Horizon League Announces Staff Hiring, Promotions

July 28, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

INDIANAPOLIS --- Horizon League Commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone announced Monday (July 28) the hiring of Matt Segal as Director of Communications and the promotions of three current staff members.


Promoted were Nate Flannery to Director of New Media and Technology, Brandy Ingles to Assistant Director of Championships and Compliance, and Cindy French to Senior Executive Associate. In addition, Joel Barnhill's position has been re-titled to Assistant Commissioner, Sales and Marketing.


Segal (pronounced SEE-gull) joins the League office staff after serving the past 3 1/2 years as Media Relations Manager for the Indianapolis Indians Triple-A baseball club, which is in one of the top five Minor League Baseball media markets in the country. He handled all aspects of media relations for the Indians, while serving as the team's spokesperson, webmaster for IndyIndians.com, and liaison for player/coach appearances and activities.


Segal's accomplishments include promoting Victory Field's 10th anniversary in 2006, hosting national media during notable Major League players' rehabilitation assignments and serving as media relations coordinator for a number of International League playoff games.


Prior to joining the Indians staff, Segal spent a year as a media relations intern with the University of Mississippi athletics department, where he was the primary media contact for men's golf, women's golf and rifle while assisting with the Rebels' nationally-ranked baseball program that hosted an NCAA Regional in 2004.


An Indianapolis native, Segal earned a bachelor's degree in sports administration from Ball State University in 2004. As an undergraduate student, he held internships with the Indiana High School Athletic Association, the Indianapolis Colts public relations department and the NCAA statistics department.


Flannery will continue to direct the highly successful Horizon League Network (HLN), the League's comprehensive broadband video service. His duties include coordinating live event production, on-demand highlight and feature segments, and developing new media applications for Horizon League content. In addition, he manages the office's in-house technology, including network, system and software management. Flannery was Coordinator of New Media and Technology for the past year following two years as Assistant Director of Communications.


A native of Valparaiso, Ind., Flannery earned a bachelor's degree in history from Indiana University in 2004 and worked as a media relations intern for the Indianapolis Indians prior to joining the League office staff.


Ingles (pronounced ING-uhls) spent the 2007-08 academic year with the League office as Championships, Compliance and Communications Assistant after a year as the compliance and championships intern at the Western Athletic Conference office in Englewood, Colo. She helps coordinate championships operations for all sports; assist League institutions with compliance and legislative issues; and serves as the primary media contact for swimming and diving and tennis.


Prior to joining the WAC staff, Ingles served as a law clerk for Walentine, O'Toole, McQuillan & Gordon in her hometown of Omaha, Neb. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Nebraska in 2003 and a juris doctorate from its College of Law in 2006. She was admitted to the Nebraska Bar in September 2006.


French is in her fifth year at the Horizon League after serving the past two years as Senior Executive Assistant to the Commissioner. She provides senior leadership in daily operations of the Horizon League office and assistance to the Commissioner in the areas of meeting planning and travel. Her duties also include providing support and assistance to the Horizon League Board of Directors and Executive Council. A native of Indianapolis, French previously worked for USA Gymnastics for sixteen years.


Barnhill is in his third year with the League office following two years as Assistant Commissioner for Marketing, Licensing and Event Operations. His primary responsibilities are corporate sponsorship sales, ticket and event promotions, and branding and licensing. A native of Loudonville, Ohio, Barnhill joined the Horizon League following four years at the University of Cincinnati as Assistant Athletic Director, Ticket Sales and Promotions. He holds two degrees from Miami (Ohio) University -- a bachelor's in liberal arts in 1987 and a master's in sports organization in 1993.