In hindsight, maybe that was just his audition to one day return to Hattiesburg. Number of employees at University of Southern Mississippi in year 2021 was 5,057. We are the most trusted source for local news. Giannini and his wife, Gayle, are parents of four daughtersAnsley Stone, Brittney Checks should be made to the Southern Miss Athletic Foundation; Box 15458; Hattiesburg, MS 39494. is doable. Any businessman would understand the logic: cut expenses, increase revenue and deal with partners in this case, universities that are more like-minded. Paul will work closely with Southern Miss Athletic Director Bill McGillis, Senior Associate Athletic Director Brian Morrison and the Athletic Foundation's development team in growing Eagle Club memberships and raising funds to support the athletics program. 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. A tireless and innovative administrator, Giannini brought outstanding intercollegiate Please reload the page and try again. baseball and softball and one in volleyball and men's basketball. Our foundation of success is rooted in the mindset of strength, stability, consistency, and toughness. Prior to taking the job at Troy, McClain served as USM's deputy director of athletics for three years and was the AD at Delta State for the five years previous to that. conference football highlight films. The Golden Eagle athletics director was a track athlete, competing That year, GHS posted an 8-3 record and Dale was voted the Big Eight Coach of the Year. }); The earliest USM could enter the Sun Belt is July 1, 2022. 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. 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. Southern Miss will add much to the league. The Sun Belt is an ESPN league with national exposure. Also visiting on the show this week are head men's . through the coaching search process. Mitchell served as the sport administrator for the Bronco mens basketball and baseball programs. Early in his career, in the late 1970s, Waters worked in athletics at USM when Bobby Collins and M.K. 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. As an accomplished public address announcer for 20 years, Mitchell has announced Division I baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and volleyball in the SEC, PAC-12, C-USA, WCC, Division III football and basketball in the SCAC, and Division III NCAA Tournament basketball. Help keep the momentum going by rejoining our member community today. Heres what Dr. Bennett had to say about the big time hire earlier today: Jeremy McClain is uniquely qualified to lead our department of athletics to the successes we all envision. Those rivalries are something to nurture and built upon. : Why Southern Miss baseball will and won't make a deep NCAA Tournament run in 2023. As the Broncos chief financial officer from 2014 to 2018, Mitchell led the department to three consecutive years of record financial growth with year-over-year increases in operating budgets and in revenue generation (2016-2018). HATTIESBURG, Miss. place when I left than when I arrived.. "This is an especially sad day for me as . | Learn more about Sean Merchant's work experience, education, connections & more by . an ability to build additional links to all areas of campus and focus on A cheat sheet, he called it. Division games will be drive-able, Waters said. assistant athletics director at Duke in 1974. General Giannini, 69, a 45-year veteran of athletic administration, has served as the school's 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.. I truly believe Southern Miss selected the perfect person to reach their goals and I am extremely happy for Jon and his family." We celebrate community and we tell your stories. orientation: "portrait", I recently had the fortunate opportunity to visit and speak with him and his son. Our focus is to continue to enhance the profile and success of The University of Southern Mississippi and for the opportunity to speak on today's Shifting the Paradigm for Staff Training . We live, work and play right here in South Mississippi. He . According to the filing, then-Southern Miss athletic director Jon . first-year bowl in NCAA history. It was from there he returned to Southern Miss in 1974 to become athletic director. Four Sun Belt softball teams earned NCAA Tournament berths last season. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Cody Bielstein, Assistant Director of Athletics Development. element: "#evvnt-calendar-widget", & Beaudine Inc. The move was made official at a press conference in Hattiesburg on Tuesday. which had a makeover which included an expansion to the men's and women's basketball Butch Jones University of Tennessee Football Head Coach "Jon Gilbert is an absolutely great hire for Southern Miss and their athletics department. discovery: { He has a vision of how he wants to run a department with his top priority always being what's best for the student-athlete. He has been mentored and guided by some of the best leaders in this business. We prefer Author Name, Mississippi Today in the byline. Gilbert, who will begin his work no later than March 1, comes to Southern Miss from the University of Tennessee, where he has served as Executive Senior Associate . When you see news happening, share it! McClain previously served as the athletics director at Troy for just under four years. map: false, 266-4906. The Broncos also claimed two postseason tournament titles in mens basketball in 2011 (CIT) and 2013 (CBI). Southern Miss Basketball Coach Jay Ladner wants to see his Golden Eagles in the NCAA Tournament. We will miss him at Tennessee but