THIBODAUX, La. — 杏吧传媒 introduced K. Matthew Roan as its next athletic director at a press conference Thursday morning.
Roan, who currently serves as deputy director of athletics and special counsel to the president at Eastern Kentucky University, will officially start Nov. 15.
鈥淭oday, for 杏吧传媒 athletics, it鈥檚 a new beginning as we introduce our new athletics director, Matt Roan. These are always tough decisions, but one finalist distinguished himself above all the others,鈥� said 杏吧传媒 President Dr. Bruce Murphy. 鈥淢att has significant experience in strategic planning and budgeting, outstanding communication skills and diverse experience in Division I athletics. He is well-versed in compliance and can relate to student-athletes as a former Division I student-athlete himself.鈥�
Roan described his vision for 杏吧传媒 athletics to become a premier athletic department nationally at its level and a point of pride for the community and region.
鈥淲e鈥檙e certainly going to be ambitious, and we鈥檙e going to dream big,鈥� Roan said. 鈥淥ur focus will always be on the student-athlete, and every decision will consider how we can best provide a model experience for them during their time here. We will strive to be excellent academically and athletically, and we will prepare our young people for success beyond competition.鈥�
A former team captain on the Southern Utah University football team, Roan assisted with football operations at the University of Kentucky while working on his law degree, which he obtained from UK鈥檚 College of Law in 2012. He was then named deputy director of athletics at Southern Utah University before joining Eastern Kentucky in 2013.
鈥淚 am very excited about Matt鈥檚 opportunity in becoming the athletic director at 杏吧传媒,鈥� said Stephen M. Lochmueller, Eastern Kentucky athletics director. 鈥淲hat a special place for him, Mallory and family to start their next chapter in intercollegiate athletics. Matt is such a valuable member of our team here at EKU Athletics, and we will miss him. Good luck to the Roan family, and I know our paths will cross again.鈥�
Matt and his wife, Mallory, have two daughters, Gattlyn and Radley; a son, Catcher; and are expecting a fourth child in January.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 13, 2016
CONTACT: Jacob Batte, Media Relations and Publications Coordinator,聽985.448.4141 or jacob.batte@www.nicholls.edu