The oldest institution in the University of Louisiana System, Northwestern State University has a long
tradition of academic excellence in a student-centered environment.
Founded in 1884 as the State Normal School, Northwestern was originally dedicated to the education of teachers. Northwestern gradually added
programs in nursing, business, liberal arts, the sciences and graduate programs. Today, NSU offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree
programs. One hundred percent of eligible academic programs have received accreditation from national or international accrediting agencies.
Northwestern has nationally-recognized programs in computer information systems, creative and performing arts, nursing, educational technology
and industrial technology. The university has put an emphasis on incorporating technology in the classroom, working to provide students with cuttingedge technology that is applicable to the workplace. Northwestern is also home to the Louisiana Scholars' College, the state's designated honors program in the arts and sciences.
The university is also preparing for changes in higher education by aggressively seeking new ways to deliver to courses to students. Northwestern
has taken a leadership role in electronic delivery of classes as students are taking classes via the Internet, compressed video or desktop video.
Seventeen degree programs are available completely online.
Enrollment at Northwestern is more than 9,000 students. The university has more than 70,000 alumni in all 50 states and 12 countries. Students
come primarily from Louisiana.
Located in Natchitoches, the oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase, the university and community value history. Part of the university is
entered in the National Register of Historic Places. The university is home to the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, a unit of
the National Park Service dedicated to promoting and enhancing the preservation and conservation of prehistoric and historic resources in the United
States.
Northwestern seeks to provide a well-rounded education for its students, allowing them to take part in a variety of extracurricular activities. More
than 80 chartered organizations are available to enhance what is learned in the classroom.
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27
2009 Softball Media Guide
University Administration
Dr. Randall J. Webb
Northwestern State President
When Dr. Randall J. Webb became
Northwestern State University’s 17th president in
July 1996, his objective was to make NSU the best
institution it could be. And in his 13th year on the job,
it is apparent Webb is achieving that goal.
Under his leadership, Northwestern was the
first public college or university in Louisiana to have
100 percent of its eligible academic programs nationally accredited.
During Webb’s tenure, enrollment exceeded 10,000 students for the first time,
peaking at 10,505 students in the fall of 2004. The university also set a record for
total graduates in an academic year in 2005-06 and 2006-07.
With the implementation of selective admissions in the fall of 2005, the academic preparation of freshmen students has increased considerably. Overall
enrollment has decreased as a result for the past two years, but the student population should begin to move up again by 2010.
Northwestern has improved its academic programs while attracting better students. The average ACT score of students has risen under Webb’s tenure.
Student leaders are choosing NSU in large numbers. The university has dramatically increased the number of high school valedictorians and salutatorians
among first-time freshmen.
While Webb has been president, Northwestern has increased the level of
external funding for federal, state and private sources. The university has raised
more than $31 million from alumni, friends, supporters and private industry in its
first-ever capital campaign, which exceeded its goal by more than $12 million.
The university has received donations or pledges for its first three $1 million
endowed chairs. Northwestern also has 34 endowed professorships worth
$100,000 each.
NSU has also moved boldly to deliver instruction to students wherever they
are. Under Webb, the university has become a leader among state institutions in
bringing classes to students by compressed video and the Internet. The university offers nine degree programs via the Internet and is looking to add more programs in the future. More than half of the students at Northwestern take an electronic class.
Under Webb, the university has modernized and improved its facilities. A $6.9
million Wellness, Recreation, and Activity Center was completed in the center of
the campus on the site of the old Intramural Building; projects to renovate
Morrison Hall and the Family and Consumer Sciences Building were also completed; and work on the remodeling of Williamson Hall and the demolition and
reconstruction of West Caspari Hall took place. Northwestern has also built
University Place, a new residence hall, and another new residence hall on the
site of Rapides Hall will open in the fall of 2008.
A one-time walk-on center for the Northwestern football team as an undergraduate, Webb has been one of the most avid supporters of the university’s athletic
programs.
Since returning to the Northwestern campus in 1989, Webb has been active as
a donor and volunteer. In 1994, he oversaw a successful Northwestern Athletic
Association board of directors and served on the NSU Athletic Council. In 19951996, Webb was in charge of the Athletic Integrity Subcommittee for the university’s NCAA Certification Self-Study.
He served on the prestigious and powerful NCAA Executive Council, which
oversees all major policy decisions by the governing body for major college
sports.
A 1965 graduate of Northwestern in mathematics and business education,
Webb earned a master of science in mathematics from NSU in 1966. He received
a doctorate in education from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1971 with
a concentration in mathematics and research.