looking forward to following his career at Southern Miss.". Any amount helps us keep producing quality journalism for Mississippi. Jeremy McClain, the Southern Miss athletic director, believes the annual travel expenses for all athletic programs will be reduced between $500,000 and a million dollars. Founded in 2016 as the states first nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom, Mississippi Todays roots in Capitol coverage have grown to encompass a myriad of beats beyond politics and policy, including education, public health, justice, environment, equity, and, yes, sports. Home. Southern Miss, Waters says, brings a rich history of winning and a historically strong fan base to the Sun Belt. He was 81. She served as the second head coach in that program's history. by Rick Cleveland, Mississippi Today October 26, 2021, This and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.. Strong support professional with a Master's degree focused in Athletic Administration from Mississippi College. Mitchell is a 2001 graduate of Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, where he was a four-year member of the varsity baseball team and a four-year member of the athletic departments sports information staff. See what is being said about Jon Gilbert being named Director of Athletics for the University of Southern Mississippi. To be sure, TV revenue wont be that much higher in the Sun Belt than it was in CUSA, but TV exposure will be much more broad. Mitchell helped finalize the Universitys first comprehensive apparel deal with Nike valued at more than $2.5 million and helped administer plans for $58 million in facility projects to include a new soccer facility, softball stadium, aquatics center, and upgrades to basketball locker rooms and a basketball court re-design. Reach Southern Miss writer David Eckert at deckert@gannett.com or on Twitter @davideckert98. Also visiting on the show this week are head men's basketball coach Jay Ladner and Brad Smith the athletic . Turk in men's basketball, Kay James in women's basketball, Hill Denson in baseball and Marshall Bell in track and field. With a 24-65 record at the time, Southern Miss Athletic Director Jeremy McLain went to bat for Ladner. . * Strategic Facility Enhancements Here's the score. Giannini founded the Southern Miss Athletic Foundation, which has raised over $100 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 . We believe that an informed Mississippi is a better Mississippi. * Where We Have Been Mitchell is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. South Alabama, Louisiana-Lafayette and Georgia Southern are all traditionally strong programs. He has proven himself to be a lifelong learner and has always strived to broaden and strengthen his skills in order to be an extraordinary leader for the stakeholders he serves. With a 24-65 record at the time, Southern Miss Athletic Director Jeremy McLain went to bat for Ladner. "He brings to The University of Southern Mississippi an extensive background in athletic administration at the highest levels. Competition will be stiff. Jeff.Mitchell@usm.edu. Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field. McClain, the athletic director, must find new revenue streams to even hope to provide a better financial package for the next head coach. Dr. Dennis Phillips, Faculty Athletic Representative. Thank you to NCS Southern Miss. Giannini was officially hired on April 21, 1999. Jackson State University (Jackson State or JSU) is a public historically black research university in Jackson, Mississippi.It is one of the largest HBCUs in the United States and the fourth largest university in Mississippi in terms of student enrollment. His accomplishments and achievements are responsible for the success of the school's athletic program today. Rick has been recognized 13 times as Mississippi Sports Writer of the Year, and is recipient of multiple awards and honors for his reporting and writing. Basketball? We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. "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. Dale began his football career as a player at Ole Miss, where he played tackle from 1947-49. The year-long, experiential learning program is designed to elevate current senior-level administrators to the next step in reaching their goal of becoming directors of athletics or conference commissioners. 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. He still has it. Well, to a lesser extent, thats kind of how it felt when Jeremy McClain returned to Southern Miss in 2016 as the new athletic director at Troy then overseeing a football program that beat the Golden Eagles on that September night. Good coaches and good players are what make you better. He's positive and team-oriented, exactly what you want in an administrator and leader of your department. In lieu of flowers, the Dale family asks that a donation be made to the Roland and Teenie Dale Endowment. Hold us accountable in keeping to these initiatives, while continuing to support our student-athletes through your attendance 0:05. evvnt_require("evvnt/discovery_plugin").init({ A 21-member search committee began work on Monday toward identifying the University of Southern Mississippi's next athletic director. Their daughter, Harper Wynne, is 14 and enjoys playing soccer in the Girls Academy League, dance, and school. Turk were building strong programs that competed at a high level as an independent. Video Platform powered by CBS Sports Digital, Ticket Office - (601) 266-5418 or1-800-844-TICK, Executive Senior Associate AD for Student Athlete Services, Senior Associate AD for