Rockets Promote Four Staffers, Fill Two Administrative Positions
8/15/2008 4:00:00 AM | Administration
TOLEDO, OH - University of Toledo Athletic Director Mike O'Brien recently announced the promotion of four members of the athletic staff, as well as the filling of two vacant positions in the department.
Gaining promotions were Kelly Andrews, who was promoted to the position of senior associate athletic director; Paul Helgren, promoted to associate athletic director for media relations; Brian Lutz, promoted to associate athletic director for compliance; and Dave Nottke, who moved up to associate athletic director for development and major projects.
In addition, Chris Barnhardt was named athletic and special events manager and Dan Stong was named development specialist for Athletics. These two positions were not new to the department, according to O'Brien, but rather were positions that had been left vacant since the departure of previous employees over the past several years.
"I'm very pleased that we are able to recognize these individuals who have demonstrated outstanding abilities in their respective areas. Our department is much stronger because of their efforts," said O'Brien. "I'm also gratified that we are able to fill a couple of positions that have been vacant for some time now with very capable individuals who have strong backgrounds as loyal Rockets."
? Kelly Andrews: Andrews has served the Athletic Department as associate athletic director/senior woman administrator since June of 2002. Her duties include serving as the department's senior woman administrator and reporting administrator for 13 designated sports programs, as well as overseeing many aspects of the department's internal operations, such as strength & conditioning and equipment services. Andrews served on the NCAA Women's Volleyball committee from 2003-06, chairing the committee in 05 and 06. She currently serves on the NCAA Division I Awards, Benefits, Expenses and Financial Aid Cabinet.
Prior to coming to Toledo, Andrews was the associate athletic director at East Tennessee State from 1998-2002. She also coached volleyball at ETSU from 1988-97, where she led her school to four Southern Conference championships and was Southern Conference Coach of the Year in 1991. Andrews' additional coaching stops included Erie Community College from 1980-86, and as an assistant coach at West Virginia University from 1986-88.
A native of Buffalo, Andrews competed in volleyball, basketball and lacrosse while earning her bachelor's degree in English from Colgate in 1980 and was inducted into the Colgate Athletic Hall of Honor in 2005. Andrews earned a master's degree in Sport Administration from WVU in 1988.
? Paul Helgren: Helgren has served the Athletic Department as assistant athletic director for media relations since April of 1998. His duties include overseeing the media relations efforts for UT's 16 varsity sports, producing the department's publications and maintaining the official Athletics website.
A 1985 graduate of the University of Michigan, Helgren began his career as an assistant media relations director at Eastern Michigan University. He also worked as the media relations director at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from 1990-98.
? Brian Lutz: Lutz joined the Athletic Department as assistant athletic director for compliance in August of 2003. He is responsible for monitoring UT's compliance with NCAA and Mid-American Conference rules, as well as working on student-athlete eligibility issues.
A 1988 graduate of Duquesne University, Lutz served three years as a compliance assistant at Kansas State before coming to UT.
? Dave Nottke: Nottke has served in the Athletic Development Office since 1997, first as a development officer and later as assistant athletic director for development.
A native of Bellevue, Ohio, Nottke has earned two degrees from the University of Toledo (Education, 1994 and MBA, 1997). He worked for five years as a student manager in the men's basketball program before entering the adminstrative ranks as a graduate assistant in marketing and development in 1994. He is responsible for the coordination of the Athletic Department's fundraising efforts, which include annual giving (Rocket Fund), Glass Bowl and Savage Hall suites, loge, club and premium seating sales, and major gifts/Building Champions Campaign.
? Chris Barnhardt: Barnhardt began working in athletic facilities as a student worker in 2001 and has been with the program ever since. For the past two years, he served as the operations/events graduate assistant. Barnhardt earned his bachelor's degree in education from UT in 2006 and was awarded his master's degree in education and supervision earlier this year.
? Dan Stong: Stong first joined the athletic department as an intern in 2005 and later became a graduate assistant in development. His responsibilities will focus on the sale of new premium season tickets and increasing annual giving through the Rocket Fund program.
Prior to working with the department, Stong played baseball for the Rockets from 2002-05 and was selected team captain during the 2005 season. Stong has earned his bachelor of business administration, master of arts and master of business administration degrees from UT.
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