

JR • 5-8

San Antonio, Texas San Antonio Christian HS

High School: • Lettered all four years in cross country and track.

• Part of a TAPPS 4A state champion in cross country as a senior and a second-place squad as a sophomore.

• As an individual, won state title in 800 meters (TAPPS 4A) as a senior. Made the San Antonio Express News All-Area team for sub-6A/private schools.

• Broke school’s 800 meters record held by former NSU jumps and multis coach Wesley Miller.

• Ran the opening leg of a 4X800 relay at the AAU Junior Olympic Games for intermediate boys as a freshman. Team placed second.

• Coach by Kenzer Dirkson and Frank Dunn.

• Served as a weatherman in broadcast journalism. Part of the mayor’s fitness council, a student ambassador, the Thespian Society and a National Society of High School Scholars member.

• Graduated with a 3.34 GPA. Personal: • Son of Anthony and Jacqueline Renteria • Has one sister Jessica (20), who is a member of the USA Senior Team for Acrobatic Gymnastics.

• Theatre major who aspires to become a voice-over actor.

• Goes by Tony.

High School • Three-year letter winner in cross country, four-year letter winner in track and field at DeQuincy High School in Louisiana.

• Member of the four-time district champion in track and three-time district winner in cross country teams.

• Part of the state champion 4x400 team.

• Three-time district champion in the 4x200 and 800 meters.

• Three-time 4x400 district champion.

• Regional champion in the 4x200 and two-time winner in 4x400.

• School record holder in the 4x400 (3:22), 4x200 (1:28) and 800-meter (2:02) run.

• Two-time state runner up in the 4x200 Personal • Son of Ruth and Joe Robertson.

• Has one brother, Jacob and one sister Ali. • Majoring in business administration with goals of running his own business.

HAYDEN ROBERTSON

FR• 5-10

DeQuincy, Louisiana DeQuincy HS

9

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

2016 Season: • Competed in one meet, the Louisiana Tech Mook Triple Duals, where he placed 33rd (24:56, 4 miles).

2015 Season: • Three top-20 finishes in 2015.

• Best meet was 17th at SFA Lumberjack Opener (17:21.67, 5K).

• Came in 20th at ULL (29:32.50, 5 miles) and 20th at the McNeese Cowboy Stampede (22:12.80, 4 miles).

• Finished in 65th at the Southland Conference Championships (27:58.8, 8K).

2014 Season: • Three top-20 finishes as a freshman.

• Top result was a 13th-place finish at the NSU pre-conference meet (30:11, 13th). Also placed 16th at the McNeese Relays (29:35.37, 8K) and 20th at the La. Tech Mook 5 (17:47.10, 5K).

HUNTER WAMACK

SR • 5-11

Grand Prairie, Texas Mansfield Lake Ridge HS

High School: • Placed sixth in the nation at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in 2011.

• Earned all-district cross country honors in 2011 and 2013.

• Collected All-Conference honors in 2012.

• Selected to the All-Region team in 2011.

Personal: • Son of Julia and Albert Wamack.

• Has two brothers, Cooper and Bailey.

• Majoring in business administration and wants to own his own business.

2016 Season: • Competed in four meets with three top-five finishes, best result was second (15:40, 5K) at the Cowboy Stampede.

• Third (25:22, 8K) at the MC Choctaw Open, and was fifth at the Louisiana Tech Mook Triple Duals (21:14, 4 miles.

• Participated in the Southland Conference Championships where he led NSU (23rd, 25:11).

2015 Season: • NSU’s top runner in 2015, winning one meet and having two other top-30 finishes.

• Won race at SFA Lumberjack Opener (16:10.21, 5K), and was 19th at SHSU SLC Preview (21:38.7, 4 miles) • Led all Demons at the Southland Conference Championships 8K with a 26th-place finish (26:05.90).

2014 Season: • Won the Louisiana Tech Mook 5 with a time of 15:40.90 in the 5K race.

• Had four other top-15 finishes in the seven-meet season.

• Placed fifth at the NSU pre-conference meet (28:24.90, 8K); 11th at the McNeese Relays (26:47.84, 8K) and the McNeese State Stampede (19:56, 4 miles) and 12th at the Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational (20:46.5, 4 miles).

• NSU’s top finisher at the Southland Conference championships (22nd, 25:03.80, 8K).

JOSHUA WILKINS

SR • 5-7

Bowie, Maryland Bowie HS

High School: • Graduated with a 3.0 GPA and was named the Most Improved Student.

• Ran track and field and cross country for four years.

• Went to state in outdoor all four years.

• Only freshman to make it to state in 1600m for indoor with a time of 4:31.

• Placed third in 1600 indoors and second in the 3200 outdoor in junior year, third in 1600 indoor in senior year.

• Coached by his father and coach Bowles.

Personal: • Son of Marjorie and Ronald Wilkins.

• Has younger sister, Trinity (14).

• Majoring in music business.

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

10

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

High School • Three-time team captain and team MVP. • Three-time track and field 800-meter district and area champion for Mildred ISD in Corsicana, Texas.

• Four-time regional qualifier in cross country.

• Member of the Student Council, FCA and spelling member with a 3.6 GPA. Personal • Daughter of Samara and Raychaun Ballard.

• Has one brother, Jeremy.

• Majoring in heath and exercise science with plans to become a wellness coach.

SASHA BALLARD

FR • 5-8

Corsicana, Texas Mildred ISD

High School • Four-year letter winner in track and field for McKinney High School in Texas.

• Two-time letter winner in cross country.

• Three-time regional qualifier in the 300-meter hurdles with a personal best time of 45.3 seconds.

Personal • Daughter of Keisha and Vinson Dansby.

• Has two sisters, Marissa and Addison.

• Majoring in business management.

• Life’s ambition is to run in the Olympics.

JASMINE DANSBY

FR • 5-6

McKinney, Texas McKinney HS

11

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

2016 Season: • Competed in four meets with one top-20 finish at Louisiana Tech Mook Triple Duals (27th, 23:23).

• Had two other top-40 finishes at the McNeese State Cowboy Stampede (31st, 23:04), and the Mississippi College Choctaw Open (38th, 22:45).

• Competed in the Southland Conference Championships where she finished 73rd (26:43).

High School: • Graduated in 2015 with a 3.9 GPA. • Four-year letterwinner in cross country, track and field, and three years in tennis.

• Coached by Chris Maggio for cross country and Willie Paz for tennis - both former Demons.

Personal: • Daughter of Leslie and Ken Heard.

• She has two brothers, Zach and Noah.

• Nursing major with plans to become a nurse anethesist.

• She was born September 15, 1997.

EMILY HEARD

SO • 5-7

Natchitoches, Louisiana St. Mary’’s HS

Before NSU • Competed for Hutchinson Community College, where she had three top-30 finishes.

• Best finish came at the 2016 Region VI XC Championships where she was 18th (20:19).

High School • Two-year letter winner in cross country and track for Minnetonka High School in Minnesota.

• Two-time conference champion in cross country.

• State champion in both track and cross country as a senior.

• 2015 All-Regional Honors for Hesston Community College.

Personal • Daughter of Wanda and John Heidebrecht.

• Has one brother, Benjamin.

• Aspires to become a mathematics teacher.

HANNA HEIDEBRECHT

JR • 5-11

Minnetonka, Minnesota Hesston HS/Hutchinson CC

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

12

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

High School • Two-time 4A all district first team selection for China Spring High School in Texas.

• All region second-team selection.

• All district selection in the 800 meters • State and regional cross country qualifier.

• National Merit Scholar, US Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award for Academic Achievement and Leadership as a high school scholar.

• Member of the National Honor Society and the Peer Assistance Leadership team.

Personal • Daughter of Esmeralda and Andrew Hudson.

