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HomeSportsInstant Peay Play: Summer time no break for APSU Governors Athletic Department

Instant Peay Play: Summer time no break for APSU Governors Athletic Department

Legends Bank, Clarksville TNClarksville, TN – The 2014-15 athletic season officially came to an end for the Austin Peay State University’s Athletic Department this week when the Lady Govs outdoor track and field participants failed to advance from the NCAA East Preliminary Round Meet.

But with the summer break for the Governors and Lady Govs athletes just beginning, there is still a lot of work left before the fall semester begins in late August and it all begins again.

Austin Peay State University Sports Information - , APSU, Governors, Govs, Lady Govs

First, there are still several positions within the department that need to be filled beginning with a replacement for Derek van der Merwe at athletic director – who after 1 ½ years step down to become the University’s Vice President for Advancement, Communication and Strategic Initiatives.

A couple of teams are also looking for assistant coaches, with Dave Loss and the men’s basketball program needing to fill one assistant position and new women’s head coach David Midick needing to out his new staff with three coaching positions open.

The final opening is in the sports medicine department, with a spot for an assistant athletic trainer to be filled.

But that is just the beginning.

Sonya Bain and her staff in academic support are overseeing the student athletes that are in summer school, either to stay on track or stay eligible, or in some cases fifth-year students needing to finish up their degrees.

They also have to monitor any study halls and also work with the in-coming student athletes for 2015-16 in helping set up classes and being prepared for the upcoming school year.

In that same vein, compliance coordinator Tara Pfeifler helps coaches in setting up a recruiting visit and making sure the prospective student-athlete have the necessary academic background to be a potential scholarship candidates.

She also makes sure each student-athlete and their respective families understand what is permissible and not during the recruiting process and once they sign with APSU, Pfeifler helps make sure that student-athlete and their family submit the necessary paperwork to the NCAA Clearinghouse and the University.

It’s not just academic actives that are being handled over the summer, with Joni Johnson and her staff in sports medicine work with athletes that may still be doing rehabbing during the summer to get back on the field or court in the fall.

Student athletes aren’t the only ones being looked after the summer, with Bud Jenkins and his staff in facilities having to make sure any repairs to the Governors Stadium and Dunn Center are taken care of so they are ready when the student athletes return.

In Sports Information, Brad Kirtley and his staff are already working on media guides for the fall, along with a never ending litany of daily events, signings and athletic department information in general that has to be disseminated to media outlets.

As much as all of the highlighted actives listed above are taking place over the next two or three months, there is still so much more that is happening in the athletic department over the summer to preparation of 2015-16 school year.

Summer break is short and August is right around the corner.

Chris Austin
Chris Austinhttp://www.clarksvillesportsnetwork.com
Chris Austin is a graduate of Clarksville High School and Austin Peay State University. Chris is a former Head Softball Coach for APSU, and assistant basketball coach for CHS. Chris has worked at the Leaf-Chronicle, and WJZM News/Talk/Sports radio. Has also worked at the Sports Information Department at APSU, and has covered championship events for the Ohio Valley Conference and NCAA. Chris is an avid sports fan and can be found at most Austin Peay State University sports events.
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