2015 Northwestern State Cross Country Media Guide

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

Table of CONTENTS

2015 ROSTER

2

2015 Coaches/ PLAYERS STAFF 15 4

Sept. 19 at

LouisianaSCHEDULE Tech 2014 HOME 7 p.m.

Sept. 4 at Stephen F. Austin 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 12 at Sam Houston State 6 p.m.

Sept. 19 at Louisiana Tech 7 p.m.

Oct. 3 at McNeese State 1 p.m.

Oct. 30 vs.

Southland Conference TBA

2015 SCHEDULE

Table of Contents

1 MEET THE LADY DEMONS

2015 Roster

2 Jacqueline Rushford

12

2015 Season Preview

3 Emily Sitarz

12

MEET THE DEMONS

Erin Sitarz

13

Miles Brown

4 Erin Wrozek

13

Grant Butts

4 COACH

Tyler Corwin

5 Head Coach Nathanial McReynolds

Jeremy Elliott

5 NORTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY

Mitchell Landry

6 Dr. Jim Henderson

16

Lucas Moncla

6 Jerry Pierce

17

Skylor Reese

7 Greg Burke

18

Hunter Wamack

7 Athletic Administration

19

Joshua Wilkins

8 Sports Medicine

21

Lorence Ballow

8 Sports Information

22

Jacob Dahlhoff

9 Northwestern State

23

Dylan Dunford

9 City of Natchitoches

24

DATE

LOCATION

TIME

Sept. 4

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN DUAL MEET

Sept. 12

SAM HOUSTON STATE PRE-CONFERENCE

6 p.m.

Sept. 19

LOUISIANA TECH MOOK 5

7 p.m.

Oct. 3

COWBOY STAMPEDE

9:15 a.m.

Oct. 9

RAGIN’ CAJUNS INVITATIONAL

5:30 p.m.

Oct. 30

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

7:30 p.m.

15

Anthony Renteria

10 Academics 25

Chase Slater

10 Campus Life

Zachary Smith

11

1

Oct. 9 vs.

UL Lafayette 5:30 p.m.

26

TBA

SPORTS INFORMATION

Director Doug Ireland Graduate Assistant (Cross Country Contact) Matt Vines 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

2015 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

2015 ROSTER

DEMONS

NAME HT.

CLASS-EXP.

HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL

Lorence Ballow

5-7

FR-HS

Belle Chasse, LA/Belle Chasse HS

Miles Brown

5-8

JR-1L

Lake Charles, LA/La Grange HS

Grant Butts

6-1

SO-1L

Whitesboro, TX/Whitesboro HS

Tyler Corwin

5-5

SO-1L

Slidell, LA/Slidell HS

Jacob Dahlhoff

6-0

FR-HS

Hornbeck, LA/Hornbeck HS

Dylan Dunford

5-6

FR-HS

Broussard, LA/Comeaux HS

Jeremy Elliott

5-8

SR-3L

Shreveport, LA/Byrd HS

Mitch Landry

5-10

JR-2L

Doyline, LA/Haughton HS

Lucas Moncla

5-7

JR-2L

Haughton, LA/Parkway HS

Skylor Reese

5-7

JR-2L

Bossier City, LA/Parkway HS

Anthony Renteria

5-8

FR-HS

San Antonio, TX/San Antonio Christian HS

Chase Slater

6-1

FR-HS

Stonewall, LA/North DeSoto HS

Zachary Smith

5-7

FR-HS

Bossier City, LA/Haughton HS

Hunter Wamack

5-10

SO-1L

Grand Prairie, TX/Mansfield Lake Ridge HS

Joshua Wilkins

5-7

SO-1L

Bowie, MD/Bowie HS

JEREMY ELLIOTT

JOSHUA WILKINS

LADY DEMONS

NAME HT.

CLASS-EXP.

Jacqueline Rushford

5-0

SO-1L

DeRidder, LA/DeRidder HS

Emily Sitarz

5-4

SO-1L

Mount Albert, Ontario, Canada/Bill Crothers Secondary

Erin Sitarz

5-4

SO-1L

Mount Albert, Ontario, Canada/Bill Crothers Secondary

Erin Wrozek

5-4

SO-1L

Richardson, TX/Bishop Lynch HS

2015 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL

JACQUELINE RUSHFORD

2

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

2015 PREVIEW

Building a cross country program is a numbers game, and second-year head coach Nathanial McReynolds greatly increased Northwestern State’s totals as he attempts to make the Demons and Lady Demons competitive again in the Southland Conference.

McReynolds increased his number of male runners from eight to 15 this season, while attempting to increase the size of his female roster.

“This is the biggest team we’ve had in probably 20 years with 19 total runners,” McReynolds said. “We have six new freshman and four sophomores coming in on the men’s side to join three juniors and two seniors.

“We’re young on the women’s side with four sophomores. We want to be in the middle of the pack this year and then be a top competitor in future years.”

McReynolds isn’t satisfied with a 10th place men’s finish out of 13 Southland Conference teams at the league championships in 2014, but considering NSU finished last or near the bottom of the conference for the past six years, McReynolds acknowledges it’s a step in the right direction. The women placed 10th out of 12 teams.

“It’s a four-year program for distance, and you want to let your runners improve structurally and emotionally before they’re relied upon to compete at the top level,” McReynolds said. “Back in the (1970s), we had amazing runners like Frank Trammel that came here to run.

“One of our main priorities is to develop the want to come here for distance and establish regional dominance. All but one of our six freshmen are from Louisiana, and we want to keep our homegrown guys here. We have an open-door policy for distance running in that if you want to run, you can come and run, but you have to work when you get here.”

On the men’s side, the Demons return junior Mitch Landry after the Doyline native redshirted with a foot injury in 2014. Landry was a top runner in 2012 and 2013.

He’ll join sophomore Joshua Wilkins, who placed 22nd at the SLC championships as a freshman to lead the Demons. Other returning scorers from the conference meet include sophomores Grant Butts (66th) and Hunter Womack (67th) and juniors Lucas Moncla (71st) and Skylor Reese (72nd).

On the women’s side, the top four Lady Demon finishers in the conference meet are back.

Sophomore Jacqueline Rushford (48th) led the way as a freshman followed by Erin Wrozek (52nd), Erin Sitarz (59th) and Emily Sitarz (65th).

McReynolds, a runner for five years at Northwestern State as a student-athlete, wants to continue to build a foundation as NSU attempts to climb the conference ladder.

“When you have better numbers, there is more competition for those spots to go to the conference meets,” McReynolds said. “The first step is to get people who want to run, and the second step is to then develop them into a runner that can compete for a conference championship.