• Has one sister, Autumn.

• Majoring in biology with plans to graduate in 2021.

ISABELLA HUDSON

FR • 5-4

Waco, Texas China Springs HS

High School • Track and field state champion in 2014 for Lancaster High School in Texas.

• Finished third in state as a senior in track and field.

• Two-time district champion in cross country and track.

• 800 and 1600 district and area champion as a sophomore and junior.

Personal • Daughter of Vickie and Adelio Parks.

• Has a brother, Zeaunte LeBron Parks and a sister, Arianna Jade Parks.

• Plans to return to Dallas after graduation to teach elementary school.

ATIANNA PARKS

FR • 5-11

Lancaster, Texas Lancaster HS

13

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

2016 Season: • Missed the season due to injury.

2015 Season: • NSU’s top runner in 2015 with three top-10 finishes.

• Won the La. Tech Mook Invitational (18:43.0, 5K) and placed fourth at SFA Lumberjack Opener (13:27.37, 3200m).

• Came in 7th at UL Ragin Cajun Invitational (19:13.1, 5K).

• Finished 54th at the Southland Conference Championships (24:00.4, 6K).

• Selected the Southland Conference Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week, (9/22/2015).

JACQUELINE RUSHFORD

JR-RS • 5-1

DeRidder, Louisiana DeRidder HS

2014 Season: • Participated in all 7 meets.

• Came in first place at La Tech’s Mook 5, running 19:43.10 in the 5K and first place at NSU’s Pre-Conference Meet, running 27:06.90 in the 6K. • Individually, she ran her best time in the 5K at McNeese State Stampede with 19:10 and her best time in the 6K with a time of 32.24.1 at the Southland Conference Championships.

High School: • Jacqueline lettered four years in soccer and two years in cross country.

• Earned academic all-state, a member of the national honor society, and she was a valedictorian.

• Finished with a 4.0 GPA in high school.

• During her senior year she won district MVP in soccer, earned 2nd team all-state, and was selected to the all-star team.

• Became a pole vault district champ and a regional runner-up in her senior year.

• Selected as Miss DHS in her senior year.

Personal: • Daughter of Dena and Robert Rushford.

• Born July 11, 1996... Jaqueline has a brother, Connor, and a sister, Kimmie.

• Majoring in health and exercise science.

2016 Season • Competed in four meets with two top-25 finishes.

• Had a season-best 12th place finish at the Louisiana Tech Mook triple Duals (21:39, 3 miles).

• Finished 23rd (22:13, 5K) at the ASICS-McNeese State Cowboy Stampede.

• Was 69th in the Southland Conference Championships (26:12, 6K).

2015 Season: • Two top-15 finishes in 2015.

• Best finish (6th) came at the La. Tech Mook Invitational (20:26.2, 5K).

• Finished 12th at SFA Lumberjack Opener (13:27.37, 3200m).

• Came in 38th at SHSU Conference Preview (21:25.6, 5K).

2014 Season: • Participated in 6 meets.

• Her best time in the 5K was 20:05 at McNeese State Stampede.

• She ran her best time in the 6K at the Southland Conference Championships with a time of 24:14.6.

EMILY SITARZ

SR • 5-4

Mount Albert, Ontario, Canada Bill Crothers Secondary School

High School: • Attended Bill Crothers Secondary School in Markham, Ontario.

• Competed in cross country, track and field, and soccer.

• Coached by Ed LaRocque and Mark Arsenault.

• Graduated in 2014 with a 3.4 GPA. Personal: • Daughter of Lee and John Sitarz.

• Born September 18, 1996.

• Has two sisters, her twin, Erin and older sister Megan.

• Erin is also on the NSU cross country team • Majoring in business administration.

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

14

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

2016 Season: • Competed in three meets with one top-20 finish during her junior campaign.

• Finished 17th (22:05, 3 miles) at the Louisiana Tech Mook Triple Duals.

• Was 71st in the Southland Conference Championships (26:25, 6K).

2015 Season: • Two top-10 finishes in 2015, and placed fifth at the La. Tech Mook Invitational (20:07.7, 5K).

• Ninth-place finish at the SFA Lumberjack Opener (12:54.75, 3200m) and was 71st at the SLC Championships (25:46, 6K).

2014 Season: • Participated in 6 meets.

• Came in second at the NSU pre-conference meet with a time of 27:41.20 in the 6K race.

• Her best time in the 5K was 19:40.9 at the McNeese State Stampede.

• Her best time in the 6K was ran at the Southland Conference Championships with a time of 23:49.60.

ERIN SITARZ

SR• 5-5

Mount Albert, Ontario, Canada Bill Crothers Secondary School

High School: • Attended Bill Crothers Secondary School in Ontario.

• Lettered four years in track, four years in cross country, one year in hockey, and one year in soccer.

• Placed 4th at the OFSAA Championships in the 800m her freshman season.

• Received 2nd place at the OFSAA Championships in the 4x400m in her junior year. Also placed 5th place in the Royal Canadian Nationals I the 800m her senior year.

• Member of the student council.

• Maintained a 3.6 GPA in high school.

Personal: • Daughter of Lee and John Sitarz.

• Born September 18, 1996.

• Erin has two sisters, her twin, Emily and older sister Megan.

• Emily is also on the NSU cross country team.

2016 Season: • Raced in four meets with two top-10 finishes in her third season with the Lady Demons.

• Finished fourth (19:53, 3 miles) at the Mook Triple Duals and eighth at the Cowboy Stampede (20:20, 5K).

• Was 50th at the Southland Conference Championships (24:14, 6K).

2015 Season: • Two top-10 finishes in 2015.

• Finished 4th at LA Tech Mook Invitational (19:48.3, 5K).

• Came in 7th place at SFA Lumberjack Opener (12:24.70, 3200m).

• 20th at SHSU Conference Preview (19:55.4, 5K).

2014 Season: • Participated in all 7 meets.

• Placed second at La Tech’s Mook 5 with a time of 20:04.80 in the 5K race.

• Best time in a 5K race was 18:52.60 at McNeese State Stampede.

• Best time for a 6K race was ran at the Southland Conference Championships with at time of 23:29.30.

ERIN WROZEK

SR • 5-4

Richardson, Texas Bishop Lynch HS

High School: • Lettered one year in cross country, four years in track and field, and one year in basketball at Bishop Lynch High School.

• Member of the track and field state championship team her junior year.

• Placed second in the 800m and first in the 4x400m in her sophomore season.

• Placed third at the state championship in her senior season.

• Received female athlete of the year while in high school.

• She was chosen to run with the Elite High School running team for the Dallas Marathon.

Personal: • Daughter of Nancy and Brian Wrozek.

• Has two sisters, Amy and Paige.

• Plans to become a dentist.

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2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

CHRIS SAUER

Head Coach

Second Season • Second at NSU Stony Brook, 201

Northwestern State’s second-year cross-country head coach Chris Sauer has been preparing for this role most of his life.

Whether it was during his time at Sparta High School where he set multiple records, or as a scholarship athlete with Stony Brook University, Sauer’s life has revolved around running.

When his time as a competitor came to an end, Sauer switched out the spikes for a whistle and became an assistant coach at his alma mater.

While this may be Sauer’s second year as a head coach, he and Northwestern State are not lacking in experience.

In addition to bringing in Sauer, the Demons return nine Demon athletes and five Lady-Demon athletes for the 2016 season.

NSU head track and field coach Mike Heimerman cited Sauer’s experience as a colle- giate athlete and coach in an area of the country that is a hotbed for distance running separated Sauer during the interview process.

“We looked at a lot of resumes, but we kept coming back to (Sauer’s),” Heimerman said. “Sauer was a good runner before coaching with the Stony Brook program, and he handled his interview very well.”

