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July 12, 2010
CSU Announces Staff Additions and Promotions
Columbus -- Columbus State University Athletic Director Jay Sparks has announced the hiring of Emmanuel "Manny" Nieves as the schools sports information director. At the same time, Sparks also announced title changes for two other Cougar staff members.
Nieves, who officially assumed his duties on July 1, comes to
CSU from Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. He will work
under former SID and current Assistant Athletic Director for
Communication and Compliance Mike Peacock. Nieves brings eight
years of sports information experience to the CSU department and is
the school's third full-time SID.
"We are really pleased to welcome Manny to our CSU family,"
said Peacock. "We had a pretty extensive search for this position
and Manny brings exactly what we were looking for. He is young, he
has experience working in different sports information
environments, and he has a passion for what he does."
"We are excited to have someone in this vital role in our
department who will be focused on promoting our department and our
athletes. Manny is a great fit and we are fortunate to have him
join us," Peacock added.
Nieves was a student-athlete at Centenary (NJ) College where
he majored in sports management and got his initial taste of sports
information work. After earning his undergraduate degree at
Centenary, he moved on to East Stroudsburg University where he
earned a masters degree. He was an intern at High Point University
before joining Rowan in an assistant SID capacity. His hiring at
CSU will give him experience in each of the NCAA's three divisions
of competition.
Nieves steps into a CSU position formerly held by current
women's golf head coach Brian Padgett. Padgett vacated the position
to start the women's program from scratch last year. Peacock and
part-time assistant Anne Appleton teamed up to get through the
2009-10 year, with help from another part-time SID in Lorin Baeta.
Baeta left CSU to move back to her native California in
January.
Nieves will be responsible for promoting the school's 14-sport
athletic program, as well as heading up media relations efforts for
the department on the local, regional and national levels. He is
also responsible for gameday management, statistics and
record-keeping for all 14 sports.
Sparks also announced that two members of the current staff
have been given new titles. Julio Llanos, the schools head athletic
trainer, will now carry the title of Assistant Athletic Director
for Sports Medicine and Diversity and Inclusion. Jimbo Davis, the
long-time cheer coach for the Cougars, will now have the title of
Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Community Relations
and also carries the title of Spirit Coordinator. Davis, coach of
three national championship cheer squads, will now also oversee the
CSU dance team under the umbrella of spirit.
Heather McGowan has also joined the CSU family as Director of
Marketing for the CSU Athletic Foundation and will work with the
CSU Athletic Fund, Inc., to bolster marketing and fund-raising
efforts.
"We are pleased with our new employees and our new
promotions," said Sparks. "We have two great additions to our
family in Manny Nieves and Heather McGowan and both have a vibrancy
that extends to all those around them. With the promotions, we try
and put people in places that they can create immediate success. As
is the case, Julio and Jimbo will be outstanding in each of their
roles. I feel as if our department is truly moving forward and
making progress."
The 2010-11 athletic year will officially get underway on
Friday, September 3, as the women's soccer team hosts the annual
Cougar Invitational, playing Newberry at 7 p.m.