“Everyone wants to go to conference, and when you earn it, it means more than just stepping into that role.”

The cross country regular season starts Sept. 4 at Stephen F. Austin and concludes six meets later with the conference championships on Oct. 30 in Huntsville, Texas.

3

ERIN WROZEK

GRANT BUTTS

MITCH LANDRY

2015 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

2014 season: • Participated in seven meets, including the conference championships.

• Best finish was 17th in the McNeese Relays (8K).

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Fall Honor Roll High School: • Lettered one year in football and baseball.

• Football team was district champs during his senior year.

Personal: • Son of Lawanda Donald.

• Born July 27, 1994.

• Mother is an artist and teaches art.

• Majoring in business administration.

MILES BROWN

JR-1L • 5-8

Lake Charles, Louisiana La Grange HS

2014 Season: • Had three top-15 finishes in seven meets.

• 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 High School: • Was part of the district champs 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.

• Ran best time for 5000m his junior year with a time of 16:16.

• 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.

GRANT BUTTS

SO-1L • 6-2

Whitesboro, Texas Whitesboro HS

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.

2015 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

4

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

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.

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.

TYLER CORWIN

SO-1L • 5-6

Slidell, Louisiana Slidell HS

2014 Season: • One top-10 finish and two more top-20 finishes in seven meets as a junior.

• Placed ninth at the NSU pre-conference meet (29:18.90, 8K).

• Finished 13th (16:55.50, 5K) and 15th (28L43.81, 8K) at the La. Tech Mook 5 and McNeese Relays, respectively.

• Competed at the Southland Conference championships.

2013 Season: • One top-15 finish and two more top-30 finishes in five meets.

• Top place was 11th at the Demon Invitational (17:03.80, 3 miles).

• Also finished 22nd (30:27.20, 8K) at the Centenary Invitational and 23rd (17:10.43, 5K) at the La. Tech Mook 5.

2012 Season: • Competed in six of seven meets for the Demons.

• Finished seventh at the NSU Invitational, completing the 8000m course in 27:58.9.

• Placed ninth at the Demon Invite, finishing the 3-mile course in 15:55.5.

• Was the third runner for NSU at the SLC Championships, finishing the 8000m course in 27:20.2 and placing 57th.

JEREMY ELLIOTT

SR-3L • 5-8

Shreveport, Louisiana C.E. Byrd

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

• Set the schools record in the 3200m run with a time of 9:51.

• Finished 8th in the 3200m run at the Class 5A state track meet as a junior and sixth as a senior.

• Member of the 2012 Louisiana Academic All-State Cross Country team.

Personal: • Son of Rick and Kathy Elliot.

• Born on Dec. 16, 1993.

• Has one brother, Russell (18).

• Majoring in health and exercise science.

• Plans to attend graduate school and become an occupational therapist.

5

2015 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

2014 Season: • Redshirted because of injury.

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Fall Honor Roll 2013 Season: • Posted three top-10 finishes in five meets.

• Finished fifth at the Demon Invitational (16:18.50, 3 miles), seventh at the Louisiana Tech Mook 5 (15:58.93, 5K) and eighth at the Centenary Invitational (28:31.70. 8K).

• Clocked a 27:37.10 (8K) at the Southland Conference championships for a 50th-place finish as the top NSU runner.

2012 Season: • Was the No. 1 runner for NSU in all seven meets. Registered three top-five performances and six top-20 finishes.

• Placed second at the Demon Invite with a 3-mile time of 14:58.7. Grabbed fourth-place finishes at the ULM Warhawk Invitational (5 mile, 28:38.9) and the NSU Invitational (8000m, 26:27.6).

• Finished 32nd at the SLC Championships, running the 8000m course in 25:42.9.

MITCHELL LANDRY

JR-2L • 5-7

Doyline, Louisiana Haughton HS

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

• Was the 4A cross country state runner-up as a freshman, 4A state champion his sophomore and junior season.

• State runner-up in the 1600m and 3200m as a freshman.

• State champion as a sophomore in1600m (4:28.28) and 3200m (10.12.20).

• As a junior, placed third at state in the 1600m (4:31.95) and second in the 3200m (9:52.46). Placed fourth in the 1600m (4:22.32) and third in the 3200m (9:29.04) in his final season.

Personal: • Son of Steve and Ruth Landry, he was born Oct. 1, 1993.

• Has two brothers, Greg Frady (38) and Scott Fischer (30), and one sister, Shaneena Landry (30).

• Industrial engineering technologies major who wants to open a customs shop and start a family.

2014 Season: • Two top-15 finishes in six meets.

• Placed 15th in both the McNeese Relays (28:43.81, 8K) and the Louisiana Tech Mook 5 (17:20.20, 5K).

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Fall Honor Roll.

2013 Season: • Best finish with a 13th-place effort in the Demon Invitational (17:37.50, 3 miles).

High School: • Lettered in track and cross-country.

• Part of one state championship team and two district championship teams.

• Ran the 3 mile in 16:50 his senior season.

• Ran personal bests in the 5K in 17:51 and the 3200 in 10:41.

• Qualified for the indoor state championships in the 3200 in 2012 and 2013.

LUCAS MONCLA

SR-3L • 5-7

Haughton, Louisiana Parkway HS

Personal: • Son of Ken and Connie Bardett.

• Born on August 16, 1995.

• Has a brother, Landon (29), and sister, Meaghan (31).

• Majoring in health and exercise science.

• Plans to attend graduate school and become a wealthy physical therapist.

2015 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

6

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

2014 Season: • Three top-25 finishes in seven meets.

• Best efforts were a pair of 16th-place finishes at the McNeese Relays (29:35.57, 8K) and NSU pre-conference meet (31:57.70, 8K).

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Fall Honor Roll 2013 Season: • One top-20 finish in four meets.

• Placed 18th at the Demon Invitational (18:05, 3 miles).

High School: • Lettered in cross-country and baseball.

• Part of the state championship team his sophomore season.

• Qualified for indoor state his junior season.

• Ran his best times during his senior season.

SKYLOR REESE

JR-2L • 5-8

Bossier City, Louisiana Parkway HS

Personal: • Son of Amy and Neal Reese.

• Father member of the U.S. Air Force.

• Born on September 25, 1994.

• Has a brother, Caleb (14).

• Majoring in biology with plans to attend medical school.

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

• Top placing was a 13-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).

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 (17) and Bailey (15).

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

HUNTER WAMACK

SO-1L • 5-11

Grand Prairie, Texas Mansfield Lake Ridge HS

7

2015 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

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).

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.