“Sauer being from the Northeast is a huge plus,” Heimerman said. “There are a lot of talented distance runners that we will have access to in the area because of his contacts.”

Sauer hails from Sparta High School in New Jersey, where he still holds school records in six events and was a six-time team captain.

He then joined Stony Brook University’s cross country team, where he was a team captain and helped the Seawolves capture the American East Cross Country Championship in 2012.

Sauer returned to Stony Brook in 2014 as a volunteer assistant to work with middle and long distance event groups, aid in meet preparation, and generate recruiting databases.

Sauer has also worked in one of the top 50 running stores in America, which is where he learned how to fi t his athletes with the proper footwear.

Sauer will also pursue his master’s degree at Northwestern State.

“Chris wanted a change of pace and to get out of the New Jersey/New York area,” Heimerman said. “He’s certainly enjoying the slower pace of life and not having to deal with the traffic down here.”

“We wanted a different type of coach, and we wanted to think outside of the box. Now we might have access to runners we would not have been able to obtain previously.”

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

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NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

Dr. Chris Maggio Northwestern State President

Chris Maggio is a competitor for all seasons.

Northwestern State’s new president was an all-sports athlete in high school, a college distance runner at NSU, and a high school football, basketball and track coach. He became a college coach in track and field for the Demons and Lady Demons.

He even spent a few years as a high school basketball referee.

Today, you can find him making early-morning runs, and you might see him on the tennis courts. He’s made memorable putts in scramble tournaments at Demon Hills Golf Course.

His zeal for competition makes him a dynamic recruiter and fund raiser for NSU, and his ability to mentor staff U N I V E R S I T Y A D M I N I S T R AT I O N members and students comPresident: bined with his warmth and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Chris Maggio sincerity to produce a tremenInterim Provost & VP for Academic Affairs: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Vickie Gentry dously effective university adVice President for External Affairs: ministrator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry Pierce Those traits, along with Dr. Vice President for Business Affairs: Maggio’s deep roots and far. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carl Jones Vice President for University Affairs: reaching relationships, made . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marcus Jones him an ideal choice to take over Vice President for Technology, Innovation and the presidency at his alma maEconomic Development: ter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Darlene Williams

Dr. Maggio was appointed as acting president of Northwestern State effective January 1, and named to the position permanently May 4 after a national search. He succeeded Dr. Jim Henderson, whose dynamic tenure spearheaded significant growth and achievement in two years as president. Henderson moved up to run the University of Louisiana System, which includes Northwestern and eight other state universities.

Maggio, 53, is a lifelong resident of Natchitoches and long-time faculty and staff member at Northwestern State. He is the university’s 19th president since its founding in 1884, and the first one who is homegrown, along with the first to be a four-year athletic letterwinner as a Demon competitor.

Maggio was named vice president for the student experience at Northwestern State last September after serving as interim vice president for just over a year. He maintained his role as vice president for the student experience while serving as acting president.

When the NSU Student Services building opened a couple of years ago, designers had a lovely office location for Maggio on the second floor. He asked instead for the room just inside the front door to the building, not connected to any administrative wing, but envisioned as a conference space. His reasoning: Maggio wanted to see everybody who walked in the door, and providing the ability to immediately engage them or at least be easily accessible for anyone who needed help.

As vice president, Maggio led the Dean of Students and the Offices of Admissions, Recruiting, Financial Aid, Student Activities and Organizations, First Year Experience and Leadership Development, Judicial Services, Counseling and Career Services, Student Life, the Student Activities Board, Student Government Association, Student Support Services, and Greek Life.

Northwestern State has recorded enrollment increases for the past two years.

Enrollment for the Spring semester was 9,879 students. The year-to-year jump from Fall 2015 to 2016 at NSU was a seven percent increase, the highest growth rate of any University of Louisiana System institution, with Maggio and staff playing a pivotal role.

Maggio served as assistant vice president of external affairs for university advancement from 2013 until 2015, when he was promoted by Dr. Henderson. He has

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been a staff member at Northwestern State since 1988, when he joined the track and field coaching staff.

After several years as director of admissions and recruiting during record-setting enrollment for NSU, Maggio was selected as director of alumni affairs in 1999, director of alumni and development in 2003, executive director of the NSU Foundation in 2005 and Dean of Students and assistant provost for student success in 2007. During his career at NSU, Maggio also served as director of enrollment services.

Under Maggio’s leadership, the NSU Foundation completed its first capital campaign in Northwestern’s history, exceeding a campaign goal of $18.84 million and raising $31 million to support the university.

He has also been a faculty member in the Department of Health and Human Performance for more than 20 years as an instructor, assistant professor and associate professor.

Maggio came on board the NSU staff in 1988 as assistant track and field coach, then became head women’s coach a year later. After a very successful five years in that capacity, in 1994 Maggio moved into administration as the fundraiser for NSU Athletics before quickly being snapped up to become the university’s director of admissions and recruiting.

Maggio is a 1985 summa cum laude graduate of Northwestern State. He won Gulf Star Conference All-Academic honors in track and field and helped the Demons win the 1985 GSC championship. As a senior, he was elected Mr. NSU by his fellow students.

Maggio earned his master’s of education at NSU. He received a doctorate in developmental education from Grambling State University.

His parents helped run a family business in Natchitoches. His father, Buddy, was honored as a “Natchitoches Treasure” in 2015 by the City of Natchitoches.

As a young boy, Maggio became playmates with future Basketball Hall of Fame member Joe Dumars, whose home was near one of the Maggio’s stores.

Dr. Maggio’s wife, Jennifer, was formerly on the NSU staff as Coordinator of Adult Education Initiatives. They have three children, Melanie, Scott, and Emily. Emily is a high school student at St. Mary’s Catholic School of Natchitoches, while her older siblings attend other colleges.

Northwestern State President Dr. Chris Maggio poses for a photo with Natchitoches Regional Medical Center CEO Kirk Soileau (left).

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

Jerry Pierce

Vice President • External Affairs Only a couple of people have served Northwestern State as long as alumnus Jerry Pierce has, and nobody has done so in a more understated manner.

In his 52nd year on the university’s staff, Pierce’s impact on NSU and the city of Natchitoches is indelible. He’s never wanted or gotten top billing, but consistently, he gets results to benefit the university.

He is in his 27th year as vice president of external affairs at Northwestern. A significant aspect of his job is oversight of intercollegiate athletics. Pierce works closely with athletic director Greg Burke and all NSU coaches and staff members to keep Northwestern athletics competing at a championship level week after week, month after month and year after year.

Pierce, an avid tennis player, has been a member of USTA teams that have won more than a dozen state championships, five regional titles and one national championship.

Well before moving into the executive position, Pierce had already served his alma mater, adopted hometown and state with distinction. In his role as vice president, he overNSU Athletic Council sees university operations in athletics, alumni and development, public and media relations and assists President Dr. Chris Maggio in governmenJody Biscoe (Chair) tal affairs activities. Many of those duties were his since the 1970s as he Hall Adams Kwan Adkins (Student-Athlete) worked under six previous presidents as Northwestern advanced from Angela Bolton NAIA to NCAA College Division to NCAA Division I athletic status in 1977.

Sid Hall A 1961 graduate of Northwestern, Pierce served as trainer/manager Aaron Johnson for the Demon football team during his college years, working closely with Damon Jones legendary coach Jack Clayton. After earning his journalism degree, Pierce Dr. Theresa Kyzar went to work for the New Orleans Times Picayune, serving as a reporter Lori LeBlanc and editor. He was named executive sports editor at the age of 24.