Webb was a member of the faculty at Longwood College in Farmville, Va., from
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30
1966 until 1974. From 1974 until 1976, Webb was the director of Higher
Education and Teacher Certification in the Louisiana Department of Education.
In 1976, Webb moved to Southeastern Louisiana University where he served
as director of institutional research and EEO officer from 1976 until 1983 and registrar and a part-time faculty member in mathematics from 1983 until 1989.
Webb returned to NSU in 1989 as dean of Instruction and Graduate Studies
and professor of mathematics. In that position, he exercised campus-wide
responsibility for policy development, planning, advancement, U N I V E R S I T Y A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
and review of both graduate and President
undergraduate programs. While . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dr. Randall J. Webb
Webb was in that role, graduate Provost and Vice President for Academic and
Student Affairs
enrollment increased by 35 per- . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dr. Thomas Hanson
cent and internal funding for facul- Vice President for External Affairs
ty research increased by 200 per- . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jerry D. Pierce, B.A.
cent.
Vice President for Business Affairs
As dean, Webb proposed the . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carl Jones, MBA
concept for NSU’s successful Vice President for University Affairs
Freshman Connection Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marcus Jones
He also served as a member of Vice President for Technology, Research and
the writing team for a grant pro- Economic Development
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dr. Darlene Williams
posal that resulted in a five year Executive Assistant to the President
$1.7 million Title III grant to . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Robert Crew
improve student retention.
Webb chaired the Steering Committee for Northwestern's Self-Study for the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
He has also been active in the community as a member of the board of directors of the Natchitoches Chamber of Commerce. Webb was also a member of the
Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches, the Natchitoches
Historic Foundation and the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Society.
Webb and his wife Brenda have two daughters, both honor graduates of
Northwestern. Tamara and her husband, former Demon All-American pitcher
Reggie Gatewood, are the parents of two children. Lauren is married to former
Demon baseball player Nick Simokatis, and they have two sons.
Randy and Brenda Webb
2009 Softball Media Guide
University Administration
Jerry Pierce
DEMONS’ DECADE OF EXCELLENCE
Vice President/External Affairs
Jerry Pierce is the Cal Ripken of the Northwestern State
athletic program.
Day after day, year after year, Pierce is in the lineup,
fielding his position with aplomb, and delivering at the plate,
knocking a ball out of the park from time to time but always
taking an understated profile, seeing himself as a role player.
Beginning his 43rd year on the university's staff,
Pierce's impact on NSU and the city of Natchitoches can't be
measured as easily as Ripkin's Baseball Hall of Fame statistics, but they are equally
indelible.
He begins his 18th year as vice president of external affairs at Northwestern. A significant aspect of his job is oversight of intercollegiate athletics. Pierce works closely
with athletic director Greg Burke, associate AD Donnie Cox and all NSU coaches and
staff members to keep Northwestern athletics competing at a championship level
week after week, month after month and year after year.
Well before moving into the executive position, Pierce had already served his alma
mater, adopted hometown and state with distinction. In his role as vice president, he
oversees university operations in athletics, alumni and development, public and media
relations and assists President Dr. Randall J. Webb in governmental affairs activities.
Many of those duties were his since the 1970s as he worked under four previous presidents as Northwestern advanced from NAIA to NCAA College Division to NCAA
Division I athletic status in 1977.
A 1961 graduate of Northwestern, Pierce served as trainer for the Demon football
team during his college years, working closely with legendary coach Jack Clayton.
After earning his journalism degree, Pierce went to work for the New Orleans Times
Picayune, serving as a reporter and editor. He was named executive sports editor at
the age of 24.
In 1965, he chose to raise his two sons in Natchitoches and returned to NSU as
sports information director. He was promoted to news bureau director two years later
and assumed additional responsibilities in athletics, alumni affairs and other areas
through the years.
He founded, in 1972, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame facility in Prather Coliseum
on the NSU campus, providing a home for an entity created in 1958. He established
annual induction activities that remain in place nearly four decades later, and served
as director of the Hall for 19 years until his promotion to vice president forced him to
step aside from the volunteer post.
He helped guide Northwestern into three athletic conferences (Trans America,
1979; Gulf Star, 1983; Southland, 1987) and NCAA Division I status in 1977. He is a
past president of the Southland and has served the conference through other offices
and committee positions.
In 1994, he was named one of Louisiana's 20 most influential sports figures by the
Times-Picayune. Also on the list were New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, LSU
athletic director Joe Dean and basketball coach Dale Brown, and Grambling football
coaching legend Eddie Robinson.