JOSHUA WILKINS

SO-1L • 5-7

Personal: • Son of Marjorie and Ronald Wilkins.

• Has younger sister, Trinity (14).

• Majoring in music business.

• Plans a career to be rich and famous in the music industry.

Bowie, Maryland Bowie HS

High School: • Ran track for three years and cross country for two years under coaches Augie Bourgeouis and Case McMann.

• Garnered two All-Westbank cross country honors and two all-district honors in his two seasons.

• Placed 27th and 28th at the Class 4A Louisiana High School Athletic Association state cross country meet in his two seniors.

• Graduated with a 3.3 GPA Personal: • Son of William and Tiffany Ballow.

• Two brothers, Joshua (11) and Ian (8).

• Goes by Anson.

• English major who aspires to attend law school and open a firm.

LORENCE BALLOW

FR-HS • 5-7

Belle Chasse, Louisiana Belle Chasse HS

2015 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

8

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

High School: • Ran on a state runner-up cross country team in Class B at Hornbeck.

• Accomplished middle and long distance runner in high school under coaches Tracy Dahlhoff (mother) and Stacy Hughes.

• Won three individual state titles in Class B track (two 800 meters and a 1600 meters).

• Four other top-three finishes in Class B track (two second-place 800 meters and two third-place 300 meter hurdles).

• Played on a district champion basketball team • Class vice president that graduated with a 3.45 GPA. Personal: • Son of Brian and Tracy Dahloff • Two brothers Kanon (21) and Samuel (17) and one sister Hannah (11).

• Grandfather Clarence Beebe is mayor of Hornbeck.

• Aspires to be a track coach at Hornbeck.

JACOB DAHLHOFF

FR-HS • 6-0

Hornbeck, Louisiana Hornbeck HS

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

• Graduated with a 3.9 GPA. Personal: • Son of Bill and Shelly Dunford.

• One brother Derek (20).

• Biology major who wants to become a physical therapist.

DYLAN DUNFORD

FR-HS • 5-6

Broussard, Louisiana Comeaux HS

9

2015 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

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 current 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.

ANTHONY RENTERIA

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.

FR-HS • 5-8

San Antonio, Texas San Antonio Christian HS

High School: • First North DeSoto distance runner to make a college team.

• Fellowship of Christian Athletes Athlete of the Year in 2015. Was an FCA leader.

• Ran two cross country seasons and four track seasons at North DeSoto HS. • Part of two district and regional champion teams as a freshman and sophomore, including a Class 3A state runner-up squad.

• Won two district championships and one regional championship in the 800 meters. Appeared at the state meet as a senior.

• Graduated with a 3.3 GPA. Personal: • Son of Chris and Lisa Carney.

• One sister Mary (22).

• Working toward a secondary education degree to teach and coach.

CHASE SLATER

FR-HS • 6-0

Stonewall, Louisiana North DeSoto HS

2015 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

10

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

High School: • Part of three district track titles at Haughton.

• Posted a 4:47 mile and a 2:01 in the 800 meters.

• National Honor Society member who graduated with a 3.2 GPA. • Coached by Jason Brotherton.

• Member of the FCA. Personal: • Son of Jerry and Alicia Johnson.

• Three sisters, Kaitlyn (21), Sarah (13) and Addison (9); and one brother Andrew (23).

• Dad Jerry received a life-saver award as a firefighter. Mother Alicia is an EMS personnel.

• The pre-PT/Kinesiology major aspires to become a physical therapist.

ZACHARY SMITH

FR-HS • 5-7

Bossier City, Louisiana Haughton HS

11

2015 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

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.

JACQUELINE RUSHFORD

SO-1L • 5-1

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.

• Plans to attend physical therapy school and pursue a career in sports medicine.

DeRidder, Louisiana DeRidder HS

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.

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.

EMILY SITARZ

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.

SO-1L • 5-4

Mount Albert, Ontario, Canada Bill Crothers Secondary School

2015 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

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NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

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.

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.

ERIN SITARZ

SO-1L • 5-5

Mount Albert, Ontario, Canada Bill Crothers Secondary 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.

• Majoring in health and exercise science.

• Plans to attend physical therapy school.

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.

High School: • Attended Bishop Lynch High School.

• Lettered one year in cross country, four years in track and field, and one year in basketball.

• 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.

• Maintained a 3.8 GPA in high school.

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

ERIN WROZEK

SO-1L • 5-4

Personal: • Daughter of Nancy and Brian Wrozek.

• Erin has two sisters, Amy and Paige.

• Plans to become a dentist.

Richardson, Texas Bishop Lynch HS

13

2015 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

NORTHWESTERN STATE

CROSS COUNTRY

NATHANIAL MCREYNOLDS

Head Coach

Second Season • Second at NSU Northwestern State, 2012

Nathanial McReynolds knows more about Northwestern State cross country despite being one of the youngest NCAA Division I head coaches in any sport.

McReynolds, 26, is in his second cross country season as a head coach after running at NSU for five years and being a graduate assistant for another year-and-a-half.

The coach, who thought his future would be as a professional trumpet player after he obtained a bachelor’s and master’s in music education, accepted the head coaching position in January of 2015 after serving as an interim coach the previous fall. He also serves as the distance coach for the track and field program under head coach Mike Heimerman.

McReynolds is attempting to build depth on his men’s squad behind sophomore Joshua Wilkins, the Demons top runner in 2015. “Coach Nat” nearly doubled the men’s roster to 15 runners (from eight in 2014) as he is building other top runners to join Wilkins and create “the minute gap” between NSU’s scoring runners.

On the women’s side, NSU welcomes back five second-year runners who cut their teeth under McReynolds as freshmen. Erin Wrozek and Jacqueline Rushford are battling for the top spot there.

As a runner, McReynolds broke NSU’s program record in the indoor 3K, only to have Wilkins snatch it away in the spring of 2015.

McReynolds’ event specialty was the steeplechase, an event littered with obstacles and water pits. He left NSU as a top-three performer in the event in program history.

Though he might face similar obstacles in trying to rebuild NSU’s cross country/ distance program, he’s focusing on steady improvement along with adding more runners to the men’s and women’s teams.

In his first season, cross country runners improved their times 1-4 minutes while distance runners have bettered their marks by at least 20 seconds in their respective events.

“It’s a four-year program for distance, and you want to let your runners improve structurally and emotionally before they’re relied upon to compete at the top level,” McReynolds said. “Back in the (1970s), we had amazing runners like Frank Trammel that came here to run.

