He was the director of athletics for Troy, a . We prefer Author Name, Mississippi Today in the byline. Both Louisiana-Lafayette and Coastal finished in the top 15 of the Associated Presss final 2020 Top 25 poll. After working for the NCAA in 1976 and 2023 The University of Southern Mississippi. Southern Miss is benefiting massively on the . If youre not able to add the byline, please include a line at the top of the story that reads: This story was originally published by Mississippi Today and include our website, You cannot republish our editorial cartoons, photographs, illustrations or graphics without specific permission (contact our managing editor. gtx_ads_conf.ads["ad-manager-252582"]= {"custom_css":[],"out_of_page_ad":false,"ad_details":[{"min_width":"","max_width":"767","dfp_ad_sizes":[{"dfp_ad_width":"320","dfp_ad_height":"50"},{"dfp_ad_width":"300","dfp_ad_height":"50"},{"dfp_ad_width":"320","dfp_ad_height":"100"},{"dfp_ad_width":"300","dfp_ad_height":"250"},{"dfp_ad_width":"300","dfp_ad_height":"100"}]}],"lazyload":"global","ad_id":"252582","ad_container":"div-ad-manager-252582","ad_placement":"banner-mobile","ad_name":"ad-manager-252582","position":"","article_position":""}; Have you ever watched a game after a trade or free agent signing and just said to yourself man, that guy looks weird in that jersey.. Early in his career, in the late 1970s, Waters worked in athletics at USM when Bobby Collins and M.K. Arrangements are still being made. When Memphis, Houston, Tulane and others left, CUSA went after other large-market schools in belief they would give the league more TV appeal. Advertisement. * Where We Are Going 7 jersey to Golden Eagle football coach Will Hall at his introductory press conference Dec. 7 at Reed Green Coliseum. In Dallas, fans still tune in to watch Texas and Texas A&M. While at Ole Miss, Mitchell served as a graduate assistant in the external relations unit and worked with the Ole Miss football and mens basketball programs. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Golden Eagle Basketball Hotline Continues Monday, Feb. 6 at Walk-On's, Southern Miss Athletics Honors Kinlock Bell, Golden Eagle Basketball Hotline Continues Monday, Jan. 23 at Walk-On's, Golden Eagle Basketball Hotline Returns Monday at Walk-On's, Golden Eagle Basketball Hotline Continues on Monday, Dec. 19, Video Platform powered by CBS Sports Digital. "Our focus and expectation continues to center around improving our basketball program with Coach Ladner as our head coach," McLain said. "Southern Miss is getting an athletics director who is both a quality person and an outstanding leader," Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey said. (WHLT) - The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain extended his stay with a four-year contract. 39401 Strong support professional with a Master's degree focused in Athletic Administration from Mississippi College. Prior to taking the job at Troy, McClain served as USMs deputy director of athletics for three years and was the AD at Delta State for the five years previous to that. Good driving record, valid driver's license, and a . HATTIESBURG, Miss. That might sound like chump change to Southeastern Conference fans, but it is a huge deal to athletic programs that dont collect millions upon millions of dollars from their leagues TV and bowl revenue. "Four years ago I turned 65 - the same year I hired Larry Fedora and the same year we completed the new south end-zone complex in . Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. A win of the championship would give []. Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field. Listen to Wright Waters, who has a history with both Southern Miss and with the Sun Belt. McClain, the athletic director, must find new revenue streams to even hope to provide a better financial package for the next head coach. Talk to WXXVs anchors, reporters and meteorologists. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. He knows both entities well enough to know they are fit. He . A successful high school football coach at Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis, Tennessee, Freeze coached Michael Oher and Greg Hardy.He subsequently was the head football coach at Lambuth University from 2008 to 2009, Arkansas State University in 2011, the University of . During Mitchells Southern Miss tenure, the Golden Eagles have claimed five conference championships and have appeared in six post-season tournaments. Mobile App | Weather App | WXXV25 Email Sign Up. During the 2010-2011 academic year, Mitchell guided the University through a successful NCAA re-certification process. Mitchell joined Southern Miss after a twelve-year stint at Santa Clara University where he most recently served as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Operations. MCEC founder Nancy New, a Southern Miss alum and former athletic foundation board member, has since pleaded guilty to fraud. Golden Eagle Basketball Hotline Continues Monday, Feb. 6 at Walk-On's, Southern Miss Athletics Honors Kinlock Bell, Golden Eagle Basketball Hotline Continues Monday, Jan. 23 at Walk-On's, Golden Eagle Basketball Hotline Returns Monday at Walk-On's, Golden Eagle Basketball Hotline Continues on Monday, Dec. 19, Video Platform powered by CBS Sports Digital. 