His salesmanship and managerial skills were instrumental in convincing Tri-Star
Productions to film the 1989 smash hit movie Steel Magnolias, with an all-star cast
including Julia Roberts, Sally Field and Dylan McDermott in Natchitoches and on the
NSU campus. The movie's impact on tourism in Natchitoches continues to resonate
more than a decade later.
Pierce is regarded as one of the most effective legislative liaisons for Louisiana's
higher education system. He is also a popular after dinner speaker and master of ceremonies who has spoken at hundreds of events since 1965.
Pierce has been on regional champion and national finalist USTA tennis teams as
a player and coach.
Pierce and his wife Regina, a teacher, live on Cane River Lake in Natchitoches. He
has two sons, Randy and Rick, both NSU graduates; and three grandchildren, twins
Evan and Amanda, 19, and Miranda, 8, and two stepchildren, Nicholas and Natalie.
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31
Highlights of NSU athletics in the first 10
years under the leadership of Dr. Randall
Webb, Vice President Jerry Pierce and
Director of Athletics Greg Burke
22 Southland Conference Championships (7 sports)
Football (1997, 1998, 2004), basketball (2005,
2006), women’s basketball (1999, 2004), baseball
(1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2005), women’s soccer
(2000), softball (1998, 1999, 2000), men’s track and
field (1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002).
All-Sports
(1997-98).
10 SLC Tournament Championships (4 sports)
Basketball (2001, 2006), women’s soccer (1997,
2000, 2002, 2005), women’s basketball (2004) and
softball (1998, 2000, 2002).
16 Postseason Appearances (6 sports)
Football - FCS Division playoffs (1997, 1998, 2001,
2002, 2004); basketball (2001, 2006); women’s basketball (2004); baseball (2005); softball (1998,
2000, 2002); women’s soccer (2000, 2002, 2005).
Women’s Basketball also played in the 1999 WNIT.
45 National Awards (5 sports)
All-America awards - track and field (18), football
(19), baseball (1). Academic All-America honors –
softball (2), baseball (2).
National Football
Foundation Scholar-Athlete (1); NCAA Postgraduate
Scholarship (1); basketball - 2006 Pontiac Game
Changing Performance $100,000 Scholarship
3 Olympic Competitors (2 sports)
Track and field alumni LaMark Carter (2000) Kenta
Bell (2004 and 2008) represented the USA in the
Olympic Games in the triple jump. Fomer Demon
basketball player Dr. Gayle Hatch was the USA’s
head men’s weightlifting coach in the 2004 Athens
Games.
2009 Softball Media Guide
Athletic Administration
Foundation's Gen. Robert R. Neyland Outstanding Athletic Director Award.
He received the 2006 “Outstanding Alumni Award” from his alma mater,
Marlington High School in Alliance, Ohio, recognizing his community service and
professional achievements. Burke became one of only 21 alumni honored since
Director of Athletics
the award was instituted in 1982.
In June 2006, he was a featured speaker and panelist at the National
Now in his 13th year as director of athletics at
Northwestern State, Greg Burke has shown an Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors convention in New Orleans. Burke
amazing knack for maximizing resources, an spoke on "Budgets at Non-BCS Schools" in a breakout session to members of the
astounding ability to be integrally involved in each of College Athletic Business Managers of America at the NACDA convention. He
NSU's athletic teams, and he's demonstrated a took part in a panel discussion of "Fundraising from an Athletic Director's
Perspective" speaking to the National Association of Athletic Development
Midas touch in hiring coaches.
Athletics director at Northwestern since speaking Directors.
For the past year, Burke has been a member of the prestigious NCAA
at the annual NSU/Independence Bowl Kickoff
Luncheon on August 29, 1996, Burke has steered Championships/Sports Management Cabinet, a 49-person panel which makes
NSU athletics to many of its greatest accomplish- recommendations to the Executive Council of presidents on all the key issues facments while overseeing a program that has fielded championship caliber teams ing Division I athletics.
He previously served a four-year term on the
in nearly all of the school's NCAA Division I sports.
NCAA Division I Football Issues Committee (1999-2002) and
The Burke File
There have been 22 Southland Conference champiconcurrently served a term on the eight-member NCAA Division
onships; 16 teams in postseason play; 47 national award win- AGE: 52 (Born Oct. 22, 1956)
I-AA Football Championship Committee that administers the
ners, most either All-America athletes or Academic All- HOMETOWN: Alliance, Ohio
national playoffs. Since his committee term expired, Burke has
America recipients; and three Olympic competitors.
