Joe Glover, interim athletic director, and the IUS Athletics Department announced Aug. 18 that Clay Ryan had been named the new interim sports information specialist.
Ryan is filling the position left by Glover, who became interim athletic director after the resignation of Pat Mrozowski in July.
Glover said he is more than confident that Ryan is a perfect fit for the position.
“As a former Grenadier athlete, [Ryan] knows what it takes to provide an excellent student experience,” Glover said. “He is a quick learner and has a dedication to make the experiences of our student athletes the very best possible.”
Ryan’s new position requires him to enhance the student athletes’ experiences while they are at IU Southeast.
“I will be keeping up with everything on the athletics website, entering in all stats for every sport, making schedule cards for each team, setting up photo day for all teams, making up game programs for each team and all press releases on the website and elsewhere,” Ryan said.
Ryan has a history in sports at IU Southeast. He joined the Grenadiers during the 2005-06 basketball season and he continued playing on the team until the end of the 2009-10 season.
Ryan was a key player for the team that won three consecutive conference titles for IU Southeast. The team also made three trips to the NAIA National Tournament and once to the NAIA Final 8.
Ryan was honored with the NAIA Champion of Character Award in 2008. As a member of the Grenadier basketball program, Ryan was also awarded the Academic Award, Most Improved Player and the 110 percent Award.
Ryan said he remebers one moment very well.
“In overtime, [I got] fouled at half court while shooting a three,” Ryan said. “We were down by three, there were only three or four seconds left. Then I made all three free throws to put the game into double overtime.”
The dedication Ryan showed to the basketball team is something Glover said he thinks will transfer well to his new position.
“Clay is quick on his feet, and he is always looking to learn more,” Glover said. “[Ryan] always gave 110 percent when he played basketball as a Grenadier, and he is already proving that his strong work ethic translates well beyond the court.”
Ryan is scheduled to graduate in the spring with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, specializing in life sciences.
Prior to attaining his position as interim sports information specialist, he aspired to coach at the middle- and high-school-level.
“With this new position, I am kind of interested now in sports information,“ Ryan said. “I would love if there was a way I could mix sports information director with teaching because I enjoy both. Maybe something like a high school athletic director someday would be the perfect fit.”
With all the new faces in the Athletic Department, students at IU Southeast can expect to see some changes in their campus experience.
One of Ryan’s duties as interim sports information specialist this season will be to implement more videos to the athletics website, with the help of the IUS Athletics Department.
“The [videos] will better highlight our athletes and their contributions to our campus and community,” Glover said.
Outside of working at his job, Ryan said he enjoys spending his time outdoors. He said he enjoys fishing, hiking and golfing.
With his new responsibilities, Ryan said he doubts there will be as much time for extracurricular activities.
“There is little time for all that,” Ryan said. “I am a full-time student and with working 25-plus hours here a week. I will be busy.”
By HANNA WOODS
Staff
hrwoods@umail.iu.edu