External Operations, Senior Associate AD for Olympic Sports / SWA, Senior Associate AD for Revenue Generation, Chief Financial Officer for Athletics and Athletic Foundation, Assistant Athletic Director for Development, Director of Donor Relations and Communications, Assistant Athletic Director / Business Operations, Assistant Athletic Director (Football, Baseball, Men's Golf), Director of Communications (Men's Basketball, Football Secondary, Volleyball, Men's Tennis, Women's Golf), Graduate Assistant (Women's Basketball, Beach Volleyball), Graduate Assistant (Soccer, Softball, Cross Country, Women's Tennis), Assistant AD for Creative Strategy (Primary: FB, MBB, MG, WG; Secondary: BSB), Graduate Assistant/Graphics (Primary: WSOC, WBB, BVB, SB, MTEN, WTEN; Secondary: FB, MBB), Graduate Assistant/Graphics (Primary: VB, BSB, MTF, WTF, WCC; Secondary: FB, WBB), Graduate Assistant/Video (Primary: FB, MBB, VB, BVB, SB, BSB Fan Experience, M/WTF, WCC, MG, WG), Graduate Assistant/Video (Primary: FB Fan Experience, WBB, VB, BVB, SB, BSB, M/WTF, WCC, MG, WG), Assistant Athletic Director for Equipment Operations, Facility Building Manager & Assistant Equipment Manager, Assistant Athletic Director for Ticket Operations and Sales, Senior Account Executive - Ticket Sales & Development, Associate Director of Sports Counseling and Performance, Associate AD for Academic Support Services (Football - Offense, Men's Basketball, Volleyball and Beach Volleyball), Academic Counselor (Soccer, Track and Field, Men's Tennis, Internships/Practicum/Student Workers), Academic Counselor (Football - Defense, Softball, Women's Golf), Learning Specialist/tTutorial Coordinator, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine, Assistant Athletic Trainer (Men's Basketball), Assistant Athletic Trainer (Women's Basketball), Graduate Assistant (Football, Women's Tennis), Graduate Assistant (Cross Country, Track and Field), Graduate Assistant (Football, Men's Tennis), Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Technology, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Basketball, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Olympic Sports, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, Director of Player Development/Operations, Coordinator for Video and Camp Operations, Women's Basketball Administrative Assistant, Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Line Coach, Assistant Coach / Wide Receivers/Pass-Game Coordinator, Assistant Coach / Inside Linebackers/Run-Game Coordinator, Assistant Coach / Special Teams Coordinator. In return, the Sun Belt provides a much more comfortable and sensible home for Southern Miss. Another deep run? Champions program, a group who have each committed $100,000, and has grown since its MCEC founder Nancy New, a Southern Miss alum and former athletic foundation board member, has since pleaded guilty to fraud. Thu, 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. he developed numerous sporting events, including the Blockbuster Bowl, the most successful 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. We're dedicated to keeping Mississippians informed with our thorough reporting. Field at Roberts Stadium, a new press box and suites as well as an expansion at Pete H.C. "Bill" McLellan Served as Southern Miss Athletics Director from 1986-1999. He briefly attended Mississippi State as a student before transferring to UAB. - University of Southern Mississippi President Rodney D. Bennett has announced the hiring of Jon Gilbert as the University's Director of Athletics. Southern Miss has made the correct and probably long overdue decision to exit Conference USA and enter the Sun Belt Conference. Mobile App | Weather App | WXXV25 Email Sign Up. detail_page_enabled: true, 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 . Economic impact: The Hattiesburg economy hit a home run with 3 weeks of 'Baseburg'. 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. publisher_id: "7055", Four years ago I turned 65 the same year I hired Larry Fedora and the same year "I may be the luckiest athletic director in America today to have Joe return to the . We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Mitchell is a respected veteran administrator who . According to the filing, then-Southern Miss athletic director Jon . 39406-0001: Hattiesburg, Miss. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. He was 84 years old. Dave Hart University of Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics "This is a red-letter day for Southern Miss Athletics and The University of Southern Mississippi with the hiring of Jon Gilbert as Director of Athletics. As the 17-sport program heads to the Sun Belt, the Golden Eagles are fresh off divisional title in women's soccer, a second-straight conference women's indoor track and field championship and a regular-season conference title and Super Regional berth for the baseball program over the last academic year. This button displays the currently selected search type. 2) There is no substitute for leadership alignment } "Our focus and expectation continues to center around improving our basketball program with Coach Ladner as our head coach," McLain said. With a 24-65 record at the time, Southern Miss Athletic Director Jeremy McLain went to bat for Ladner. The larger facility was a key factor in helping to upgrade the schedule by getting more formidable opponents to come to Hattiesburg. "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. Gilbert has demonstrated an ability to develop and implement creative ideas; for example, he was instrumental in negotiations for the university to