HIGH SCHOOL: Marlington ’74
NSU in 2004-05 became the first (and remains the only) COLLEGE: Mt. Union ’78 (cum laude) served as a site supervisor for Football Championship
Subdivision playoff games across the nation and he is regarded
Southland Conference member in the league's five decades POSTGRADUATE: Kent State ’86
of history to sweep football, men's basketball and baseball BEFORE HE WAS A.D.: Sports writer, as one of the country's premiere advocates of FCS football.
He is third vice-president of the FCS Athletic
championships in the same athletic year. It's been done only Alliance (Ohio) Review, 1972-78; director
once in Southeastern Conference history, by Alabama in of news and sports information, Hiram Director's Association.
Tremendous competitive strides have been made
1933-34, and only four times in Big Ten Conference history, (Ohio) College (1978-85); administrative
intern, NSU athletics, 1985-86; director, in women's athletics under Burke's guidance. The NSU soccer
the last time by Michigan State in 1979-80.
Those accomplishments have come with one of the more NSU Athletic Association, 1986-92; direc- program was the first one in Louisiana ever to reach the NCAA
of athletic development, University of Tournament, doing so three times. Softball has made three
modest athletic budgets in the state and conference. Burke's tor
1992-96.
NCAA Tournament appearances. Volleyball has set attendance
management skill and fundraising ability have been pivotal. Akron,
BIG FAN OF:
Cleveland Browns,
records and made its best-ever showings in conference play in
Recently, Burke generated a $2 million series of sponsor- Indians and Cavaliers
ships for new scoreboards being installed for 2008-09 at all FAVORITE WORKOUTS: Cardio and each of the past three years.
In 2004, NSU received the highest possible rating,
NSU athletic venues, along with a marquee for campus use. weights, 6 a.m., or a three-mile jog in late
"fully certified," from the National Collegiate Athletic Association,
He spearheaded the $700,000 Second Century Circle fencing afternoon
affirming that Northwestern operates its athletic program in subproject for athletic venues and $100,000 of additional renovastantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the
tions to Turpin Stadium. In 2006, he also broke new ground
by generating private backing for the first long-term guaranteed coaching contract NCAA Division I membership.
Burke is a past president of the Natchitoches Kiwanis Club and remains active
in school history, for highly-successful basketball coach Mike McConathy.
Burke has displayed a remarkable ability to hire dynamic head coaches, in that civic group. He has also been part of the steering committee for the
including several whose success at Northwestern State has propelled them to Natchitoches Christmas Festival and is a former president of the Natchitoches
Area Jaycees. He is involved with the American Heart Association.
national prominence in subsequent positions.
He and his wife, Susu, a Natchitoches native, NSU graduate and elementary
Some of his best hires remain on staff at NSU.
Scott Stoker was one of the youngest Division I head football coaches in the teacher, have a 14-year-old daughter, Catherine, who is a freshman at St. Mary's
country when Burke brought the former Demon quarterback home on Jan. 7, High School. The Burkes will celebrate their 22nd wedding anniversary this sum2002. In his first season as a head coach, Stoker led the Demons to an 8-1 start mer.
and a national playoff berth. In his third season, Stoker won SLC and Louisiana
Coach of the Year honors after NSU won the conference title and returned to the
FCS postseason scene.
Two more Burke coaching hires had Northwestern in NCAA Tournament play
in their second seasons and have been back to postseason since.
McConathy was hired in 1999 after 16 seasons as a junior college head
coach. In his nine years, the Demons have reached the conference tournament
championship game six times, winning twice to make the school's first two NCAA
Tournament appearances, winning a game each time (2001, 2006).
Women's soccer coach Jimmy Mitchell has taken three teams to the NCAA
playoffs, making NSU the only Louisiana university to have multiple appearances.
Dramatic facility enhancements have occurred in his eight seasons and Mitchell
has been rewarded with a multi-year contract.
Burke also picked head coaches who have subsequently been hired by
Florida, Missouri, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Wichita State.
Burke was tabbed as one of two Natchitoches Parish Cenla Newsmakers of
2005 by the Alexandria Town Talk newspaper's editorial staff.
The paper cited the men's basketball success, NCAA Tournament appearances by the baseball and women's soccer teams, while other achievements
included NSU leading the Southland Conference and all state public universities
in the NCAA's initial Academic Progress Rates report in February 2005 measuring the job Division I athletic programs are doing helping advance their studentathletes toward graduation. NSU again sparkled in the NCAA's annual APR
reports, with the men's basketball team ranking in the top 10 percentile in the
country in 2006 and women's soccer sharing the national lead in 2007, while football rated again among the state and SLC leaders.
Greg Burke with wife Susu and daughter Catherine.