Chris Lyles In 1965, he chose to raise his two sons in Natchitoches and returned Jacqueline Manza (Studentto NSU as sports information director. He was promoted to news bureau Athlete) director two years later and assumed additional responsibilities in athletDr. Jim Mischler ics, alumni affairs and other areas through the years.

Christie Price He created, in 1972, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame facility in Ex-Officio Members Greg Burke Prather Coliseum on the NSU campus, providing a home for an entity Jasmine Chievous founded by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association in 1958. He estabDustin Eubanks lished annual induction activities that remain in place nearly five decades Roxanne Freeman later, serving as director of the Hall for 19 years until his promotion to vice Dr. Chris Maggio president in April 1990 forced him to step aside from the volunteer post.

Betsy Nohavitza He helped guide Northwestern into three athletic conferences (Trans Dr. Patrice Moulton America, 1979; Gulf Star, 1983; Southland, 1987) and NCAA Division I staDr. Vicki Parrish tus in 1977. He is a past president of the Southland and has served the Jerry Pierce conference through other offices and committee positions.

In 1994, he was named one of Louisiana’s 20 most influential sports figures by the Times-Picayune. Also on the list were New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, LSU athletic director Joe Dean and basketball coach Dale Brown, and Grambling football coaching legend Eddie Robinson.

His salesmanship and managerial skills were instrumental in convincing Tri-Star Productions to film the 1989 smash hit movie “Steel Magnolias,” with an all-star cast including Julia Roberts, Sally Field and Dylan McDermott in Natchitoches and on the NSU campus. The movie’s impact on tourism in Natchitoches continues to resonate nearly three decades later.

Pierce is regarded as one of the most effective legislative liaisons for Louisiana’s higher education system. He has been also a master of ceremonies and speaker who has enlivened hundreds of events since 1965.

In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Pierce is a tenured member of the Journalism Department faculty. He is the author of one book and editor of two others and has written thousands of editorials, columns, features and other articles for newspapers and magazines.

Pierce and his wife Regina, a retired teacher and also a tennis buff, live on Cane River Lake in Natchitoches. He has two sons, Randy and Rick, both NSU graduates; three grandchildren, twins Evan and Amanda, 28, and Miranda, 17; and a great-grandchild with another due in August; He has two adult stepchildren, Nicholas and Natalie. He’s a doting “Poppy” to Natalie’s preschool daughters.

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

DEMONS’ DELIGHTS

Highlights of NSU athletics under the leadership of Vice President Jerry Pierce and Director of Athletics Greg Burke 24 Southland Conference Championships (8 sports) Football (1997, 1998, 2004), basketball (2005, 2006), women’s basketball (1999, 2004), baseball (1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2005), women’s soccer (2000), softball (1998, 1999, 2000, 2015), women’s tennis (2010, 2014), men’s track and field (1998, 1999, 2001, 2002). All-Sports (1997-98).

18 Southland Conference Tournament Championships (5 sports) Basketball (2001, 2006, 2013), women’s soccer (1997, 2000, 2002, 2005), women’s basketball (2004, 2014, 2015), softball (1998, 2000, 2002, 2013, 2014), women’s tennis (2010, 2015), volleyball (2014).

24 NCAA Postseason Appearances (7 sports) Football - FCS Division I playoffs (1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004); basketball (2001, 2006, 2013); women’s basketball (2004, 2014, 2015); baseball (2005); softball (1998, 2000, 2002, 2013, 2014); women’s soccer (2000, 2002, 2005), women’s tennis (2010, 2015), volleyball (2014). Women’s basketball also played in the 1999 WNIT. Track and field qualifications are for individuals, not entire teams.

94 NCAA Postseason Individual Participants (5 sports) Men’s indoor track and field 14 (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2014, 2015), men’s outdoor track and field 44 (1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2016), women’s indoor track and field 9 (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004), women’s outdoor track and field 26 (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), women’s tennis 1 (2010).

84 National Awards (7 sports) All-America awards - track and field (34), football (26), baseball (3). Academic All-America honors – softball (2), baseball (3), football (2), women’s track and field (1), women’s tennis (1), women’s basketball (1). U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Women’s Field Evens ScholarAthlete of the Year (1). National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete (2); AFCA Allstate Good Works Team (1), NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship (1).

Basketball - 2006 Pontiac Game Changing Performance $100,000 Scholarship. NCAA Academic Progress Rates Public Recognition, top 10 percent nationally, (3, 2 by basketball, 1 by women’s soccer) 3 Olympic Competitors (2 sports) Track and field alumni LaMark Carter (2000) Kenta Bell (2004 and 2008) represented the USA in the Olympic Games in the triple jump. Former Demon basketball player Dr. Gayle Hatch was the USA’s head men’s weightlifting coach in the 2004 Athens Games.

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NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

Greg Burke Director of Athletics The Burke File

AGE: 60 (Born Oct. 22, 1956) • HOMETOWN: Alliance, Ohio • HIGH SCHOOL: Marlington ’74 • COLLEGE: Mt. Union ’78 (cum laude) POSTGRADUATE: Kent State ’86 • BEFORE HE WAS A.D.: Sports writer, Alliance (Ohio) Review, 1972-78; director of news and sports information, Hiram (Ohio) College, 1978-85; administrative intern, NSU athletics, 1985-86; director, NSU Athletic Association, 1986-92; director of athletic development, University of Akron, 1992-96; director of athletics, Northwestern State, 1996-present.

BIG FAN OF: Cleveland Browns, Indians and Cavaliers • INTERESTS: Working out, watching ESPN and VH1 Classic, family outings.

Beginning his 22nd year as director of athletics at Northwestern State, Greg Burke is highly regarded far past the 318 area code due to the work he’s done in his adopted hometown.

Burke, a native Ohioan and avid fan of all Cleveland pro sports teams, has been the Demons’ athletics director since Aug. 29, 1996, when his first day included speaking at the annual NSU/ Independence Bowl Kickoff Luncheon. Burke is the longest serving AD at any Louisiana or Southland Conference institution, and is believed to be the longest-serving AD in state history.

He has steered NSU athletics to many of its greatest accomplishments while overseeing a program that has fielded championship caliber teams in a dozen of the school’s 14 NCAA Division I sports.

Highlights in Burke’s two decades as athletic director include 41 Southland Conference regular-season or tournament championships, 68 All-America and Academic All-America student athletes, and three U.S. Olympic competitors. Twenty-five NSU teams have taken part in NCAA or other postseason competition.

All of the school’s athletic facilities have undergone over $7 million in improvements in the past few years, with another $1 million of enhancements to Turpin Stadium’s video board and sound system due before the 2017 home opener. Burke spearheaded a $2 million series of sponsorships for new scoreboards installed for 2008-09 at all NSU athletic venues; the $700,000 Second Century Circle fencing project for athletic venues; a $500,000 softball grandstand project; and a $600,000 upgrade of chairback seating at Turpin Stadium for the 2016 football season.

Fundraising initiatives reached new levels in 2015-16. Formalizing the endowed giving program, branded as “Perpetually Purple,” generated an influx of over $100,000, while overall revenue generated by donations and sponsorships cracked $2 million.

Competitively, milestones continue. One of the biggest under Burke: NSU in 2004-05 became the first (and remains the only) Southland Conference member in the league’s five decades of history to sweep football, men’s basketball and baseball championships in the same athletic year.

It’s been done only once in Southeastern Conference history, by Alabama in 1933-34, and only four times in Big Ten Conference history, the last time by Michigan State in 1979-80.

Those accomplishments have come with one of the more modest athletic budgets in the state and conference. Burke’s management skill and fundraising ability have been pivotal.