266-5017. Four Sun Belt softball teams earned NCAA Tournament berths last season. See what is being said about Jon Gilbert being named Director of Athletics for the University of Southern Mississippi. With the administrative support, the larger crowds, a new conference, and an overall embrace from . The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. the South End Zone and East Club suites, an artificial turf and new lighting at Carlisle-Faulkner Mitchell is a respected veteran administrator who . He knows what life is like in both leagues. Most importantly, I'm glad to call him a friend. "Jon is relentless in his approach, positive in his dealings with people, but also direct in making sure the job gets done. The Sun Belt, in my opinion, gives them a better chance to have both.. get back to winning C-USA Championships. I look forward to being an advisor to Southern Miss in the years to come and this Fentanyl Awareness Presentation set for March 8 on Hattiesburg Campus, USM Students Named in Prestigious Graphic Design Magazine's Students to Watch List, Women's History Month Events at USM Begin March 2. Editorial cartoons and photo essays are not included under the Creative Commons license and therefore do not have the "Republish This Story" button option. | Learn more about Sean Merchant's work experience, education, connections & more by . For questions, please contact Dr. Leslie Oglesby, LAT, ATC at 601-266-5495 or at Leslie.Oglesby@usm.edu. He knows Southern Miss having served as deputy athletic director for three years before becoming the athletic director at Troy in . Thu, "Southern Miss perfectly matched those parameters, and my colleagues look forward to welcoming President Bennett and his colleagues to the Sun Belt Conference." The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910 and located in Hattiesburg, Miss., is a Tier-1 Research University that supports a student population of over 14,000. He earned a master's degree in Sport Administration at Eastern Kentucky University. said Giannini. team winning more games than any other team in history, and topping that with a conference * Competitive Excellence The Sun Belt is intensely competitive in the spring sports of baseball and softball. Again, a game against, say, Louisiana-Lafayette or South Alabama is far more interesting for Southern Miss fans than, say, a game against UTEP or FIU. He was 84 years old. This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Southern Miss extends athletics director Jeremy McClain, Why Southern Miss baseball will and won't make a deep NCAA Tournament run in 2023. "Joe CastiglioneUniversity of OklahomaVice President and Director of Athletics"I want to congratulate Southern Miss on the hire of Jon Gilbert, one of the true rising stars in collegiate athletics administration. "During Favre's fundraising efforts, in July 2017, the Southern Miss athletic director introduced Favre to New, a Southern Miss Athletic Foundation board member, as someone who could assist Favre with the fundraising. We do not sell or share your information with anyone. He helped oversee the project and was instrumental in securing the additional funds needed from the legislature that helped see the project through to completion. Email. Pine Belt News reported he left the . external affairs. Director of Athletics. Butch Jones University of Tennessee Football Head Coach "Jon Gilbert is an absolutely great hire for Southern Miss and their athletics department. Sports Director Blake Levine will be live from the Pensacola Bay Center for the tournament with the latest updates and coverage on Southern Miss. Other national honors for Mitchell include his participation in the LEAD 1 Institute (2019) which identifies and educates top NCAA FBS administrators and participation in the inaugural TopConnect Leadership Institute (2021) which pairs leading Division I administrators and assistant basketball coaches in a 12-week leadership forum culminating in a leadership certificate presented by East Tennessee State University. "Southern Miss has lost a legend as Roland Dale was an exceptional man, coach, and athletic director," said Southern Miss Interim Athletics Director Jeff Hammond. "He brings to The University of Southern Mississippi an extensive background in athletic administration at the highest levels. One of his accomplishments was the renovation to Roberts Stadium. Any businessman would understand the logic: cut expenses, increase revenue and deal with partners in this case, universities that are more like-minded. athletic experience to Hattiesburg. Along with the M-Club Hall of Fame, Dale was inducted into the Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1995. HATTIESBURG, Miss. The university is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities - High research activity". I am most grateful to our donors for their What athletic director says November 10, 2021 3:50 AM Take Us With You. first-year bowl in NCAA history. * Elite Student-Athlete Experience Jan. 24, 2017. He was the athletic director . In 1953, he became the head football coach and athletic director at Gulfport High School. He then went to Ole Miss in 1960 as an assistant under the legendary Coach