“One of our main priorities is to develop the want to come here for distance and establish regional dominance. All but one of our six freshmen are from Louisiana, and we want to keep our homegrown guys here. We have an open-door policy for distance running in that if you want to run, you can come and run, but you have to work when you get here.”

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Dr. Jim Henderson Northwestern State President

An Involved President

He opened his introductory press conference last September playfully asking why the student newspaper -- that he edited two decades ago -- played the story covering his selection as president-elect on Page 3.

When Dr. Jim Henderson took the reins at Northwestern State, the new Then Dr. Jim Henderson held up the Current Sauce, with a full front page photo and headline commemorating NSU president didn’t stand on precedent. Instead, he set a few of his own. the previous weekend’s landmark Demon football victory From his back-and-forths with student athletes and the student body over old rival Louisiana Tech, and deadpanned: “they got it as a whole on Twitter (@DrJBHenderson) to his appearance as the color anright.”

The proud alumnus has shown tremendous passion for layst during Northwestern State’s women’s basketball game against Stephen every aspect of Northwestern State University in his new role. He officially assumed the office Jan. 1 F. Austin Feb. 5, 2015, Henderson has infused the campuses that comprise upon the retirement of Dr. Randall J. Webb, now president emeritus after leading NSU since the sumNorthwestern State University with a new energy that has filtered throughout mer of 1996.

The son of a college football and northwest Louisiana.

U N I V E R S I T Y A D M I N I S T R AT I O N basketball competitor and state

While pushing a serious message of improving NSU, Henderson has President: championship-winning basketball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Jim Henderson coach, NSU’s new president is an found a way to mix in some levity as well. A week before making his radio Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs: avid sports fan. He places high value debut, Henderson became the first coach/president to be playfully ejected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Lisa Abney on the role of athletics in higher Vice President for External Affairs: education, and specifically, at North- from an NSU Greek basketball game. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry Pierce western. Henderson includes “athVice President for Student Experience: letic prominence” as one of the key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Maggio planks in the strategic vision for the Vice President for Business Affairs: university’s advancement to become . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carl Jones “the nation’s premiere regional instiVice President for University Affairs: tution of higher education.” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marcus Jones He’s already overseen a dramatic Vice President for Technology, Innovation and burst of enrollment and expanEconomic Development: sion in his previous campus leader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Darlene Williams ship role, over the past six years at Bossier Parish Community College.

His inclusive, transparent management style blends with a seemingly ever-present persona across the Natchitoches campus and anywhere Demons, or prospective Demons, may be.

Henderson spent his first semester as NSU’s leader this spring establishing new bonds within the region, aiming to grow Northwestern State into the leading university in the region.

He made reaching out to students and student-athletes a priority, gaining valuable feedback that helped Henderson guide NSU through the statewide threat of serious budget cuts that were finally averted last spring by the state legislature, with Henderson’s active lobbying contributing to the successful and remarkable preservation of current budget levels.

Dr. Jim Henderson (right) made his radio color analyst debut Feb. 5, 2015,

Prior to NSU, Henderson served as chancellor of Bossier Parish Community College since 2009. during the Stephen F. Austin-Northwestern State women’s basketball In that time, BPCC expanded enrollment by more than 84 percent and increased annual certificate and game in Prather Coliseum. degree completions by 90 percent. From 2011-13, BPCC was among the five fastest growing community colleges in the nation with enrollments of between 5,000 and 9,999.

Under Henderson’s leadership, the college created market responsive programs in nursing, oil and gas technology, construction management, industrial technology and engineering.

Henderson was senior vice president, workforce and economic development/career & technical education for the Louisiana Community & Technical College System from 2005 to 2009. He served as appointing authority and chief executive officer of the LCTCS comprised of eight regional technical colleges serving more than 26,000 students. Under his leadership, the statewide technical college system with 42 individually accredited campuses was transitioned into eight regionally accredited technical colleges.

During Henderson’s tenure, LCTCS enrollment grew by 98 percent and helped obtain more than $65 million in grants, appropriations and private funding to enhance workforce development. In partnership with Louisiana Economic Development, Henderson helped create Louisiana FastStart, the nation’s top-ranked state workforce training program.

From 2001 to 2005, he was director of administration and director of workforce development for the Louisiana Department of Labor.

After graduating from NSU with a journalism degree in 1994, Henderson was in the private sector for 10 years in hotel management. He worked for Mississippi Management, Inc., Kemmons Wilson Companies and Ryco Management, playing a leadership role as each company achieved record growth in profitability.

A native of Shreveport, Henderson met his wife Tonia at NSU and they married before both graduated. His mother, Martha, is a former administrator at NSU. His father, Clem, a revered high school coach and principal in Shreveport, passed away in March.

NSU’s new president earned a Master of Science in Administration from the University of West Florida and a Doctor of Management from the University of Maryland – University College.

The Henderson family (Left to Right): Nicholas, Reagan, Tonia,

The Hendersons have three children, Reagan, Nicholas and Alexander.

Jim and Alexander.

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Jerry Pierce

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

In his 50th 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 25th 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 is an avid tennis player who 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 oversees university operations in athletics, alumni and development, public and media relations and assists NSU Athletic Council President Dr. Jim Henderson in governmental affairs activities. Many of Jody Biscoe (Chair) those duties were his since the 1970s as he worked under five previous Hall Adams presidents as Northwestern advanced from NAIA to NCAA College Division LaCarsha Babers to NCAA Division I athletic status in 1977.

Brittany Blackwell A 1961 graduate of Northwestern, Pierce served as trainer/manager Cole Gentry for the Demon football team during his college years, working closely with Baylee Gray (Student) legendary coach Jack Clayton. After earning his journalism degree, Pierce Kelee Grimes went to work for the New Orleans Times Picayune, serving as a reporter Steve Gruesbeck and editor. He was named executive sports editor at the age of 24.

Lori LeBlanc In 1965, he chose to raise his two sons in Natchitoches and returned Dr. Jack Pace Dr. Charles Pellegrin to NSU as sports information director. He was promoted to news bureau Christie Price director two years later and assumed additional responsibilities in athletKelee Roddy ics, alumni affairs and other areas through the years.

Steve Story He founded, in 1972, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame facility in Sabri Thompson (Student) Prather Coliseum on the NSU campus, providing a home for an entity created in 1958. He established annual induction activities that remain in Ex-Officio Members place nearly four decades later, and served as director of the Hall for 19 Greg Burke years until his promotion to vice president in April 1990 forced him to step Carrie Greene aside from the volunteer post.

Dustin Eubanks Roxanne Freeman 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.

Dr. Randall Webb 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 more than two decades later.