Burke has a remarkable ability to hire dynamic head coaches. Anchors of the department are current head coaches Mike McConathy, Louisiana’s all-time career basketball wins leader; softball coach Donald Pickett, and track and field coach Mike Heimerman, a trio with nearly 50 combined years on staff at NSU. Three former student-athletes in Burke’s tenure have become NSU head coaches, including second-year baseball coach Bobby Barbier. Numerous Burke hires had great success at Northwestern State that propelled them to national prominence in subsequent positions. Former baseball coach John Cohen is beginning his first full year as AD at Mississippi State.

Over 100 more former NSU student-athletes, coaches and support staff members, most of them here with Burke as AD or assistant AD (1986-92), are working in college athletics at some level. Former Demons are head coaches in the SEC, Big XII, Mountain West Conference, Conference USA, Ohio Valley, SWAC, and Southland Conference. Five others hold Associate AD positions in the SEC, PAC 12, and American Athletic conferences. Former Burke lieutenants Todd Garzarelli (Wisconsin-Whitewhater), Jason Horn (Xavier-NO) and Adam Jonson (LSU Alexandria) are now athletics directors, while Kurt Gulbrand is senior associate AD for development at Tennessee and Jodie Libadisos is associate AD for student-athlete enhancement at South Florida.

From his first day on the job, Burke has stressed the importance of having a balanced athletic program. Tremendous competitive strides have been made in women’s athletics under his guidance. Just in the past four years, Lady Demon basketball (2014, 2015), softball (2013, 2014), tennis (2013, 2015) and volleyball (2015) have reached NCAA Tournaments.

Burke established a high standard for NSU Athletics in academic achievement and community service.

The academic accomplishments are reflected annually in the NCAA’s APR and GSR studies.

Community service by NSU student-athletes, coaches and staff more than doubled to over 5,000 hours in 2009-10 and has remained at that level. The Southland Conference created the “Southland Strong” Community Service award to recognize the member institution whose studentathletes compile the most service hours each year. NSU won the inaugural prize in 2014-15 and was second in 2015-16.

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Burke spearheaded the adoption of the slogan “Great Tradition, Brighter Future” for NSU Athletics, and the creation of NSU Athletics “Cornerstones” for student-athletes: “Academic Achievement, Personal Responsibility, Competitive Success … Every Minute, Every Hour, Every Day!” During Feb. 2013, he was presented the “Outstanding Contributions to Amateur Football Award” by the North Louisiana chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. Six years ago, he was included among 29 winners of the Under Amour AD of the Year Award presented by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

Burke was the 2010-11 president of the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association.

He serves on the NCAA Committee on Academics, a 20-person group replacing the Committee on Academic Performance, which included Burke. He also has served on the NCAA Championships/Sports Management Cabinet.

Burke previously served a four-year term on the NCAA Division I Football Issues Committee (1999-2002) and concurrently served a term on the eight-member NCAA FCS Committee that administers the national playoffs. He has served as a site supervisor for Football Championship Subdivision playoff games across the nation, and he is regarded as one of the country’s premiere advocates of FCS football.

In 2005, Burke was one of three recipients of the All-America Football Foundation’s Gen. Robert R. Neyland Outstanding Athletic Director Award and that same year, was also tabbed as one of two Natchitoches Parish Cenla Newsmakers of 2005 by the Alexandria Town Talk newspaper’s editorial staff.

He received the 2006 “Outstanding Alumni Award” from his alma mater, Marlington High School in Alliance, Ohio, recognizing his community service and professional achievements. At the time, Burke became one of only 21 alumni honored since the award was instituted in 1982.

Burke serves on the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau board, and on the board of directors for the Central Louisiana Community Foundation. He is a past president of the Natchitoches Kiwanis Club and remains active in that civic group. He has also been part of the steering committee for the Natchitoches Christmas Festival and is a former member of the Natchitoches Area Jaycees. He has been involved with the American Heart Association and was 2010 March of Dimes chairman locally.

His wife, Susu, is a Natchitoches native, NSU graduate and an elementary teacher. Their 23-year-old daughter, Catherine, graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic School in May of 2012 and is in graduate school at UL Lafayette after earning her undergraduate degree from Louisiana Tech.

Burke with his wife Susu and daughter Catherine

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

NORTHWESTERN STATE JODY BISCOE

FACULTY ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVE Joseph (Jody) Biscoe has served as Northwestern State University’s Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) since 2006, which includes the role as chairperson for the NSU Athletic Council. Currently, Jody serves as the chairperson for the Southland Conference Faculty Athlete Representatives and is a member of both the Compliance and Awards Committees.

Additionally, Jody holds a tenured faculty position in the Psychology Department. Jody also is the Coordinator for the undergraduate Addiction Studies program and the Director for the Louisiana Addiction Technology Transfer Center.

The Biscoes have lived in Natchitoches since 2002. Jody’s wife, Roni, is an avid runner and their daughter Roxy is a graduate of Northwestern’s Nursing program (BSN). You might often see Jody and Roni spending time with 3-year-old Jaxson, who already is training to be a future Demon multi-sport athlete whose favorite character is “Vic.”

JASMINE CHIEVOUS

ASST. AD/STUDENT-ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT Jasmine Chievous joined the Northwestern State athletic department in August 2016. As the assistant athletic director for student-athlete development, Chievous oversees all facets of the Student-Athlete Development program including the student-athletes’ academic endeavors, personal development, community outreach, career development, and leadership training. On a daily basis, Chievous oversees the football team, men’s basketball and baseball teams, and tennis.

Prior to coming to NSU, Chievous spent the previous two-plus years as Troy’s Life Skills and Academic Coordinator, where she served as the academic coordinator for women’s basketball, women’s soccer and men’s tennis. She developed and supervised the life skills program as well.

Other duties included advising the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, conducting the athletic department’s first full awards ceremony, offering career counseling and serving as the department liaison for the regional and state Special Olympics. Chievous was an adjunct instructor in psychology at Troy.

Chievous spent more than two years at the University of Missouri, where she earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology with an emphasis in both Sport Psychology and Career Counseling. Her work experience as an intern then a graduate assistant included serving as the academic coordinator for basketball, volleyball, track and field, cross country, wrestling and swimming and diving at different points in her tenure. Those duties included helping at-risk student-athletes with course selection, time management and study strategies. Chievous also taught SSC 1150, a freshman learning strategies and development course.

A Provost Scholar at Fisk University, Chievous earned a Spanish degree in 2010, also serving as an administrative assistant to the athletic director. Other professional opportunities include being a committee member for the National Association of Student-Athlete Development-both the best practices and community service committees, a member of the National Association for Athletic Academic Advisors, a member of The Fisk University Young Alumni Association, Advisor for The Minority Achievement Scholars Committee and a proud member of Mount Zion Baptist Church.

ERICA CONOVER

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & ENGAGEMENT

CROSS COUNTRY efforts to better showcase the good works of the Youth Baseball Academy.

In 2014, Conover was a corporate development intern with the Houston Texans, where she was involved with sponsorship activation by coordinating stanchions, signage, hospitality tents and partner displays. She also aided in training camp event coordination for 20-plus sponsors each day.

To diversify her background, Conover has also held internships in the Baylor University Hankamer School of Business’ office of marketing and communications as well as Baylor’s athletic marketing department.

As the oldest of three children, family is extremely important to Conover. She greatly values her relationships with both her younger brothers and looks forward to setting an example for them as she continues to grows both personally and professionally.

MIKE DOTY

DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES/EVENT MANAGEMENT Mike Doty joined the NSU Athletics department in July as the director of athletic facilities and event management.

Prior to arriving in Natchitoches, Doty spent the past two years as the athletic facilities coordinator at Missouri Southern State in Joplin, Missouri. While there, Doty managed all the university’s athletic facilities, coordinated logistics of all events held in those facilities, maintained the athletic facilities and grounds and wrote all event and facility contracts.