In 2005, Burke was one of three recipients of the All-America Football
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2009 Softball Media Guide
Greg Burke
Athletic Administration
hail from Pittsburgh seized an opportunity to serve as a graduate assistant in the sports
information department at Northwestern while beginning the pursuit of his master’s degree
in health and physical education (concentration in sports administration), which he obtained
in May of 2003, and was impressive enough to earn a promotion to full-time status in
November 1998.
Eubanks is married to the former Dawn Hornsby of Branch and the couple has two
daughters, Emilie (13) and Taylor Nicole (2). The sisters share the same birthdate.
Dustin and Dawn, who is the Associate Director of Financial Aid at NSU, celebrated their
fourth wedding anniversary this past summer.
Dr. William Broussard
Executive Director - NSU Athletic Association
Associate AD for External Relations
One of the most accomplished student-athletes ever at Northwestern
State, two-time football All-America center William Broussard returned to
his alma mater in February 2007 as the Director of External Relations, coordinating fundraising activities through the Athletic Association and Demon Victory Fund.
Broussard earned his Ph.D. from the University of Arizona in May, 2007. He was a May
2000 graduate of the Louisiana Scholars' College at Northwestern, earning his degree with
distinction in English, with an emphasis on Professional Writing.
He worked in the Dean of Students Office at Arizona from 2004-2007, serving two years
as the program coordinator for judicial affairs, and was qualitative research supervisor for
the Dean of Student's Office at Arizona in 2004-05. He previously founded and coordinated the CATS Center for Learning and Writing, a joint program between the UA athletics program and the university's English department, serving in that role from 2001-2003.
Broussard also taught college writing at the University of Arizona in 2000 and at Pima
Community College in 2002. He has also been an invited speaker or has consulted with
writing program and athletics administrators regarding writing center theory at Saint Mary's
University, Utah, Michigan State, Syracuse, and Washington. Broussard most recently presented nationally at the First Annual College Sports Research Institute at the University of
Memphis in April, 2008.
As a football player for the Demons, Broussard was a two-time All-Southland
Conference first-team selection and a two-time All-Louisiana pick who earned the Joe
Delaney Memorial Leadership Award for Offense in 1999 by his teammates, making him
permanent team captain of that squad. He helped lead the 1998 Demons to the outright
Southland Conference championship a year after they shared the title in 1997. The 1998
team earned a No. 2 seed in the national playoffs and was beaten in the semifinals by eventual national champion Massachusetts.
Along with earning All-America honors on the field in 1998 and 1999, Broussard was
recognized as one of the nation’s top scholar-athletes. He received a $5,000 NCAA
Postgraduate Fellowship and was one of only 15 seniors from all levels of college football
in 1999 to be awarded an $18,000 National Football Foundation/Hall of Fame ScholarAthlete Fellowship at a black-tie NFF dinner in New York City. He also received the Burger
King Football Scholar-Athlete Award, one of only 25 given nationally, in 1999, along with the
Issues in Black Higher Education “Arthur Ashe Scholar-Athlete” designation that year. He
was a six-time recipient of SLC Academic Honor Roll recognition and also made the
Academic All-District VI first team in 1998 and 1999.
Broussard, a native of Crowley, is married to the former Kendra Peters, a Lady Demon
volleyball player during the couple’s days at Northwestern.
Roxanne Freeman
Athletic Business Manager
Roxanne Freeman began working at NSU in 1983 as an accounting
clerk in business affairs. She transferred to the athletic department as football/baseball/track secretary and served under Sam Goodwin, Leon
Johnson and several baseball coaches for eight seasons before graduating
with a B.S. in accounting in May 1995.
Freeman then became the compliance coordinator and academic advisor during a
three-year span before leaving in 1998.
She returned to NSU in the Fall of 2000 in her current position as Business Manager
where she now serves as liaison between the athletic department and business affairs. She
has one son, Aaron Pizani, who is currently an NSU student.
Jodie Heinicka
Senior Woman’s Administrator/Academic Advisor
Jodie Heinicka, a nationally-ranked gymnast at Missouri and an
acclaimed scholar-athlete before beginning her career in academic support
and athletic administration, is the new Senior Woman's Administrator and
Academic Advisor for Northwestern State athletics.
Heinicka, the 2006 Big 12 Conference Female Sportsperson of the Year, came on board
in mid-April 2008. She replaced Julie Lessiter, who stepped down to enter private business
early this year after nearly a decade of service in the critical position.
Heinicka manages academic support activities for more than 300 Northwestern studentathletes, who utilize dozens of computer terminals and study carrels that are among the
facilities available in the Johnnie Emmons Academic Support Center in the NSU Athletic
Fieldhouse.