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

In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Pierce is a 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 recently retired teacher, live on Cane River Lake in Natchitoches. He has two sons, Randy and Rick, both NSU graduates; and three grandchildren, twins Evan and Amanda, 24, and Miranda, 13, and two adult stepchildren, Nicholas and Natalie.

2015 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.

84 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 36 (1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014), women’s indoor track and field 9 (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004), women’s outdoor track and field 24 (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015), women’s tennis 1 (2010).

75 National Awards (7 sports) All-America awards - track and field (29), football (26), baseball (1). Academic All-America honors – softball (2), baseball (3), football (2), women’s track and field (1). U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Women’s Field Evens Scholar-Athlete 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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Greg Burke

Director of Athletics The Burke File AGE: 58 (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.

In his 20th year as director of athletics at Northwestern State, Greg Burke has received national acclaim for the job he’s done in his adopted hometown.

Burke has been athletics director at Northwestern since August 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.

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

Those achievements have garnered several awards for Burke, including the “Outstanding Contributions to Amateur Football Award” by the north Louisiana chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame and the Under Amour AD of the Year Award presented by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

He is a past recipient of the All-America Football Foundation’s General Robert R. Neyland Outstanding Athletic Director Award and also was tabbed as one of two Natchitoches Parish Cenla Newsmakers of 2005 by the Alexandria Town Talk newspaper’s editorial staff.

He also is a familiar face on the national level by virtue of serving on several NCAA and NACDA committees, including being president of the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association and a member of the NACDA Executive Committee. He currently is a member of the NCAA Committee on Academics and has served on the NCAA Championships/Sports Management Cabinet.

He previously served 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. Burke 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.

Burke’s 19 years as athletic director include 37 Southland Conference regular-season or tournament championships, 61 All-American and Academic All-American student athletes, and three U.S. Olympic competitors. Twenty NSU teams have taken part in NCAA or WNIT postseason competition.

The school’s athletic facilities have undergone more than $9 million in improvements in recent years, including a $2 million replacement project for all scoreboards funded completely through private sponsorships the past four years. The newly established Demons Unlimited Foundation has set annual giving records each of the past two years while embarking on an ambitious initiative to grow the athletic endowment to $5 million under the recently initiated “Perpetually Purple” program.

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.

Burke has displayed a remarkable ability to hire dynamic head coaches. Women’s basketball co-head coaches Brooke and Scott Stoehr have guided NSU to the NCAA Tournament twice in their three-year tenure, co-head coaches Hugh and Stephanie Hernesman led the volleyball program to its first Southland tournament title and NCAA berth, first-year women’s tennis coach led the Lady Demons to the 2015 conference regular-season title and a berth in the tournament championship game while baseball coach Lane Burroughs in his third year has revived that program with a 2015 second-place finish in the league standings. Anchors of the NSU department include current head coaches Mike McConathy, Louisiana’s all-time career basketball wins leader, and 2015 Southland Conference softball coach of the year Donald Pickett, whose team won the conference regular season title for the first time in 15 years and played in its third straight conference tournament championship game. Several other Burke hires had great success at Northwestern State that propelled them to national prominence in subsequent positions.

Burke has 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.

NSU received the Southland Conference’s inaugural “Southland Strong” Community Service Awards and an NSU student-athlete has been a recipient of the Southland Male or Female Citizenship seven times since the award’s inception eight years ago, including having both winners the past two years.

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!” Burke 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 president of the Natchitoches Area Jaycees. He is involved with the American Heart Association, was 2010 March of Dimes chairman locally, and currently is on the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors.

An Ohio native, he received the 2006 “Outstanding Alumni Award” from his alma mater, Marlington High School, recognizing his community service and professional achievements.

His wife, Susu, is a Natchitoches native, NSU graduate and an elementary teacher. Their 21-year-old daughter, Catherine, graduated from St. Mary’s High School in May of 2012 and plans to pursue a career in collegiate athletics when she graduates from Louisiana Tech in May 2016.

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Burke with his wife Susu and daughter Catherine

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FACULTY ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVE

Jody BISCOE

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 is serving as the chairperson for the Southland Conference Faculty Athlete Representatives and is a member of both the Compliance Committee and the Awards Committee.

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 Biscoe’s have lived in Natchitoches since 2002. Jody’s wife (Roni) is an avid runner and their daughter Roxy is in her final year of nursing school at NSU. This past year, they had an addition to the family – their grandson, Jaxson. He is already training to be a future Demon multi-sport athlete.

ASSISTANT AD/DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING

Haley BLOUNT

Haley Blount, a school record-setting competitor as a Northwestern State track and field student-athlete who has served as the associate director of alumni affairs at her alma mater for the past three years, enters her second year as NSU’s assistant athletic director for development and marketing.

Blount, 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 for NSU. Blount is actively engaged in community service organizations, serving as a board member and officer in three prominent local organizations.

She earned her master’s degree in sport administration from NSU in 2007 and is pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Louisiana Tech.

Blount 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 Student-Athlete 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.

Blount is a past president of the women’s service organization Les Amies of Natchitoches and has been a board member since 2009. She has coordinated Les Amies community service activities and assisted with fundraising.

She has served as vice president of the Kiwanis Club of Natchitoches and will become president of the organization in September. Blount also has been the fundraising coordinator and a board member for the Natchitoches Hope for Paws organization. She’s also been a team captain for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Natchitoches, has assisted with the Natchitoches Parish Special Olympics and is the Chair of the Natchitoches Young Professionals group.

As an undergraduate, Blount won the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority highest grade point average award in 2005 and 2006, 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.

ASSISTANT AD/NCAA COMPLIANCE DIRECTOR

Dustin EUBANKS

Dustin Eubanks is in his 19th year in the NSU athletic department and his 16th year at the helm of the compliance duties, keeping all athletic personnel current and in accordance with NCAA and Southland Conference guidelines.

A 1996 education graduate of Northwestern, the 42-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, Emilie and Taylor Nicole. The sisters share the same birthdate.

Dustin and Dawn, who is the Assistant Bursar at NSU, celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary this summer.

2015 NORTHWESTERN STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEDIA GUIDE

ATHLETICS BUSINESS MANAGER

Roxanne FREEMAN

Roxanne Freeman began working at NSU in 1983 as an accounting clerk in business affairs. She transferred to the athletic 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.

ASSISTANT AD FOR STUDENT-ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT/ SENIOR WOMAN ADMINISTRATOR

Carrie GREENE

Carrie Greene, a two-year Academic All-Southland Conference soccer standout for Northwestern State in 2005-06, serves as the Assistant Athletic Director for StudentAthlete Development in the Johnnie Emmons Athletic Study Center at NSU as well as the Senior Woman Administrator.