John Vaught, where he remained for 12 seasons, leaving to be head football coach at Southeastern Louisiana in 1972. A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with a bachelors in journalism, Rick has worked for the Monroe (La.) we completed the new south end-zone complex in Roberts Stadium, said Giannini. Conference USA made sense for Southern Miss back when the Golden Eagles were competing and winning against conference mates such as Memphis, Tulane, Houston, Louisville and others. According to the filing, then-Southern Miss athletic director Jon . Build those rivalries and fans will travel.. While working for the NCAA in the mid-1970s, Giannini's responsibilities included Southern Miss Athletics Southern Miss Athletics Athletic Center - (601) 266-5017 [Name of Person or Department] [Name of Person or Department] Media Relations - (601) 266-4503: 118 College Drive #5017 2609 West 4th Street: Ticket Office - (601) 266-5418 or 1-800-844-TICK: Hattiesburg, Miss. HATTIESBURG, Miss. The Broncos also claimed two postseason tournament titles in mens basketball in 2011 (CIT) and 2013 (CBI). After a couple of years in private business, he returned to coaching at Tulane. 266-6829. which included the construction of a new athletics building, the Athletic Center, NCAA Government reform, and continued conference realignment, Southern Miss Athletics acknowledges the challenges and opportunities of operating a successful Division I athletics department. Jeremy knows us. I am very fortunate to have good health which will allow me to spend Ball State has hired Southern Miss deputy director of athletics Jeff Mitchell to be the school's new athletic director, it was announced Friday. "I am extremely humbled and honored with the opportunity to be the Director of Athletics at Southern Miss, and I want to thank President Bennett for the confidence he has in me to lead the athletic department," Gilbert said. When you see news happening, share it! Dale, who was inducted into the Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame on April 12, 1996, was one of the architects of the Southern Miss athletic program as both an assistant coach and as athletic director. Competition will be stiff. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using. HATTIESBURG, Miss. For the Golden Eagles, Mitchell serves as the sport administrator for mens basketball and baseball in addition to serving as the administrator for football scheduling. HATTIESBURG, Miss. Gilbert is a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, N.C., where he was a three-year letterman on the football team. For years now, Conference USA, which Southern Miss joined in 1995, has seemed almost like a bicycle without handle bars: unsteady at best, direction-less at worst. The committee is charged with assisting University President Dr. Martha Saunders with the selection of the next athletic director, and is chaired by Spencer Adams, president of the University's Athletic . discovery: { The search firm has assisted in 40 athletic director searches nationwide, From October 2006 to November 2014, Mitchell oversaw compliance, student services, and legal affairs at Santa Clara. The Amory . Video Platform powered by CBS Sports Digital, Athletics Communications- (601) 266-4503, Ticket Office - (601) 266-5418 or 1-800-844-TICK, Cody Bielstein, Assistant Director of Athletics Development, Kendall Towe, Assistant Director of Development Internal Operations, Misty McWhorter, Athletic Foundation Staff Accountant, Brandon Roberts, Head Coach / Cheerleading, Kyle Richards , Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance, Eric Beatty, Marketing Graduate Assistant, Carly Della Sala, Marketing Graduate Assistant, Whitley Ruffin, Digital Marketing Graduate Assistant, Josie Copley , Graduate Assistant (Softball, Track, Cross Country), Sterling Randle , Graduate Assistant (Women's Basketball, Women's Golf), Ashleigh Young , Graduate Assistant (Soccer, Men's and Women's Tennis), Rob Shillito , Assistant AD for Academic Support Services (Baseball, Women's Basketball), Raven Tatum , Academic Counselor (Football (Offense), Men's and Women's Tennis), Yuji Katsuta , Assistant Athletic Trainer (Men's Basketball), Jayme Nauman , Assistant Athletic Trainer (Women's Basketball), Heather Nosky , Assistant Athletic Trainer (Soccer), Evan Denoux , Graduate Assistant (Volleyball), Jonathan Pierce, Graduate Assistant (Softball), Jordan Adams, Graduate Assistant (Track and Field, Cross Country), Chase Bitowf, Assistant Director / Football Video Coordinator, Treis LeBlanc, Video Production / Graduate Assistant, SaJason Finley, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach, T.J. Greenstone, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, Matt Mandich, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, Alex Richard, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, Brooke Veltkamp, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, B.A. "It was the only week of vacation I get during the year. Jonesboro (Ark.) The Hattiesburg economy hit a home run with 3 weeks of 'Baseburg'. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in sports marketing, advertising, sports management or other related fields and 1 year of experience in collegiate sports marketing or related field. On this week's episode of Inside Southern Miss Athletics, Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain stops by to talk about men's and women's basketball, the upcoming Sun Belt Conference basketball championships in Pensacola, Florida, and the start of the baseball and softball seasons. A 21-member search committee began work on Monday toward identifying the University of Southern Mississippi's next athletic director. assistant athletics director at Duke in 1974. Wed love to hear from you. virtual: false, 266-5017. Southern Miss Director of Athletics Bill McGillis is proud to announce the hiring of Doc Sadler as the 20th head men's basketball coach in school history. After graduation, Mitchell began his professional career as the Director of Sports Information at Millsaps and served as an assistant coach for the 2003 Millsaps baseball team, which advanced to the NCAA Division III South Regional Tournament. We understand there is plenty of work to be done, but myself and our staff are going to work tirelessly to take Southern Miss to new heights." Also visiting on the show this week are head men's basketball coach Jay Ladner and Brad Smith the athletic . Look for the "Republish This Story" button underneath each story. At Southern Miss, Mitchell utilizes his extensive background in legal affairs, external relations, and revenue generation to manage the Universitys relationship with multi-media rights partner LEARFIELD. At Tennessee, Gilbert has been responsible for all facets of day-to-day Department of Athletics operations. student success. 266-5017. "Southern Miss has lost a legend as Roland Dale was an exceptional man, coach, and athletic director," said Southern Miss Interim Athletics Director Jeff Hammond. Download the WXXV News 25 and Weather Authority Mobile Apps on your smart phone or tablet device to receive breaking news and weather push notifications the minute it happens. His team plays in a brand new stadium and practices in a new indoor . that time, I promised Larry I would stay four more years and help the football program Also visiting on the show this week are head men's . He fully understands and embraces the primary role of serving student-athletes and creating an experience focused on current academic and athletic goals, as well as preparing them for life beyond sports. Deputy Director of Athletics. In addition to the mens basketball appearance in the CBI, the football team qualified for bowl selection and women's basketball saw action in the post-season with an appearance in the WBI. its Department of Athletics. Email. Mitchell serves as an adjunct professor for undergraduate and graduate classes in the Southern Miss School of Business and Economic Development teaching classes on leadership and governance and policy in sport. - University of Southern Mississippi President Rodney D. Bennett has announced the hiring of Jon Gilbert as the University's Director of Athletics. I recently had the fortunate opportunity to visit and speak with him and his son. Champions program, a group who have each committed $100,000, and has grown since its My take is that the Sun Belt and Conference USA are quite similar as far as competition. . Southern Miss extends athletics director Jeremy McClain, Justin Timberlake posts sweet birthday message for 'dream of a partner' Jessica Biel, Tom Sizemore, star of 'Saving Private Ryan,' 'Heat,' dies at 61 after brain aneurysm, Josh Hartnett is done talking about his break from Hollywood but ready to make fun of actors: 'We're the worst', Michael B. Jordan admits muscle gain for 'Creed' has been harder as he's gotten older, Billy Bush suggests Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes start their own show after ABC exit: 'They've got something that works'. For three years, USM seemed like there was a dark cloud over their basketball program because they had a time dealing with everything from the pandemic to previous sanction concerns to the whole team transferring. 39406-0001: Hattiesburg, Miss. Vollmuth, Assistant Coach / Coordinator of Camps, Lauren Pittman, Assistant Coach Recruiting Coordinator, Shannon Dawson, Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks, Tim Billings, Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator / Safeties, Chris Boone, Assistant Coach / Defensive Line, Brock Hays, Assistant Coach / Tight Ends, Eddie Hicks, Assistant Coach / Cornerbacks, Les Koenning, Assistant Coach / Running Backs, Erik Losey, Assistant Coach / Offensive Line, Derek Nicholson, Assistant Coach / Co-Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers, Scott Walden , Assistant Coach / Inside Wide Receivers & Tight Ends, Wes Turner , Director of Player Personnel, Nikki Mattison , Administrative Assistant, Dexter Hollingsworth , Offensive Graduate Assistant, Bryan Stork , Offensive Graduate Assistant, Akeem Davis, Defensive Graduate Assistant, Aaron Walker , Defensive Graduate Assistant, All Recruiting Correspondence , (601) 266-5393 | Fax: (601) 266-6597, Aaron Kindt, Assistant Coach / Cross Country Coach. partner_name: "WXXV 25", Southern Miss has made the correct and probably long overdue decision to exit Conference USA and enter the Sun Belt Conference. All rights reserved. Jeremy