Athletics At Eastern Kentucky University

Organized under a single administrat ive unit, the College of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics includes three academic departments , the division of athletics, and the division of intramural programs The three academic departments; health education, physical education, and recreation and park administration, offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs with15 different options. The division of athletics sponsors eight intercollegiate sports for men and eight intercollegiate sports for women. In addition to the balanced intercollegiate athletics program, the division of intramural programs sponsors competitive team and individual sports, recreational free play, sport clubs, camping trips, equipment rental, and otherco-ed activities for students, faculty, and staff

These programs are an integral part of the total program and development of Eastern students They offer experiences which contribute imm easurably to the health, vitality and preparation of young people as citizens and for their leadership contributions to the youth in the nation's schools and elsewhere

Possessing academic backgrounds that represent more than a score of the finest colleges and universities in the nation, the coaches of athletics are members of the full-time faculty that provide the academic and intramura l, as well as, varsity athletic programs housed within the College.

The Dean of the College is Dr. Robert J . Baugh. The three academic departments are chaired by : Dr Donald Calitri, Health Education; Dr. Lonnie Davis, Physical Education; Dr. Larry Belknap, Recreation and Park Administration. John

Jewell serves as director of the Division of Intramural Programs .

The College's intercollegiate athletics program is administered by Dr Robert Baugh, who also serves as athletics director. Mr. Mike Blaser is assistant athletics director for external affairs.

EKU, a memberofthe NCAA and Ohio Valley Conference, fields athletic teams in football, baseball, men's and women's basketball, tennis, cross country, track and field (indoor and outdoor), golf, women's softball and volleyball.

In addition to a diversified faculty, extensive indoor and outdoor resources are required to support the wide scope operation of Eastern's College of H PER&A, and most facilities serve multipurpose functions for instruction and athletics The College's programs are housed in five major campus structures : The Robert B. Begley Building, Alumni Coliseum, Weaver Health Building, the Presnell Building, and the Greg Adams Building

Numerous tennis courts, recreation areas, Gertrude Hood Field, Turkey Hughes Baseball Field and the Tom C. Samuels nine-lane track and tartan infield are among the other facilities of the College.

The F.M. Burke Wellness Center, located in the Weaver Health Building, provides a practical educational opportunity for students as well as individualized physical activity, lifestyle assessment, and physical assessment that can assist faculty and staff in the development of healthy lifestyles.

Dr. Robert Baugh

Athletics Director and Dean, College of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics

Dr . Robert Baugh serves as Director of Athletics, as well as dean of Eastern's College of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics, one of the University's nine academic colleges.

Baugh, former professor and chair of the EKU Department of Health Education, assumed the duties of acting dean in January of 1987 He also served a six month stint as Acting Director of Athletics during the 1990-91 school year prior to the appointment of Roy Kidd as athletic director. He has been at Eastern since 1970.

Prior to arriving at EKU, Baugh taught four years at Austin Peay State University following a stint of high school teaching in University City , Missouri.

Baugh holds the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees from Indiana University.

Baugh and his wife, Carol, reside in Richmond. She is a professor in EKU's College of Allied Health and Nursing.

He also serves as member of the NCAA Council, the NCAA Eligibility Committee and the NCAA Initial Eligibility Committee.

Mike Blaser Assistant Director of Athletics for External Affairs

Mike Blaser is beginning his second year at Eastern, serving the University as Assistant Director of Athletics for External Affairs.

Blaser, 35, who received both his bachelors ('84) and his masters ('86) degrees from EKU, worked two and one-half years in the marketing and promotions department at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, having served in 1994-95 as the Director of Athletic Promotions

Prior to his stint at UNLV, he was an assistant director of athletic marketing and promotions at the University of Louisville for two years after serving at UL the previous year as an athletic marketing assistant in sales.

His other athletic-related experience comes from stints with the Savannah Cardinal Class A baseball club as General Manager ( 1986-87) and with the Jacksonville Expos Class AA baseball team as Assistant General Manager (1987-89) .

Blaser and his wife, Risa, have three children: Natalie (5), Mitchell (4) and Chase (2).