A 2010 political science and international studies graduate of the University of Nebraska, Doty spent four years as an admissions counselor at Nebraska. After two years, he was promoted to senior admissions counselor, a position he held for two years before attending graduate school at Ohio University.

While earning his master’s of spots administration from Ohio in 2015, Doty was an operations graduate assistant in Ohio’s Event Services department. He also served as the manager of game day operations and promotions for the Southern Ohio Copperheads, a member of the Great Lakes Summer League. While with the Copperheads, Doty worked with the other 11 teams to craft the schedule for the summer wooden-bat league.

During his time as a student at Ohio, he worked on a study of the Football Bowl Association, which earned a Best Project Award. He also worked with the Pro Football Hall of Fame and with the New York Giants, dealing with football analytics.

SETH DOUGET

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES Seth Douget is in his fourth year on the Northwestern State athletics facilities staff.

Douget, a Lafayette native, has been the interim director of special facilities and operations since April. Prior to assuming his current role, Douget spent his first two years at Northwestern State as the assistant director of special facilities and operations.

Douget is responsible for handling game management staff during football, basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball games as well as preparing Prather Coliseum, the Lady Demon Softball Complex and Brown-Stroud Field. Douget earned his bachelor of science degree in sports management from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2010.

He began his career as an intern in the UL Lafayette athletic department and spent three years with the Cajuns staff. While at his alma mater, Douget assisted game management staff at football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball games, wrote scripts and itineraries for soccer events, oversaw volleyball game management staff and prepared the football and volleyball complexes on game days.

After stints with two professional franchises and a Big 12 athletic program, Erica Conover is in her first year as Northwestern State’s director of development and engagement.

A member of the Dean’s List at Baylor, Conover graduated Magna Cum Laude in December 2016 and began working at Northwestern in February 2017.

Conover previously held internships with Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals and the National Football League’s Houston Texans prior to earning her B.B.A. in marketing from Baylor.

While with the Nationals, her passion for children and the community led her to working closely with the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. There, she assisted with fostering the Nationals’ donor base, helped plan multiple major fundraising events and revamped social media

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

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NORTHWESTERN STATE DUSITN EUBANKS

ASSISTANT AD/NCAA COMPLIANCE DIRECTOR Dustin Eubanks is in his 21st year in the NSU athletic department and his 18th year at the helm of NSU’s compliance department, keeping all athletics personnel current and in accordance with NCAA and Southland Conference guidelines.

Eubanks was inducted into the N-Club Hall of Fame in October 2015, becoming just the fourth non-competitor to do so.

A 1996 education graduate of Northwestern, the 44-year-old avid fan of all teams that hail from Pittsburgh seized an opportunity to serve as a graduate assistant in the sports information department at Northwestern while beginning the pursuit of his master’s degree in health and physical education (concentration in sports administration), which he obtained in May of 2003, and was impressive enough to earn a promotion to full-time status in November 1998.

Eubanks is married to the former Dawn Hornsby of Branch and the couple has two daughters, Taylor (11) and Emilie (22), the latter being a recent summa cum laude graduate of NSU. The sisters share the same birthdate. Dustin and Dawn, who is the associate bursar at NSU, celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary this summer.

ROXANNE FREEMAN

ATHLETIC BUISNESS MANAGER Roxanne Freeman began working at NSU in 1983 as an accounting clerk in business affairs. She transferred to the athletics department as football/baseball/track secretary and served under Sam Goodwin, Leon Johnson and several baseball coaches for eight seasons before graduating with a B.S. in accounting in May 1995.

Freeman then became the compliance coordinator and academic advisor during a three-year span before leaving in 1998. She returned to NSU in the Fall of 2000 in her current position as Business Manager where she now serves as liaison between the athletic department and business affairs. She has one son, Aaron Pizani, who is also a NSU alum.

ALEXIS GUESS

ASSISTANT ACADEMIC COORDINATOR Alexis Guess is in her second year as Northwestern State’s assistant academic coordinator.

Guess brings a varied background, having worked in numerous facets of student-athlete development at both LSU and Duquesne.

As a student services graduate assistant at Duquesne, Guess conducted individual study sessions for at-risk student-athletes, compiled mid-term grade reports for various coaching staffs, coordinated student-athlete tutoring in the spring and summer 2016 semesters, oversaw study hall for incoming and transfer student-athletes and helped create and execute the “StudentAthlete Career Seminar.”

As an undergraduate at LSU, Guess spent two years as a content tutor in the Cox Communications Center for Student-Athletes where she tutored student-athletes, composed tutor reports, met with athletic advisors and attended NCAA, SEC and LSU compliance and tutor training sessions.

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CROSS COUNTRY MIKE JACKLICH

ASST. AD/TICKETING AND SPECIAL EVENTS Mike Jacklich made an immediate impact on the NSU athletic department after being named director of ticketing in October 2014, increasing basketball ticketing revenue by more than 60 percent from the 2013-14 season.

After spearheading the re-seating project at Turpin Stadium, which saw the installation of 2,360 uniformly purple chairback seats that debuted during the 2016 season, Jacklich was promoted to assistant athletic director for ticketing and special events.

Jacklich came to Natchitoches from suburban Chicago, where he was the director of ticketing for the Schaumburg Boomers of independent baseball’s Frontier League. While with the Boomers, Jacklich worked closely with the Boomers general manager to shape and enhance all aspects of fan services. He was responsible for creating and executing all ticketing and sales reports, while training a full-time sales staff and overseeing a group of 15 interns.

Jacklich also wore a variety of hats outside of the Boomers ticket office, including serving as a tour guide at Boomers Stadium and filling in as “Coop,” the Boomers’ mascot.

Jacklich earned his bachelor of arts degree in mass communication from the University of Tulsa in 2001. Following graduation, he returned to Chicago where he began a six-year run as the assistant audience services manager for the legendary Steppenwolf Theatre Company. While with Steppenwolf, Jacklich helped implement Tessitura, an innovative ticketing software system.

Jacklich, a Lisle, Ill., native, is married to Krishni, whose family lives in nearby DeRidder and who can totally do better than him.

PRESLEY OWENS

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMPLIANCE Former Northwestern State women’s basketball letterwinner Presley Owens returned to her alma mater in August as its assistant director of compliance.

Owens was a two-year starter for the Lady Demons, helping lead Northwestern State to backto-back Southland Conference Tournament championships and NCAA Tournament berths.

She will assist Assistant Athletic Director/NCAA Compliance Director Dustin Eubanks will all facets of student-athlete eligibility, financial aid and more.

Following the completion of her career, Owens spent one season as an assistant coach on the NSU women’s basketball staff before spending the spring 2017 semester as a marketing intern at Mississippi State.

In her two seasons as a Northwestern State player, Owens started 67 of 68 games, including all 34 games in her senior season. Owens averaged 7.4 points per game as a senior, helping Northwestern State capture its second straight Southland Conference Tournament championship and earn the first back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in school history.

For her career, Owens averaged 5.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.

Owens came to Northwestern State after two seasons at Mississippi Guif Coast Community College where she averaged 12.5 points and 8.2 rebounds as a sophomore en route to earning Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges All-State and All-Star honors. Her performance garnered her NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American honors as well.

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NORTHWESTERN STATE DR. HALEY TAITANO

ASSOCIATE AD FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS Senior Woman Administrator Haley Taitano, Ed.D., a school record-setting competitor as a Northwestern State track and field student-athlete, was promoted to associate athletic director for external affairs in September 2016.

Taitano, who is in her second year as NSU’s Senior Woman Administrator, has overseen the rebranding and the revamping the N-Club, Northwestern State’s association of former athletic letterwinners, and helps coordinate the annual N-Club Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and alumni team reunions throughout the year.