McClain is a Southern Miss guy who shares the values and ambitions of the University of Southern Mississippi., Your email address will not be published. Home. He was chairman of the C-USA athletic directors' committee Contacts for state licensure or other state regulations can be found on the Board of Certification website. By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with Mississippi Today. When Jeremy McClain took over as the school's eighth Director of Athletics, he knew that he would have to roll up his sleeves and get to work. Mitchell also earned an MBA from the Millsaps College Else School of Management in May of 2003 and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law in December of 2005. Borbash, Carlyn Linker, and DeLancey, and grandparents of Tori, Parker, Sara, Kelsey, He has been a critical part of our basketball program over the past two years and brought valuable expertise and knowledge to our staff. will allow me the opportunity to pursue some projects I have on the national level, Welcome to the Sun Belt," said Sun Belt commissioner Keith Gill to Southern Miss athletic director Jeremy McClain and president Dr. Rodney Bennett. of Raycom Management Group in Charlotte, N.C., a subsidiary of Raycom Sports, where 0:36. by Rick Cleveland, Mississippi Today October 26, 2021, This and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.. In nearly nine years of working with Jon, I have watched a terrific person grow into an outstanding administrator who has been more than ready to sit in a director of athletics chair for some time now. The athletic director position opened in December, when Richard Giannini announced Southern Miss Basketball Coach Jay Ladner wants to see his Golden Eagles in the NCAA Tournament. Just last season, on one September Saturday, three Sun Belt teams played three Big 12 teams (two of those ranked) on the road. Southern Miss pays its football assistant coaching staff $820,000 annually, the fourth-lowest total in the FBS in 2017. . He keeps it on his . TV market-size is how Southern Miss got left behind in CUSA in the first place. more time with Gayle, my wife of 42 years, my four daughters and son-in-laws and my he developed numerous sporting events, including the Blockbuster Bowl, the most successful Mitchell also has served as a guest lecturer on the NCAA and intercollegiate athletics for the Sports Law class at the Santa Clara University School of Law and has been a panelist at multiple Sports Law forums. * Where We Are Shortly after, athletic director Jerry Spell from a small Catholic school in Bay St. Louis . The former Southern Miss Golden Eagle athletics director and coach, Roland Dale passed away Sunday night in Jackson, MS. The University of Southern Mississippi Athletic Foundation is one of 10 parties the Mississippi Department of Human Services is seeking to sue in an expanding lawsuit that it hopes will recoup millions of dollars of welfare funds lost in the largest public fraud in state history.. Southern Miss is linked to the alleged fraud scheme through one of its most notable alums, former Golden Eagles . Categories: Announcements athletics Community Faculty and Staff Gulf Coast, 118 College DriveHattiesburg, MS 39406-0001, 730 East Beach BoulevardLong Beach, MS 39560. Prior to his experience at Tennessee, Gilbert worked for nearly 17 years at the University of Alabama, serving in multiple roles, including Associate Athletics Director from 2009 to 2011. In conjunction with the school's first year in the Sun Belt Conference, Southern Miss Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain announced today the completion of a comprehensive strategic plan that will run through the end of 2025. through the coaching search process. Giannini, 69, a 45-year veteran of athletic administration, has served as the school's "As we make the exciting transition to the Sun Belt Conference on July 1st, there has never been a more critical time for our athletics department," McClain said in the press release. Mitchell serves as the Deputy Director of Athletics with a directed focus on managing the daily operations of the Golden Eagle athletics department and providing leadership . Other duties as assigned by the Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Operations. A memorial service will be held at noon ET, Thursday, Oct. 3 in the Sanctuary of First Presbyterian . baseball and softball and one in volleyball and men's basketball. General We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Cody Bielstein, Assistant Director of Athletics Development. He has been mentored and guided by some of the best leaders in this business. Our foundation of success is rooted in the mindset of strength, stability, consistency, and toughness. Dale began his coaching career with stops at Jones Junior College and Greenwood High School. Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license. Rick Cleveland, a native of Hattiesburg and resident of Jackson, has been Mississippi Todays sports columnist since 2016. The strategic plan includes a bold vision for the future of Golden Eagle athletics comprised of 25 strategic initiatives to be completed before . category_id: null, The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy.