Mike Laninga named assistant director of communications
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INDIANAPOLIS --- Mike Laninga and Kristy Murphy have been named to positions within communications at the Horizon League office, Commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone announced Thursday (Oct. 1). Laninga joins the staff as the assistant director of communications, while Murphy assumes the role of communications intern.
In his new role, Laninga will handle communications efforts for men's and women's soccer, swimming and diving, and softball. He also will work closely with WebStream Productions to develop and add content to the Horizon League Network web site and serve as the office's technology manager.
Murphy will be the Horizon League's media contact for cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field and tennis and assist with special basketball projects while contributing to the League's web sites.
"We are pleased to have Mike and Kristy join our League office team," said LeCrone. "Their energy and experiences will benefit our strategic communications efforts."
For the past two years, Laninga was a communications intern at the Big Ten Conference, where he was the primary media contact for soccer, swimming and diving, track and field and golf. He also designed the web page for the Big Ten's inaugural on-line football media guide and assisted in the planning and management of the conference's football and basketball media days and postseason basketball tournaments.
In addition, he has worked internships with the Kane County Cougars minor-league baseball team and Pacers Sports and Entertainment, while also serving on the game-day staffs for the Indianapolis Colts in guest relations and the Chicago Bears in media operations.
Laninga graduated in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in sport administration from Ball State University, where he was a student assistant in the athletics communications and marketing department.
A native of Manteno, Ill., Laninga will begin his new position Oct. 5 and replaces Josh Rattray, who accepted a position as assistant sports information director at League-member Butler University.
Murphy was an intern at the Indiana High School Athletic Association from January through July while completing her undergraduate work at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. At the IHSAA, she updated the web site, edited championship programs and media guides and also aided staff in hosting winter and spring championships.
A native of Monrovia, Ind., Murphy graduated from IUPUI in May with a bachelor's degree in physical education with an emphasis in sports management and a minor in business.