Additionally, she serves as the executive director of the Demons Unlimited Foundation, setting records for increasing funding for the athletic department through both sponsorship acquisition and individual donations, which provides additional support for all 14 Division I programs at NSU. Taitano, a magna cum laude graduate of NSU in May 2006, was executive director of the NSU Alumni Association as well as the associate director of alumni affairs from July 2011-September 2014. She solicited funds for the Alumni Association and NSU Foundation, planned and coordinated all alumni events and events assigned by the office of NSU president Dr. Randy Webb, and managed the Alumni Association website, social media pages, the Purple Pulse e-newsletter and the Alumni Columns magazine.

Previously, she worked as an assistant in student services for the Stephen F. Austin athletics department for 18 months from 2010-11. For nearly three years following her graduation from Northwestern, Blount was an assistant track and field coach and head cross country coach at NSU. Taitano is actively engaged in community service, serving as a board member for several prominent area organizations including the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club of Natchitoches, Natchitoches Young Professionals and Ladies for Law Enforcement.

She earned a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Louisiana Teach in 2016 and a master’s degree in sport administration from NSU in 2007.

Taitano was a four-year competitor as a pole vaulter for the Lady Demons and still holds the NSU women’s school record with an 11-6 ¼ clearance at the 2006 Southland Conference Outdoor Championships. She did an internship with USA Track & Field in 2007, serving as assistant producer of the AT&T USA Outdoor Championships in Indianapolis, and she also assisted with operations at the 2008 USA Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. She was the women’s track and field team representative from 2004-06 on the NSU StudentAthlete Advisory Committee and was on the 2005 All-Louisiana Collegiate Track and Field Team based on posting one of the top three marks by any state competitor in her event. Blount was included on the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll for academic achievement each season from 2002-06 and earned the NSU Health and Human Performance Department’s Hall of Fame Award in 2006 for being the outstanding student-athlete of the year.

Taitano and her husband Jesse, an assistant chief with the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, were married in July of 2016. Taitano has one step-son, Jesse Jr. (14) and three rescue dogs, Patch, Cece, and Leia.

CROSS COUNTRY JOE TOLBERT

DIRECTOR OF EQUIPMENT OPERATIONS Joe Tolbert is in his first year as Northwestern State’s director of equipment operations.

Tolbert, a 2014 South Alabama graduate in leisure studies/recreation administration, joined the NSU athletics staff in July after previously working at his alma mater and at Towson University.

Tolbert was a student manager for the South Alabama football team for four seasons, serving as the head student assistant for his final three seasons. During those years, Tolbert supervised all student managers, coordinated equipment duties during practices and games, coordinated loading the equipment truck for all games, assisted with design and selection of team uniforms and apparel for coaches and players and assisted the South Alabama coaching staff with oncampus recruiting visits and preparation and administration of summer football camps.

During a one-year internship at Towson, Tolbert worked with the Tigers’ football, men’s and women’s lacrosse and women’s field hockey teams. He coordinated the packing of all equipment and apparel for each team, assisted in the hiring and supervision of all student managers, assisted with the ordering of apparel and equipment for all teams, interacted with equipment vendors and conducted equipment and apparel inventory for all teams.

A graduate of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School in Alabama, Tolbert is a member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA) and is AEMA certified.

TORI THOMPSON

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND DIGITAL MEDIA After serving her alma mater as a recruiter, Tori Thompson joined the Northwestern State athletics department as the director of marketing and digital media in July.

Before joining the university recruiting office, Thompson, a 2015 NSU graduate in business administration, spent the 2015-16 academic year as an athletics marketing associate/graduate assistant. During that time, she was instrumental in handling marketing and promotion efforts for soccer, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball.

Thompson planned and directed a pair of long-running basketball fundraisers – the Gumbo and Chili cook-offs – while also helping to implement the student tailgate experience at home football games. Thanks to Thompson’s promotional efforts, the 2015 soccer opener produced the highest attendance in program history.

Following her year as a graduate assistant, Thompson became NSU’s out-of-state recruiter.

Working primarily in her home state of Texas, Thompson visited high schools throughout the state to recruit potential students, to market Northwestern State and to help build brand awareness for the university.

Northwestern State’s 2012 Miss Lady of the Bracelet, Thompson is pursuing a master’s degree in sport administration from Northwestern State.

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NORTHWESTERN STATE ESI ATINKAH

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF SPORTS MEDICINE Alabama, 2013; Northwestern State, 2015 Fifth season at Northwestern State After earning her master’s degree from Northwestern State in May 2015, Esi Atinkah is in her third year as a full-time member of the Northwestern State Sports Medicine staff.

Atinkah is hired through Northwestern State’s partnership with Natchitoches Regional Medical Center.

She was promoted to associate director of sports medicine in July 2016. In that role, Atinkah supervises two full-time athletic trainers and all of NSU’s graduate assistant athletic trainers.

Atinkah spent her graduate school tenure as the athletic trainer for the Northwestern State baseball team and has remained in that role after completing her master’s degree.

A 2013 University of Alabama graduate in athletic training, Atinkah worked with the Crimson Tide baseball, football, track, and tennis teams.

She has worked the Alabama Relays, Nick Saban football camps, tennis tournaments, and the BCS National Championship.

Atinkah is a Licensed Athletic Trainer by the State of Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners, a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, and is first-aid certified.

KOLLEEN BROWN

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SPORTS MEDICINE Morrisville State, 2014; Daemen College, 2016 First season at Northwestern State Kolleen Brown joined the Northwestern State sports medicine staff in August after serving as an assistant athletic trainer at Uitca College during the 2016-17 academic year.

Brown will be Northwestern State’s primary athletic trainer for women’s basketball.

A former all-conference lacrosse player at Morrisville State, Brown earned her undergraduate degree in human performance and health promotion before collecting her master’s degree in athletic training from Daemen College.

While at Utica College, Brown was the primary athletic trainer for women’s ice hockey and women’s lacrosse. Brown worked with Niagra University’s men’s hockey team in 2016 and with the University of Buffalo’s women’s soccer team in 2014. She also worked with the Buffalo football team during spring practice in 2015.

Brown also performed occupational medical clearance physicals at Heatlhworks in Buffalo.

A Licensed Athletic Trainer, Brown is BOC certified and holds a CDC concussion certification. She is first-aid/CPR/AED certified and is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.

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CROSS COUNTRY JASON DRURY

DIRECTOR OF SPORTS MEDICINE Idaho State, 1999; Northwestern State, 2001 13th season at Northwestern State Now in his 13th season at Northwestern State, Jason Drury was promoted to director of sports medicine in 2012 after the retirement of long-time athletic trainer Ed Evans.

Drury joined the sports medicine staff at Northwestern State University in the summer of 2005 after being the head athletic trainer at Natchitoches Central for five years.

In the spring of 2009, Drury took over as the head football athletic trainer for the Demons, after working for three seasons with the women’s soccer team and one season with men’s basketball team.

A 1999 graduate of Idaho State University in biology, Drury worked with numerous sports in Pocatello, Idaho, including football, men’s basketball and track and field. Drury earned his master’s degree in sports administration from Northwestern State in 2001, during which time he worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer for the NSU softball team.

Drury is a native of Paoli, Indiana. He and his wife, Toni, have been married for 14 years. They have two children, Maddox and Kenzie.

ASHLEY LEGGETT

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SPORTS MEDICINE Alabama, 2013; Iowa, 2015 Second season at Northwestern State Ashley Leggett is in her second season with the Northwestern State athletic training staff. She is hired through NSU’s partnership with Natchitoches Regional Medical Center.