Greene, a native of Arlington, Texas, was a magna cum laude graduate of NSU in August 2007 in business administration. She was a key contributor on the Lady Demons’ 2005 NCAA Tournament team that won the Southland Conference Tournament. Greene served as an intern in NSU’s Academic Services and CHAMPS/Life Skills program beginning in January 2009, while also completing her second season as a graduate assistant soccer coach and finishing work on her masters degree.

Greene is the academic coordinator for the sports of junior/senior football, men’s basketball, baseball, and tennis. She is also the Director of the Victorious for Life program, NSU’s resident CHAMPS/Life Skills program which focuses on community service, personal development, and career development – allowing student-athletes to prepare for life after college athletics. Under her tenure, NSU Athletics has remained penalty-free with the NCAA Academic Progress Rate. Additionally, the student-athletes have set multiple records for honor roll and department grade point averages. Most notably, in the spring 2015 semester, NSU student-athletes posted a cumulative GPA of 2.97.

Greene served an internship in the summer of 2008 with the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, helping stage events supporting a Nationwide Tour golf tournament co-sponsored by the Hall. She also assisted in daily operations of the museum in Springfield and helped stage the Missouri High School Basketball All-Star Game.

Greene was a member of Alpha Lambda Delta honors society from 2005-2007, graduating in three years with a 3.74 grade point average. She made the SLC Commissioners’ Academic Honor Roll in the last three seasons she competed for NSU, capped by a 2006 season in which her defense helped the Lady Demons set a school record for least goals allowed per game. Greene graduated with her Masters of Science in Sport Administration with a 4.0 GPA in May 2009 and her Masters of Business Administration from University of Louisiana-Monroe in May 2014.

The former Carrie Crowell married David Greene, also a member of the NSU Athletics Department, in June 2014.

DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC FACILITIES AND GAME OPERATIONS

David GREENE David Greene is in his second year as the Director of Athletic Facilities and Game Operations for Northwestern State.

His primary responsibilities involve the upkeep, maintenance, and renovations of NSU’s athletic facilities, along with acting as the liaison for event and game operations.

The NSU alumnus was a biology teacher at Natchitoches Central High School, where he coached football and soccer, before taking over as the director of facilities at Northwestern State.

Prior to his year at NCHS, he spent three years at Lakeview High School where he was named the Natchitoches Parish and Lakeview High School Teacher of the Year. He also coached football, baseball and softball at LHS, where he founded the Lakeview Beautification Program.

Greene earned his bachelor’s degree in biology (2008) and master’s degree (2012) in teaching, both from Northwestern State. He and Carrie Greene, NSU’s senior woman administrator, were married in June of 2014.

Mike JACKLICH

DIRECTOR OF TICKETING

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.

Jacklich came to Natchitoches from suburban Chicago, where he was the director of ticketing for the Schaumberg 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

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NORTHWESTERN STATE at Boomers Stadium and filling in as “Coop,” the Boomers’ mascot.

Prior to his role in professional baseball, Jacklich worked for five years at Playboy Enterprises in Chicago, where he assisted customers with inquiries and complaints related to the group’s 10 members-only web sites.

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.

ASSOCIATE ATHLETICS DIRECTOR FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Adam JONSON

Entering his third year as Associate Athletic Director for External Relations and Executive Director of the Demons Unlimited Foundation, Adam Jonson has been a member of the NSU Athletics in three different stints, totaling nearly a decade.

Before returning to NSU in his current role, Jonson served as the Assistant Athletics Director for Tickets & Operations at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He previously spent more than two years as Assistant Marketing Director for Ticket Operations at NSU and one year as the Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations at the University of North Florida.

Under Jonson’s watch, the Demons Unlimited Foundation has quickly gained brand recognition after its inception in July of 2013 as NSU Athletics’ 501c3 organization supporting all 14 sports. Record-breaking revenues have been attained in ticket sales, annual gifts, special events, licensing, tailgating, corporate partnerships and fundraisers in Jonson’s first two years back at NSU. At ULM, Jonson provided oversight for the athletic communications and ticketing offices while assisting in marketing and fundraising activities. He helped establish new attendance records for several sports, including a season-long baseball tally that ranked in the top 40 nationally in 2012 and a single-game crowd of more than 31,000 for a nationally televised football game against Baylor. In addition to revamping office organization and operational structures, ticket revenue soared by more than 44 percent under Jonson’s watch and restructuring new giving level requirements for premium areas resulted in more than $100,000 of new revenue.

Beginning as a student worker in the NSU sports information office, Jonson completed his masters of science in sport administration at NSU with a 4.0 GPA after earning his bachelors of science in business administration as a summa cum laude graduate of NSU in 2007. He was the winner of the prestigious Ace Higgins Award, given by the Louisiana Sports Writer’s Association to the state’s top student SID in 2007.

Jonson has also been very involved around campus and in the community. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Natchitoches Jaycees and is an active member of the Rotary Club. A member of Westside Baptist Church, Jonson served as the praise band drummer at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry as an undergraduate at NSU. He and the former Elizabeth Holbert were married in January 2014, and the two welcomed their first child -- a baby girl named Holly Elizabeth -- in May 2015.

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS

Josh M DANIEL C

Entering his second full year with Northwestern State Athletics, Director of Marketing and Promotions Josh McDaniel brings a plethora of experiences and skills to the position and department.

He joined the Northwestern State Athletic Department on Jan. 1, 2014, in his current capacity after nearly six years working in the Louisiana Tech Athletics Department with extensive involvement with promotional activities and marketing initiatives.

McDaniel, a native of Beauregard Parish, has a wide range of experience including event management, branding, ticketing, sales, in-game promotions, social media, graphic design, and video production.

In his time at NSU, he has spearheaded growth of the department’s Twitter followers by more than 50% and has grown the department’s Facebook page audience to more than 12,400 followers. McDaniel has also reestablished the Demons’ Instagram account that has grown to nearly 1,200 followers, and he launched the department’s SnapChat account.

McDaniel currently develops branding strategies for the department and designs all print materials for posters, billboards, fliers, and signage, along with creating videos and graphics for digital media usage. He is responsible for the development and implementation of the #demoNSUnite hashtag and subsequent marketing campaign.

McDaniel is the point man for football, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball marketing and promotions, and he oversees and assists in those activities for Olympic sports. He is the game producer for football and men’s and women’s basketball games, handling the video board script development and implementation.

McDaniel handles public address announcing in baseball, and he currently holds the record for ejections by a PA announcer at Brown-Stroud Field. He also dabbles in working security for the Spirit of Northwestern halftime shows at Turpin Stadium.

