MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois Athletic Director Tommy Bell announced staff promotions and department changes as part of the department's reorganization.
 
Matt Tanney has been promoted to Deputy Director of Athletics. Tanney joined Western in 2012 as Associate Athletic Director in charge of Student-Athlete services in addition to being the liaison with facility management and holding sport administrative duties.
 
Tanney will now oversee business operations and human resources/personnel matters while adding sport supervision of women's basketball. He will continue to oversee: compliance, academic services, athletic training, game administration, and strength and conditioning. In addition to women's basketball, he serves as the sport administrator for baseball, men's soccer and the cross country/track and field programs.
 
Lisa Melz-Jennings received a promotion to Associate Athletic Director. She continues to oversee the academic services area while also serving as the department's Senior Woman Administrator. Melz-Jennings, who served as the interim athletic director last summer prior to Bell's arrival, has sport supervision of softball, swimming/diving, men's tennis and women's tennis. She begins her 16th year with the department.
 
Julie Gibbes, director of compliance for the last year, added the title of Assistant Athletic Director. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the compliance office, financial aid and eligibility certification for all 20 sports programs.
 
Kelsey Laverdiere has been promoted to Assistant Athletic Director in charge of corporate relations, promotions and special events. She is also the liaison with the cheerleading program. Laverdiere begins her third year with Leatherneck Athletics.
 
As part of the restructuring, the men's basketball, football, women's soccer and volleyball programs will report directly to Bell as he enters his second year in charge. He will directly oversee all of the department's external relations areas.
 
Another department will undergo a name change. The former Media Services department will now be known as Athletic Communications. Assistant Athletic Director Patrick Osterman enters his sixth year in charge of the Athletic Department's website (GoLeathernecks.com) and publicity of all 20 sport programs and the student-athletes. Osterman serves as the sport supervisor of men's and women's golf while serving as the liaison with the broadcasting department.
 
"I did an evaluation of the Athletic Department upon completing the first fiscal year of my administration and decided we needed to make some necessary changes. I wanted to streamline our day-to-day internal operations, allowing me to spend more time on our external relations. We are putting together our facility master plan, but in order to make this a reality we need to put an increased emphasis on our external relations - cultivating corporate relations, increase membership in the Leatherneck Club and increase ticket sales," said Bell. "Western Athletics is very fortunate to have a dynamic staff in place that works hard each and every day to enhance the student-athlete experience. The title promotions represent a reflection of their hard work and dedication."
 
 
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