Leggett spent the past year interning at Samford, where she served the softball and volleyball programs. She organized physical examinations, SCAT3 and ImPACT testing for softball and volleyball student-athletes along with the rehabilitation, management and treatment of injuries. In addition, she implemented post-surgical SLAP repair protocol and a return-to-play throwing program.

After graduating from Alabama in 2013 with a bachelor’s of science in athletic training, she completed a master’s at Iowa in leisure and recreational sports management in 2015.

As a graduate assistant trainer at Iowa, she worked with the softball program. Leggett managed all aspects of daily medical needs including prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of student-athletes. As an athletic training student at Alabama, she aided the football, softball, swimming and diving programs as well as the rowing team. She traveled with the football team to the SEC and national championships and worked the Women’s College World Series.

Leggett has also worked with the Alabama Patrick Murphy Softball School, the Nick Saban Football Camp, and the Big Ten Cross Country Championship among other events.

Her professional memberships and certifications include the states of Louisiana, Iowa and Alabama athletic training boards, a, NATABOC Certified Athletic Trainer, a National Athletic Trainers’ Association member, a Southeastern Athletic Trainers’ Association member, and an American Heart Association CPR Health Care provider.

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DOUG IRELAND

ASSISTANT SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR

ASSISTANT AD/SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR

In charge of athletic media relations at his alma mater since January 1989, Doug Ireland coordinates publicity efforts for Northwestern’s 14 intercollegiate sports teams through local, regional and national media outlets in print, broadcast, television and the internet.

He also serves in the volunteer role of chairman of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Ireland assumed that post in April 1990.

He was chosen as the 2016 recipient of the Southland Conference’s Louis Bonnette Sports Media Award, named for the iconic retired McNeese SID.

His 1992 Demon Football Media Guide won “Best in the Nation” in FCS Division from the College Sports Information Directors of America. A 1997 story on Joe Delaney, “The Guy We Called Joe D,” won a national second-place award in a CoSIDA writing contest. Ireland has won dozens of awards as SID from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, including 31 this century.

Several of his assistant SIDs and graduate assistants have advanced to prominence in sports. Former NSU sports information staffers under Ireland include Bruce Ludlow, associate commissioner for operations of the Southland Conference; Bill Magrath, media relations manager for the Sports Business Daily; Mike Morrison, former co-editor of the ESPN Information Please Almanac; Daucy Crizer, assistant AD and business manager at Lamar; Erik Cox, former SID at Lamar; Dart Volz, former SID at Southeastern Louisiana; Melissa Reynaud, former assistant SID at LSU; Kenny Lannou, associate AD for communications at Kansas State; Matthew Bonnette, assistant AD and SID at McNeese, and Troy Mitchell, SID at Henderson State. Dustin Eubanks, NSU’s assistant AD/director of NCAA compliance, worked in the NSU SID office as a graduate assistant and for two years as the full-time assistant, and Adam Jonson, athletics director at LSU-Alexandria, was a student and graduate assistant in the SID office.

In 1981-82, while an undergraduate at Northwestern, Ireland worked as chief of the Shreveport Times Natchitoches Bureau, coordinating news coverage of an eight-parish region along the Red River. From 1982-85, he was assistant SID at Southwestern Louisiana (now UL Lafayette), working with a men’s basketball program that made three straight postseason tournament appearances. He won CoSIDA publications and writing awards while at USL. Ireland was the sports editor of the Natchitoches Times in 1985-86 and attended graduate school at Northeast Louisiana (now UL Monroe) before joining the Alexandria Town Talk sports staff in 1987. In 18 months at the Town Talk, he covered both NSU and LSU sports and won 15 writing awards from the Louisiana Sports Writers’ Association.

In 2001, the LSWA presented its prestigious Mac Russo Award to Ireland for his contributions to the organization. In 1999, Ireland was awarded honorary membership in the Graduate N Club at NSU by the university’s group of athletic lettermen for his service to Northwestern and its athletic program, and in 2003 he was given full membership. He was appointed by President Dr. Randall Webb to serve a two-year term on the inaugural University Planning Council in 1997-99.

In 2008, he was awarded the Northwest Louisiana’s National Football Foundation “Distinguished American” award and in 2012 he was honored by the Alexandria Town Talk by being named the “CENLA Sportsman of the Year” award for his work as an SID and toward the completion of the $23 million Hall of Fame Museum.

Louisiana Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne presented a special award to Ireland at the grand opening of the museum on June 28, 2013, for his “tireless work and dedication to the creation” of the museum. The Louisiana Association of Museums gave him its Lois Wyatt Bannon “Heart and Soul” Service Award in April 2014 for his work with the museum.

A member of the Blue Key National Honor Fraternity and a student government senator while completing a journalism degree from Northwestern, Ireland was editor of the student newspaper “Current Sauce” as a sophomore before going to work for the Shreveport Times. He was an alldistrict baseball player and the student body president at Jonesboro-Hodge High School, where he was a wingback for the Tigers’ 1977 Class AA state football finalists coached by the late Don Shows.

A 12-year veteran of The (Shreveport) Times newsroom, Jason Pugh is in his third full year as the assistant sports information director at Northwestern State after joining the department in October 2014.

During his tenure at The Times, Pugh was the Northwestern State football and men’s basketball beat writer from 2010-2013 and covered the 2012-13 NSU team that captured the program’s third NCAA Tournament berth.

Prior to covering area college athletics, Pugh was the primary high school sports writer at The Times, during which he covered several athletes whose careers led them to Northwestern State, including All-Southland Conference men’s basketball performers Jalan West and Zeek Woodley and All-Southland Conference third baseman Chase Daughdrill (baseball).

While at The Times, Pugh had the opportunity to cover all three World Series that have taken place in Texas, one College World Series, one NCAA Men’s Final Four and Super Bowl XLV. He has won first-place awards in Best Feature Story and Best Sports Story from the Louisiana Press Association and first place in Best Prep Feature from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

He also has captured numerous other awards for writing and design from the LSWA.

In 2016, Pugh coordinated publicity for Northwestern State’s first baseball All-American in 22 years as right-handed pitcher Adam Oller earned second-team (Collegiate Baseball) and thirdteam (American Baseball Coaches Association) honors.

While a student at Louisiana-Lafayette, Pugh was the sports editor of the campus newspaper, The Vermilion, for two years and was a part of the sports information office for three years. In 2000-01, Pugh was the primary media contact for the inaugural season of Lady Cajuns soccer and for the nationally ranked Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team, which made its lone College World Series appearance the previous year. He was the media relations contact for the 2001 Sun Belt Conference Baseball Tournament in Lafayette.

A 1997 graduate of Airline High School in Bossier City, Pugh was named the 2001 Louisiana-Lafayette Department of Communication Outstanding Graduate. He completed requirements for a master’s of science in sport management from the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management at the University of Massachusetts in May 2015.

MATT VINES

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION

Former sports journalist Matt Vines is in his second year as Northwestern State’s assistant director of communication.

Vines, a sports writer at The Jackson (Tennessee) Sun, The (Monroe) News-Star and The (Shreveport) Times, began his sports information career as a graduate assistant during the 201516 academic year before joining the university as its assistant director of communications.

Vines, a 2008 LSU mass communication graduate, serves as the primary media contact for the NSU soccer and softball teams and is the secondary contact for the men’s basketball team.

Vines is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, and graduated from C.E. Byrd High School. He earned his master’s degree in sport administration from Northwestern State in May 2016.

SPORTS INFORMATION GAMEDAY STAFF

Davey Antilley Statistician/ Video

David Antilley Statistician

Drew Bartlett Graduate Assistant

2017 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

Lloyd Courtney Graduate Assistant

Stacy Morgan Statistician

Charles Pellegrin Statistician

Ronnie Pellegrin SID Admin. Asst.

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