In two years as a staff member in the academic support area for Missouri athletics,
Heinicka gained a broad base of experience. In her first year, she worked with men's and
women's basketball, soccer, and the Enhanced Learning Program students. In her second
year with Missouri's Total Person Program she assisted the Director of Life Skills and primarily worked with the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), Mizzou Athletics Honors
and Awards, Life Skills Workshops, Community Service, and the Mizzou Athletics Career
Resource Center.
In her athletic career at Mizzou, Heinicka posted six of the top 12 uneven bars scores in
program history. As a sophomore in 2004, she set the Mizzou bars record when she recorded a 9.950 at the Cat Classic to win the individual event title.
In the best season of her career, Heinicka ended her senior campaign ranked fourth
nationally on bars and stood as the South Central Region's top bars performer 11-of-12
weeks. Over the course of the year, she won 12 event titles.
When she was named the 2006 Big 12 Female Sportsperson of the Year, it was the first
time a Missouri student-athlete earned the honor. Heinicka was a three-time Academic AllBig 12 first team selection and was named a National Association of Gymnastics
Coaches/Women Scholar Athlete in 2006. She was named the 2007 Women's Intersport
Network Collegiate Sportswoman of the Year.
She was the recipient of the 2006 Prentice Gautt Big 12 Postgraduate Scholarship
Award and served as Mizzou's SAAC vice president in her senior year, 2005-06.
For two straight years, the Mizzou athletic department featured her as its' spokesperson
to the Jefferson Club Society, which is the highest level of donors at the university. She
spoke to the society's annual gatherings in Florida and California.
The Seminole, Fla., native earned a bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in
May 2006. She received a master's degree in Higher and Continuing Education from
Missouri in May, 2008.
Donnie Cox
Associate AD/Internal Affairs
Donnie Cox serves as Associate Athletic Director for Internal Affairs at
Northwestern State. He has been charged with the responsibilities of game
day manager and the daily operations of the athletic department.
Cox has been an integral part of NSU athletic administration
during the past 12 years. He restructured contracts with vendors and streamlined operations, saving tens of thousands of dollars for the department. He took over football scheduling starting with the 1998 season and has been instrumental in securing guarantee games
that will have generated over $3.5 million for the department through 2009.
His management skills have streamlined game day operations and enhanced facilities
and support services for NSU athletics.
Cox joined the Northwestern staff in 1983 as an assistant football coach serving as
offensive coordinator and assistant head coach. He was also interim softball coach for one
win in 1995.
After 11 years of coaching at Northwestern, Cox became director of athletic facilities in
June of 1994. He added academics and NCAA compliance to his duties in May of 1995.
He also served as interim athletic director for eight weeks in 1996 after the retirement of
Tynes Hildebrand before taking his current position that same year.
A 1968 graduate of Harding University, Cox was a four-year starter and a two time all
conference defensive back. Cox and his wife, Linda, have five children: Julie, Christi, Ty,
Ben, and Gillian and five grandchildren, Daniel, Ben, Joseph, Piper and Lillie.
Dustin Eubanks
Assistant AD/NCAA Compliance Director
Ryan Holloway
Assistant AD for Marketing and Promotions
Northwestern State’s Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and
Promotions is Ryan Holloway, who has a combination of experience in
marketing the athletic program at Texas State and corporate marketing in
the private sector.
Holloway, a 2002 graduate of Texas State with a double major in finance and marketing,
Dustin Eubanks is in his 12th year in the NSU athletic department and
his ninth year at the helm of the compliance duties, keeping all athletic personnel current and in accordance with NCAA and Southland Conference
guidelines.
A 1996 education graduate of Northwestern, the 35-year-old avid fan of all teams that
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2009 Softball Media Guide
Athletic Administration
moved into his post in late January 2007. As Assistant AD/Director of Marketing, Promotions
and ticket operations, formulate marketing strategies, manage corporate and small business relations, oversee promotional activities and ticket sales.
From October 2005 until joining NSU, Holloway worked in the Texas State athletic
department as a marketing assistant. Previously he was a territory sales manager for a distributor of ExxonMobil Lubricants in Seattle and a senior project manager for three years
with Creative Management Group in Atlanta.
In his last year with Creative Management Group, he led the firm in client retention and
service while managing up to 85 accounts around the country.
At Texas State, Holloway assisted with preseason ticket drives, developing comprehensive marketing plans, cultivating and maintaining corporate sponsors, and was the liaison
working with Texas State’s student body, including fraternities, sororities and campus organizations.
