Segal Posts From The Road
Sept. 12, 2008
posted by Matt Segal, Director of Communications
Welcome to my very first HoriZONE blog post. The concept of blogging is not new to me, but the HoriZONE certainly is.
Let me start with a brief introduction since 99% of you don't know me. I spent the past 3 1/2 years as media relations manager of the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. The experience was tremendous and so many of the people were awesome, but I was ready for a fresh environment and new set of challenges.
Prior to the Indians, I worked internships at the NCAA, IHSAA, University of Mississippi and with the Indianapolis Colts. I also worked as a student assistant in the Ball State University athletics communications & marketing office from 1999-2003 when I was an undergraduate student in Muncie, Ind.
I am very grateful for this new opportunity at the Horizon League. My co-workers have been great so far, and I'm looking forward to working with all of the good people at the league's 10 schools.
I started at the Horizon League during the second week of August, so I've been on the job just over one month. I am responsible for the day-to-day operations in our communications department in addition to serving as the primary contact for volleyball, golf, men's basketball and baseball.
Our assistant director of communications, Josh Rattray, handles men's soccer, women's soccer, cross country, track, women's basketball and softball, while our assistant director of championships and compliance, Brandy Ingles, helps out with swimming and tennis.
One of our assistant commissioners, Will Roleson, oversees communications and multimedia, while we also work closely with our director of new media and technology, Nate Flannery, who directs our video streaming web site - the Horizon League Network.
I may be the "new guy," but that would make Josh the "brand new guy." A few of our co-workers enjoy calling us the "FNGs," but we have to keep this blog PG-rated so I can't really tell you what those letters stand for. Ha, ha, ha
Our previous assistant director of communications, Tom Symonds, informed me on day No. 2 that he was leaving for a job at the University of Rhode Island. I jokingly said, "Tommy, two tone, you can't leave me hangin' like that," but, deep down inside, I was really happy for his neat opportunity on the East Coast.
I am writing all of you from my hotel room in Youngstown, Ohio. One of our assistant commissioners, Joel Barnhill, and I are in the middle of what I'm calling the "Horizon League campus tour." We are in the process of hitting every league campus during the month of September.
We started with a day trip to Wright State University (Dayton, Ohio) last Wednesday. I then spent a few hours at Butler University (Indianapolis) last Thursday.
The current trip started on Wednesday at the University of Detroit Mercy (Detroit, Mich.). We then moved on to Cleveland State University (Cleveland, Ohio), and the last leg of this trip is a few miles away at Youngstown State University.
Let me tell you - there's nothing quite like doing a little work off the laptop while you watch SportsCenter from a hotel room in Youngstown, Ohio. Plus, our friend Joel is snoring REALLY LOUD about 15 feet from me. The Cleveland State marketing and ticket people must have put him through a lot today. Where's the video camera when you need one??
Getting back to the "Horizon League campus tour" ... Next week, we have a day trip to Valparaiso University (Valparaiso, Ind.). Then, the week of Sept. 22, we go to the University of Illinois-Chicago, Loyola University Chicago, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
The people I've met with have been tremendous so far. I've been primarily focused on sports information directors, athletic administrators, coaches and members of the media.
Bob Noss (assistant athletics director/athletic communications) was very hospitable last week at Wright State. We spent over five hours together, so I learned quite a bit.
I also met Matt Zircher (associate director of athletics communications), Matt Liddy (assistant athletics director) and several of WSU's coaches.
The most impressive part of the facilities tour was their basketball pavilion. Click here for more information on the beautiful facility, which includes basketball coaches' offices, a practice court and meeting rooms.
We had two separate lunch meetings in Dayton - one with Wright State's beat writer from the Dayton Daily News, Marc Katz, and one with a few local TV sports reporters.
Joe Gentry (director of marketing), Jim McGrath (assistant athletic director/communications) and Chris Urban (assistant sports information director) are all great to work with at Butler. Joe was kind enough to introduce me to several coaches during my two-hour visit last week.
I've done some game day work for Butler basketball and volleyball in the past, but it was nice to actually sit down and have a conversation with their coaches and athletic department staff.
Brandon Longmeier (director of marketing and promotions) and Greg Haapala (director of ticket operations and sales) helped coordinate our visit to Detroit.
I enjoyed meeting the sports information staff - Mark Engel (assistant athletic director/SID), P.J. Gradowski (assistant SID), Maggie Walsh (assistant SID) and Mekye Phelps (sports information assistant) - in addition to the athletic director, Keri Gaither, and several UDM head coaches.
I also ran into Craig Yust (assistant facilities manager), who I had classes with at Ball State. It's a VERY small world, and don't let anyone tell you differently.
Not only has Detroit unveiled a new logo, but they totally re-surfaced their basketball court. In addition, they have upgraded their soccer and softball fields. Click here for a look at their facilities.
I will definitely be back in Detroit for the 2009 Men's Basketball Final Four at Ford Field. UDM is the local host, so several people from the league office will be coming up. Over 70,000 fans and several hundred reporters are expected for the two-day event, so there will be plenty to do.
Our most recent stop, at Cleveland State, was also a good one. I spent a good portion of the day with Brian McCann (assistant athletic director/communications) and Greg Murphy (associate sports information director). I enjoyed bouncing around and seeing several of CSU's coaches, too.
Cleveland State will be hosting the 2008 Horizon League Volleyball Championships on campus Nov. 20-23 and the 2009 HL Baseball Championships in Lorain, Ohio, May 19-22. Click here for a look at their facilities.
There seems to be a lot of optimism around the Viking men's basketball team, so, who knows, I may be in Cleveland every couple of months for league championships.
Well, I better get to sleep because Friday is going to be an extremely long day for Joel and me. The good folks at Youngstown State have put together a very detailed itinerary for me. I'll be meeting with their AD, basketball coaches, Olympic sports coaches and several members of the local media here in Youngstown.
Then, Joel and I will jump back in the rental car and make the six-hour drive back to Indy. Joel has been wonderful on this trip, but we'll have to chat about the excessive snoring. I'm thinking this may affect my ability to get some rest tonight. Then again, people who know me will tell you that it just takes a few seconds for me to become "dead to the world" with my sleep habits.
I'm looking forward to getting back to the office, although I need to find my gas and meal receipts before Monday because I don't want our wonderful director of finance, Beth Opell, to be mad at me. She only made one request on this first business trip, and I've screwed things up already! Ugh!
Hope you enjoyed the blog. I know it wasn't as interesting as the one you read from Steph Jarvis (associate commissioner) or ones you may be reading in the future, but I live a pretty boring life.
It's a very busy weekend "on the Horizon," so stay tuned to the league's official web site for the latest in soccer, volleyball and several other sports. Adios for now...
Matt Segal