An alumnus of the Theta Phi chapter of Pi Kappa Phi, McDaniel earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Louisiana Tech University in February 2005. He is a proud graduate of East Beauregard High School in Dry Creek and carries the Trojan spirit with him throughout every day of life’s journey. While at EBHS, he was a four-year varsity letterwinner in football while playing for N Club Hall of Fame Member Mike Maggio.

He also lettered four years in basketball and three years in baseball for the Trojans.

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He and his wife, the former Amanda King of Downsville, welcomed their first child, Davis William McDaniel, to the world on February 23, 2015. They currently reside on Cane River Lake in the Natchitoches Historic District with their dog, an Irish Morkie named Rudy.

ASSISTANT ACADEMIC COORDINATOR

Betsy NOHAVITZA

Betsy Nohavitza enters her first full academic year as part of the Northwestern State athletics academic services staff.

Nohavitza arrived in Natchitoches in February 2015 after earning her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Texas A&M. She manages NCAA academic eligibility requirements for four Northwestern State athletic programs, provides assistance to student-athletes and tutors in NSU’s Johnnie Emmons Athletic Study Center and facilitates meetings and activities with NSU’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

While at Texas A&M, Nohavitza was a graduate assistant instructor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology while pursuing her master’s in sport management.

As an undergraduate, Nohavitza interned in the Aggies athletic department in the life skills department.

There she assisted student-athletes with creating resumes and cover letters, planned informational business meetings for student-athletes and organized and hosted three student-athlete banquets in the Spring 2013 semester.

Nohavitza was named Texas A&M College of Education and Human Development Distinguished Student in Spring 2012 and was named to the Dean’s Honor Roll in Fall 2012.

While an undergraduate, she volunteered with Texas A&M’s Big Event, aiding elderly community members with yard work and house cleaning. She spent two years assisting the Lamar Consolidated High School All-Sports Booster Club with their events.

ACADEMIC COORDINATOR/ DIRECTOR OF ENHANCED ACADEMIC PROGRAM

Kelee RODDY

A three-time Academic All-Southland Conference performer, Kelee Roddy is in her fourth year with the Northwestern State athletic department and serves as an Academic Coordinator and the Director of the Enhanced Academic Program.

Roddy is a magna cum laude graduate of NSU with a 3.82 grade point average in business administration in May 2012. She served as a student worker in the athletic department during her junior year where she found her passion for wanting to pursue a career in academics and student-athlete development, and quickly moved to the Johnnie Emmons Academic Study Center during her senior year. Shortly after graduation, she took on a full-time roll as Assistant Academic Coordinator and Director of the Enhanced Academic Program while pursuing her master’s degree. Roddy graduated with a master’s in sport administration from NSU in August 2014.

Roddy currently oversees the sports of freshman and sophomore football, men’s and women’s track and field, and men’s and women’s cross country. As the Director of the Enhanced Academic Program, Roddy assists continuing student-athletes who are at-risk of becoming ineligible or new student-athletes who need additional support in their transition into college.

During her time at NSU, Roddy was selected as one of 26 recipients of a 2012 Ethnic Minority and Women’s Enhancement Scholarship awarded by the NCAA to be applied to her postgraduate studies. She ranks third alltime in school history with 471 career strikeouts, leading the Lady Demons in that category in each of her last three seasons, averaging 1.4 per inning in her senior season. Roddy was a second-team All-Louisiana selection as a junior when she went 11-8 with a 1.40 earned run average that ranked 18th nationally.

Roddy owns two of the 16 no-hitters in school history, blanking Alcorn State as a junior and Alabama State in her senior season. As a sophomore, she made the Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-District VI team and was Academic All-Southland Conference for the first time.

Roddy is a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Beta Gamma Sigma academic honor sorority, and was president of NSU’s Blue Key Honor Society while earning recognition in Who’s Who Among American Universities and Colleges.

The former Kelee Grimes, a native of Pineville, La, married Mike Roddy in April 2013.

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NORTHWESTERN STATE HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER

Jason DRURY

Idaho State, 1999 • Northwestern State, 2001 11th season at NSU Now in his eleventh season at Northwestern State, Jason Drury was promoted to Head Athletic Trainer 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, Ind. He and his wife, Toni, have been married for twelve years. They have two children, Maddox and Kenzie.

Anita MILLER

ASSISTANT ATHLETIC TRAINER

Kansas, 2012 • Delta State, 2014 2nd season at NSU Anita Miller enters her second year at Northwestern State’s assistant athletic trainer.

In her first year at NSU, Miller was the head athletic trainer for the Southland Conference Tournament champion Northwestern State women’s basketball team. Miller owns a master’s degree at Delta State University. At DSU she worked with the football, men’s and women’s basketball programs and the men’s soccer program.

She worked with the women’s basketball team for two seasons and created numerous rehabilitation plans, including several post-op ACL reconstructions. She covered practices and home games for the football, men’s basketball and soccer teams for one season.

A 2012 graduate of the University of Kansas, she graduated with a bachelor’s of science in athletic training while covering the football, spirit squad, women’s tennis and women’s swimming and diving teams. She also earned Kansas Athletic Trainers’ secondteam all-academic honors, and was awarded the Mount Oread Scholar and School of Education Recognition Scholarship.

Miller is CPR/AED certified, and certified as an instructor. She is also a National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board certified trainer.

She is a native of Hutchinson, Kan., and is a graduate of Haven High School

Dr. Steven KAUTZ

HEAD TEAM PHYSICIAN

Dr. Steven Kautz begins his first season as the head team physician for Northwestern State athletics.

Kautz is board certified in orthopedic medicine and serves as medical director for Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Sports Medicine and PRISM Sports Medicine and outpatient comprehensive therapy services.

He received his Bachelor of Science at the University of California-Irvine and attended the University of Southern California School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency at LAC and USC Medical Center Department of Orthopedic Surgery.

Kautz has been in private practice since 2000 and has worked with athletes on the professional, collegiate and high school level. He is affiliated with Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, Sabine Medical Center, DeSoto Regional Medical Center and University Hospital (LSU) in Shreveport.

Addtionally, Kautz serves as an adjunct professor at LSU School of Medicine and is a member of the medical team for NRMC Comprehensive Wound Care Center.

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CROSS COUNTRY He is the team doctor for Many High School Sports and enjoys coaching local youth basketball and soccer teams.

Kautz’s wife, Kathleen, is an internal medicine physician with the Natchitoches Medica Specialists Group. The couple has three children - Carissa, Andrew and Peter.