He developed and implemented the Bobcat Frequent Fan Card for basketball, baseball
and softball. He was active in event management and specialized in ticket sales, campus
relations, sponsorship fulfillment and marketing and game promotions. He led the department in ticket sales through the Bobcat Business Partners Program.
Holloway, 28, was born July 2, 1980 in Jackson, Tenn., and graduated from Plano East
(Texas) High School, where he played football, basketball and baseball. At Texas State, he
was a senator in the Associated Student Government. His parents are Gary and Carla
Holloway of Austin, Texas, and he has an older sister, Robin Ramirez, and a brother-in-law,
Oscar; they have a young daughter, Melia, who will be 2 this year. Robin is pursuing her
Ph.D. in child psychology at Texas State. Ryan has a younger sister, Rebecca, who attends
Texas State. Ryan enjoys wakeboarding and travel.
Jody Biscoe
Faculty Athletic Representative
Faculty Athletic Representative Jody Biscoe is Assistant Professor of
Psychology and Addiction Studies at Northwestern, where he is the
Coordinator for the undergraduate Addiction Studies, and Substance Abuse
/ Prevention Concentrations.
He is also the Director for the Louisiana Addiction Technology Transfer Center at
Northwestern. He has served on the National Addiction Technology Transfer Center's Practice Committee that was responsible for the development of The Change Book: A
Blueprint for Technology Transfer. He has also coordinated four nationally recognized
Leadership Institutes for Louisiana, Texas and New Mexico. Biscoe has held clinical, program director, consultant, management, regional director and training positions in addiction
and mental health treatment and education settings since the mid 1980's and is active with
prevention and treatment issues.
Since 2006 he has served as Faculty Athletic Representative for Northwestern. This role
includes being the chairperson for the NSU Athletic Council.
Jody's wife, Veronica (Roni), is an avid runner. Their 14-year-old daughter, Roxy, as a
freshman, is on the varsity cheerleading squad at St. Mary's High School this year. They
are devoted Demon fans.
Becca Schulze
Assistant Academic Advisor
Brian Seiler
Assistant Marketing Director
Becca Schulze, who has been involved with academic support and
advising services at the University of Missouri, has joined the Northwestern
State athletic staff as an academic counselor.
Schulze, who has a bachelor of arts in history and also in education (2005) and a master's degree in education (2008) from Mizzou, came on board at the beginning of the fall
semester.
Schulze is teaming with a fellow Missouri graduate, Jodie Heinicka, who came on board
in April replacing longtime NSU academic advisor for athletics Julie Lessiter. Schulze
replaces Bradley Herman, who entered the private sector this summer.
Schulze and Heinicka coordinate academic support services for the nearly 300 studentathletes at Northwestern, with operations based in the Johnnie Emmons Academic Study
Center in the NSU Athletic Fieldhouse.
Schulze served in a number of roles at Missouri to prepare for a career in academic
advising. For two years, she was a graduate assistant in the Office of New Student and
Parent programs, coordinating and overseeing freshmen and transfer student orientation.
She coordinated and implemented a training program for 36 orientation leaders.
She completed two semester-long academic advising internships, in the College of Arts
and Sciences' Office of Academic Exploration and Advising Services and in the Trulaske
College of Business' Advising Services office.
Brian Seiler is in his second year as the Assistant Director of Marketing
and Promotions.
He has served as a graduate assistant in the sports information department covering soccer and tennis and as an intern for marketing and sports
information at Northwestern State. He was also awarded the 2006 Ace Higgins Award by
the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
He is a 2002 graduate of Louisiana State University and obtained his master’s degree
in sport administration from NSU in May of 2007.
Prior to coming to Northwestern, Brian taught Spanish and chemistry at Holy Savior
Menard Central High School in Alexandria where he coached tennis.
Alan Pasch
Director of Athletic Facilities
Alan Pasch joined the NSU athletic staff at the outset of 2008 although
he’s been a prominent coach on campus since 2001. Pasch was head rowing coach for the club-level crew teams at NSU while also serving as assistant intramural director for the past two years.
He took over as the director of athletic facilities for Chuck Bourg, who has moved into
another post on campus.
Pasch, a former Dean’s List student at Northwestern while obtaining his bachelor of arts
degree in 2001, picked up his master’s degree in sport administration in 2006 from NSU.
The NSU Crew Team was competitive on the national level throughout Pasch’s tenure
as head coach. He was varsity team captain from 1997-2000 and was crew oarsman of the
year in 1997, 1998 and 2000.
