Northwestern University Athletics
NU Athletic Communications Announces Staff Changes, Additions
8/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | General
Aug. 4, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's Athletic Communications office (formerly media services) today announced a trio of personnel changes, including the addition of former Sports Illustrated and Chicago Tribune scribe Skip Myslenski as a contributing writer for NUsports.com and The Den, Northwestern's official football game day magazine.
During the winter, the Wildcats' media services office officially changed its name to Athletic Communications. The switch reflects Northwestern's expanded focus on increasing production of original content and direct interaction with fans, friends and alumni of NU's 19 varsity sports while also assisting the media who cover Wildcat Athletics.
Part of that shift is the addition of Myslenski, who graduated from Notre Dame in 1966 with a bachelor's degree in English before earning a master's degree from Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism in 1967. In addition to several other stops, Myslenski wrote for Sports Illustrated from 1968-72 and the Chicago Tribune from 1978-2008. During his career he has covered nine Olympic Games, multiple Final Fours and Super Bowls, the original 1992 Dream Team, the NBA Finals during the Michael Jordan era of the Chicago Bulls, the Ali-Foreman "Rumble in the Jungle" on Oct. 30, 1974, Ali-Frazier III the "Thrilla in Manila" on Sept. 30, 1975, and Northwestern football on-and-off for the last decade.
Myslenski's first piece for NUsports.com will appear tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug. 5.
The Athletic Communications department also recently added Rob Coons as its director of new media/Big Ten Network liaison. Coons takes over for Dan Platt, who originated the position in 2007. The position's duties include overseeing production of all audio/video and new media content on NUsports.com, serving as Northwestern's day-to-day contact with the Big Ten Network and serving as primary sport contact for NU's women's soccer program.
Coons graduated from the University of Missouri in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism. He performed various sports anchor/reporter duties at KOMU in Columbia, Mo., KVRR in Fargo, N.D., and WMBD in Peoria, Ill., and is the winner of three different sportscasting awards from North Dakota and Illinois professional organizations. Coons also has experience in athletic communications as an intern with the Milwaukee Brewers and, most recently, with the Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer.
Scott Hammer, who joined the Northwestern family as an intern on Aug. 4, 2008, recently was promoted to assistant director of athletic communications. Hammer, a 2008 graduate of Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications, serves as the primary sport contact for NU cross country, field hockey, wrestling and women's tennis while also assisting with the football program.
For Northwestern Athletic Communications' complete roster with sport assignments, click here.