host a football game at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2016. McClain is a Mississippi native, and he returns to Hattiesburg after serving as the AD at Troy since 2015. Contacts for state licensure or other state regulations can be found on the Board of Certification website. Under Gilbert's leadership, Tennessee student-athletes averaged over a 3.0 grade point average, and all programs exceeded the NCAA Academic Progress Rate standard. Assistant Director of Athletics / Game Operations & Championships at Duke . Again, the Sun Belt gives them a better opportunity to do that. "Jeremy has demonstrated exemplary service and dedication to our Department of Intercollegiate Athletics," University President Rodney D. Bennett said in a news release. HATTIESBURG, Miss. It was underway when Dale first arrived, but under-funded. submission: { Sports Director Blake Levine will be live from the Pensacola Bay Center for the tournament with the latest updates and coverage on Southern Miss. Mitchell spent five years at USM after being hired in August 2018 . Gilbert is a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, N.C., where he was a three-year letterman on the football team. Email. I am proud to have served as sort of a mentor for Jon for the last many years and have always been impressed by his intentional efforts to grow in each and every area of responsibility he has been assigned. His team plays in a brand new stadium and practices in a new indoor . "Jeff Hammond has been an important part of our University's past as an outstanding student-athlete and our present as a staff member whose energy and passion for Southern Miss knows no end," Lucas said. and National Hockey League executives. You cant edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. To learn more about our cartoon syndication services. With Larry leaving and the 2011 football Talk to WXXVs anchors, reporters and meteorologists. in 2001-02 and 2008-09. Phone. "It was the only week of vacation I get during the year. Their son, Carson, is 9 and enjoys playing baseball and basketball. Dale served in this position for two seasons and the school posted a record of 16-3-1 while earning an invitation to the Tangerine Bowl. Our stories may appear on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories. He served as assistant sports information director at Florida (his alma mater) from will allow me the opportunity to pursue some projects I have on the national level, serve on several Conference USA committees and currently is the chairman of the Football The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Ill put it to you this way, Waters said, Southern Miss can use all that money theyve been spending on jet fuel and spend it on things that make you better. 39401 a proud member of the With the administrative support, the larger crowds, a new conference, and an overall embrace from . Tournament basketball games not aired by NBC. All rights reserved. HATTIESBURG, Miss. Jeremy knows us. Southern Miss Athletic Foundation / Eagle Club. - Assisted with implementing more awareness for Southern Miss . team winning more games than any other team in history, and topping that with a conference Arrangements are still being made. Let's put it this way: Steve Campbell, the South Alabama coach who whipped Southern Miss last Thursday night, makes $600 grand a year. In 1955, Southern Miss' Pie Vann recognized Dale's coaching abilities and hired him to be the school's line coach. This week on Inside Southern Miss Athletics, John Cox, the Voice of the Golden Eagles, visits with Athletic Director Jeremy McClain and talks about the busy spring season and the upcoming Sun Belt Conference Basketball tournament. * Revenue Generation/Sustainable Budget Growth 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. 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. "Jon is relentless in his approach, positive in his dealings with people, but also direct in making sure the job gets done. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. He and his wife, Katie, have two teenage children, daughter Larsen and son Kent. A few days later he began his duties. "Employees at the University and the people of the Hattiesburg community are getting a wonderful family and a tremendous leader to join their own family. }, Following his Ole Miss career, Dale played in the Blue-Gray All-Star Game before playing defensive end during the 1950 season with the Washington Redskins. at games, monetary gifts, and encouragement through social media and in the community. Rick Cleveland, a native of Hattiesburg and resident of Jackson, has been Mississippi Todays sports columnist since 2016. Dale hired several outstanding Golden Eagle Hall of Fame coaches such as Bobby Collins in football, M.K. category_id: null, The following is a list of NCAA Division I universities in the United States (listed alphabetically by their schools' athletic brand name) and their current athletic director.This list only includes schools playing Division I football or men's basketball. HATTIESBURG, Miss. He was 84 years old. - Southern Miss Athletics would like to express our deepest sympathies to the family of Roland Dale and the Southern Miss community on the passing of his death. We wish Jon, Katie, Kent and Larsen the very best as they begin their new journey. The Amory . Ryleigh, Kyle, Avery, Mackenzie and Landon. 266-5017. You can only publish select stories individually not as a collection. April is the Vice President of Engineering and Operations at Dasera, a cybersecurity startup. 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.