Pasch also coordinated visits to Natchitoches by as many as 16 intercollegiate and club
rowing teams each winter and spring, including nationally-ranked squads. He also served
as director of the annual Natchitoches Marathon Rowing Championships which attracts up
to 500 competitors each year.
His wife Yonna works in the student life office at Northwestern State. Pasch is also an
avid tennis player.
Lauren Castle
Assistant Director of Special Facilities for
Events Operations
In her first year on the NSU athletic staff, Lauren Castle has been a big
hit with her upbeat attitude, seemingly endless work ethic, and willingness
to touch all the bases to make every facility and every event the best it can
be.
It's the same approach she used as a three-time All-America softball star at LSU from
2004-06. Under legendary coach Yvette Girouard, Castle compiled a long list of accolades,
including being on the 2006 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List as she
served as the Lady Tigers' team captain.
She graduated from LSU in May 2007. She has worked in administrative roles with two
insurance firms while also working at a drilling company near her hometown of Lafayette.
Castle's winning personality and her strong organizational and time management skills
have been showcased in her new position, along with her ability to adapt to the constant
challenges in managing athletic facilities for a wide range of events. She has assumed the
title of assistant director of game operations for NSU athletics, using her ability to interact
effectively with visiting coaches, game officials, fans, and NSU staff and coaches to great
benefit to enhance the home game experience at Northwestern.
Last April, Castle, an outfielder and designated player at LSU, was named to the 12woman All-Lady Tiger Park Team as LSU celebrated its final season playing in that facility.
A three-year letterwinner after transferring from UL-Lafayette, Castle earned Easton AllAmerica honors in 2004, 2005, and 2006. A two-time NFCA All-South Region selection, the
Lafayette native led the Tigers in walks as a senior with the second most in school history
and only one shy of the school record. She concluded her career ranked in the top 10 in
LSU history in batting average, on base percentage, walks, hits, triples and run scored. She
helped LSU reach the 2004 Women's College World Series.
Castle was born Dec. 30, 1983 and is the daughter of Beth and Prent Castle. She has
two brothers, Chip and Walter. She was twice the Louisiana Class 5A player of the year
while starring at Comeaux High in Lafayette.
Zach Williams
Ticket Manager/Asst. Marketing Director
Zach Williams is in his second season as the NSU Ticket Manager and
Assistant Marketing Director.
Williams spent more than a year as the Wildcat Athletic Association
Coordinator for the Louisiana College Athletics Department prior to joining
NSU.
He is a March 2004 graduate of Louisiana Tech University and earned his master's
degree in sport management a year later from Georgia Southern.
With Georgia Southern, he assisted in the compliance office. He was also a member of
the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at Louisiana Tech, where he was a dean's list student.
Zach and his wife Susan, a teacher at Many High School, live in Natchitoches.
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2009 Softball Media Guide
Academics
Academic Services
The academic services provided for student-athletes at NSU
offer an array of programs to promote success in all areas of the
college experience. Housed in the Jonnie Emmons Academic
Center, the student-athletes enjoy a study space containing a 36station computer lab as well as five additional rooms for quiet
study.
NSU athletics currently has two academic advisors on staff.
The primary role of the athletic academic advisors is to serve as
the liaisons between the athletic department and institutional faculty and staff. In addition, the academic advisors assist all student-athletes with class registration, study skills, deciding on a
major, as well as monitoring progress to meet NCAA and institutional academic standards. These services have proven to be
very successful as the most recent Federal Graduation Rates
place NSU student-athletes at a 21% higher graduation rate than
the general student population.
In addition to these academic services, the CHAMPS/Life
Skills program is also housed in the academic center. This is a
program that, in addition to supporting academic and athletic
excellence, also promotes personal development, career development, as well as emphasizing the importance of community service. The latter three components will be the emphasis of the NSU Life Skills program, and in the next few years new programming and events will be launched to enhance these areas.
In addition to the CHAMPS/Life Skills program, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) also serves as an important component to the athletic department. Two student-athletes per team are nominated each year to serve on this important committee, which meets to discuss important
issues and new ideas regarding both athletics and Northwestern State as a whole. This group of leaders serves as the voice of the student-athletes
and helps to ensure that important information is shared among students, coaches, and administrators.
NSU’s Academic All-Americanss
Softball
1986
Tennis
3rd Team • 1991
Football
1st Team • 1993
Baseball
3rd Team • 1994
2nd Team • 1995
Softball
1st Team • 2002
Baseball
3rd Team • 2004
Softball
1st Team • 2005
Baseball
2nd Team • 2008
Football
Baseball
2nd Team • 1994
3rd Team • 1999
1st Team • 1995
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2009 Softball Media Guide