Dear Eagle Nation,

    I hope you are enjoying your Summer and getting ready for the start of football season and the rest of our Fall sports. This Summer has been a very busy one for our Athletics Department as we have been busy finalizing our part of the consolidation with Armstrong State. Our department added several new members from Armstrong and I am proud to say they have hit the ground running. New staff members include: Deputy Athletic Director Lisa Sweany, Women's Tennis Head Coach Sean McCaffrey, Softball Head Coach Kim Dean, Softball Assistant Coach Megen Connor, Men's Golf Director Michael Butler, Women's Golf Assistant Coach Jenna Wylie, Baseball Game Operations Brian English, Director of Strategic Marketing Harold Watson, Director of Athletic Communications Chad Jackson and Associate Director of Student-Athlete Services Jennifer Rushton.
    Our staff has spent the majority of recent months planning and working on things to help our department serve you in a better way this upcoming year. Our ticket office has completed the installation of a new ticketing software that I think many of you have already found to be more fan-friendly. Our media relations office has been working to release our improved website which will be unveiled within the coming months.
    Summer is typically when athletic directors from around the country can meet and informally discuss the growth of college athletics. It's also the time of year that I like to attend meetings to exchange ideas and learn from some of the best in the business. This week, I am heading to Boulder, Colorado, to a unique meeting, the LEAD1 Mentoring Institute. LEAD1 hosts a three-day program for future athletic directors. I will be presenting to this year's group of specially invited college athletic administration who are wanting to be athletic directors. We are fortunate to have two of our senior level administration participate in this event. Tracy Ham, Associate Athletic Director of Internal Affairs attended last year and this year, Kevin Bostian, Senior Associate Athletic Director of Development will be in attendance. It is a great honor for them to be nominated and selected to attend.
    I hope you enjoy your last days of Summer before school and football seasons begin. I look forward to seeing everyone this year!
    — Tom Kleinlein