Dr. Marc STOKES

TEAM DOCTOR

Dr. Marc Stokes enters his first year as a Northwestern State team doctor.

Stokes is board certified in emergency medicine and serves as both medical director for Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Emergency Department and director of Natchitoches Parish Emergency Medical Services.

He received his medical degree from LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport where he later served as Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine and holds a B.S. in Biology from Northeast Louisiana University. He completed his emergency medicine residency program at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Baton Rouge. He has extensive training in trauma and head injuries.

In addition to his many honors and awards in emergency medicine, Stokes is a member of the medical team for the NRMC Comprehensive Wound Care Center.

He is very involved with youth sports in Natchitoches and serves as the team physician for Natchitoches Central and St. Mary’s High Schools. Stokes also has found time to participate in medical mission trips to Kenya.

Stokes’ wife, Mindy, is a former Northwestern State assistant women’s basketball coach. The couple has four children - Caroline, Connor, Catherine and Bailey.

Dr. James KNECHT

TEAM PHYSICIAN

Dr. James Knecht has been a Northwestern State team physician since 1984. He finished his pre-med curriculum from LSU in 1975.

While at LSU, he was an Academic All-SEC and Academic All-American football player in 1974.

He has been in private practice family medicine in Natchitoches since 1982. In addition to being Northwestern’s team physician, he has also been Natchitoches Central’s team physician since 1992.

Dr. Knecht is actively involved in many professional organizations, including the Natchitoches Parish Medical Society, Active Staff Physicians at Natchitoches Parish Hospital, and the Louisiana State Medical Society. He is also a Diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice and Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice.

His father, Gene, was an assistant football coach at Northwestern State and has been active in the Graduate N Club for three decades.

Knecht’s wife, Liz, is a CPA and an internal auditor at NSU. The couple has three chilrden - Ashley, Amanda and Landon - and two grandchildren, Ryder and Ian.

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NORTHWESTERN STATE DOUG IRELAND

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.

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 numerous awards as SID from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

Several of his assistant SIDs and graduate assistants have advanced to prominence in media fields.

Former NSU sports information staffers under Ireland include Bruce Ludlow, assistant commissioner of the Southland Conference for media relations; Bill Magrath, media relations manager for the Sports Business Daily; Mike Morrison, 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, SID at Kansas State; Matthew Bonnette, SID at McNeese State and Troy Mitchell, SID at Henderson State.

Dustin Eubanks, NSU’s 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, NSU’s associate athletic director for external relations, 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, 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 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 the 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.

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 all-district 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.

THEY COVER THE DEMONS: PRIMARY MEDIA OUTLETS Daily Newspapers - LaMar Gafford, Bob Tompkins, Randy Benson, Sports, Alexandria Daily Town Talk, P.O. Box, 7558, Alexandria, LA 71306 (318-487-6351, fax 487-6315) - Luke Thompson, Roy Lang III, Jimmy Watson, Scott Ferrell, Sports, The Times, 222 Lake Street, Shreveport, La. 71101 (318-459-3296, 800-462-6436, fax 459-3301) - Joe Schiefelbein, Sports, Baton Rouge Morning Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821 (225-383-1111, fax 388-0371) - Russell Hedges, Sports, Bossier Press Tribune, P.O. Box 6267, Bossier City, LA 71171 (318-352-3618, fax 747-5298) - Daniel Green, Leesville, Daily Leader, P.O. Box 619, Leesville, LA 71446 (318-239-3444, fax 318-238-1552)

Non-Daily Newspapers - NSU Current Sauce, Kyser Hall, Natchitoches, LA 71497 (318-357-5456, fax 357-6564) - Sports, New Orleans Times Picayune, 3800 Howard Ave., New Orleans, LA 70140 (504-826-3405, fax 826-3401) - Chris Salim, Natchitoches Times, 904 Hwy. 1 South, Natchitoches, LA 71457 (318-352-3618, fax 352-7842)

Television Stations - Clay Yager and Kelsey Wingert KALB-TV, 605 Washington St., Alexandria, LA 71306 (318-445-6397 exts. 516, 523; fax 442-7427) - Shayne Wright, Rashad Johnson, Matt Harris, KSLA-TV, 1812 Fairfield Ave., Shreveport, LA 71104 (318-677-6709, fax 677-6705) - Tim Owens, Kamady Rudd, KTAL-TV, 3150 N. Market St., Shreveport, LA 71107 (318-629-7134, 7133, fax 318-629-7171) - Tatum Everett, Alex Anderson, KTBS-TV, 312 E. Kings Hwy., Shreveport LA 71104 (318-861-5838, fax 318-862-9431) - David Antilley II, NSU-TV, 104A Kyser Hall, P.O. Box 5273, Natchitoches, LA 71497 (318-357-4417) Campus Radio Station - KNWD, 109 Kyser Hall, P.O. Box 5273, Natchitoches, LA 71497 (318-357-5693) Wire Service - Bret Martel, Associated Press, 1001 Howard Ave. Suite 200A, New Orleans, LA 70113 (800-662-7717, 504-523-3931, fax 586-0531)

Conference/NCAA Offices - Calhoun Hipp Southland Conference, 2600 Network Blvd., Suite 150, Frisco, TX 75034 (972-422-9500, fax 422-9225) - Jim Wright, NCAA Statistics, P.O. Box 6222, Indianapolis, IN 46206 (317-917-6222, fax 917-6888)

National Outlets - USA Today, 7950 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, VA 22107 (703-276-3400) - Sports Illustrated, Time/Life Building, New York, NY 10020 (212-522-5782, 212-977-4540/4541) - Sporting News, Box 56, St. Louis, MO 63166 (800-433-1886, 314-993-7111) - CBS Sports, 51 W52nd St., 30th Floor, New York, NY 10019 (212-975-5162/3559) - ABC Sports, 1330 Ave. of the Americas, New York, NY 10019 (212-456-7777) - ESPN, ESPN Plaza, Bristol, CT 06010 (203-585-2154/2125, 800-843-6416) - CNN, One CNN Plaza, 100 International Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30348 (404-822-1588) - SportsTicker, Harborside Financial Center, 600 Plaza Two, New Jersey City, NJ 07311 (800-367-8935)

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JASON PUGH

Assistant Sports Information Director

A 12-year veteran of The (Shreveport) Times newsroom, Jason Pugh is in his first 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 AllSouthland Conference men’s basketball performers Jalan West and Zeek Woodley and former 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.

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.

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.

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SPORTS INFORMATION STAFF

Matt Vines

SID Grad Asst.

Ronnette Pellegrin Admin. Asst.

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