Aug. 27, 2008

Greetings Bengal fans,

As the beginning of another academic and athletic year approaches, I would like to take the time to introduce myself to you. I would also like to introduce some new faces, positions and ideas within the department.

Over the past year, the Idaho State University Athletic Department has undergone a significant face lift. As the interim director of athletics, I would like to build upon the strengths of each member of our department, new and old, to move Idaho State University athletics to new and greater heights. As a native of Pocatello, I know what this city has to offer the student-athletes who attend our University. With your assistance we will create a legacy for our current student-athletes and those who have already competed, representing this great University, and many more who will come in the future.

To begin, we will first change the structure of the Bengal Foundation leadership. Jay McMillin, Executive Director of the Bengal Foundation, will be promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Development and Major Gifts. Jay will work to identify, cultivate and secure major gifts for the department of intercollegiate athletics. He will devote much of his time towards building relationships and raising funds for Bengal Village. The athletic department has been in great need of full-time development officer and I am confident that Jay will be outstanding in that position. Together and as a University and athletics department, we need to increase the opportunities that come through philanthropy so as to generate the necessary funds to add to and build new facilities, thus providing to our coaches and student-athletes greater opportunities to succeed. Jay, myself and a wonderful committee chaired by Dr. Mick Mickelsen all plan to work diligently to make sure we achieve this goal. Your kindness and help has been and will continue to be deeply appreciated.

Filling the role as the Executive Director of the Bengal Foundation will be Donna Hays, who currently serves as the Director of Club and Sport Development. Donna is an experienced and talented fundraiser and I am excited for the opportunity this brings not only to the athletic department and its constituents, but to the members of the Bengal Foundation. Donna is a natural fit to lead the Bengal Foundation and its members generating critical resources for athletic scholarships.

We also welcome two new head coaches to our department. Chad Teichert takes over as the ninth head volleyball coach for the Bengals. Teichert comes to the department as one of the top volleyball clinicians in the nation and one of the nation's winningest high school coaches. He brings to Idaho State over 25 years of coaching experience, both on the high school and club level. He has also organized and conducted over 450 volleyball camps and clinics for players and teams at all levels, including high school, club and the collegiate level. Joining Teichert on the Bengal sideline are assistant coach David Hyte, and graduate assistant coach, Katie Edgson.

Hyte gained his coaching experience as a volunteer assistant coach at Brigham Young University under the direction of then BYU head coach, and current Arizona State head coach, Jason Watson. David focused primarily on middle blockers and team blocking at BYU. After competing for the BYU Men's Volleyball team, Hyte followed in the footsteps of Coach Teichert by both participating in and running summer volleyball camps. Katie Edgson joins that staff as a graduate assistant coach after competing for the Bengals during the past four years. Edgson will use her expertise to guide the defensive players. While working on the staff, Katie will also be finishing her degree in elementary education and will begin work on a master's degree in the spring.

In addition to the changes made with our volleyball coaches, ISU welcomes new women's basketball head coach, Seton Sobelewski. Sobolewski takes over the women's basketball team after serving for the last four years as an assistant coach at Big West Conference member, University of California Riverside. At UC Riverside Seton helped lead the team to a Big West regular season title, two Big West Tournament titles, two NCAA appearances, and a near tournament upset of #8 Arizona State in 2007. While serving as the recruiting coordinator at UC Riverside, Sobolewski recruited and brought in players that collected some impressive awards, including one Big West Conference Player of the Year award, one Freshman of the Year award and one Defensive Player of the Year award.

Joining Sobelewski as assistant coaches are former ISU Bengal Angela Munger, assistant coach Jordan Green and graduate assistant coach, Holly Robertson. Angela returns to Idaho State after spending seven years as an assistant coach at the United States Air Force Academy under former ISU coach Ardie McInelly. As one of the most popular players in Bengal history, Munger played for the Bengals from 1996-2000. Angela will now serve as the top assistant coach for Idaho State Women's Basketball and will work as ISU's recruiting coordinator, along with working with the team's guards. Munger will also handle scouting, scheduling and working on the motion offense and certain defensive sets. Jordan Green enters his fourth season as an assistant with Idaho State. His duties include film exchange, assisting with the guard work, recruiting and practices. Holly Robertson begins her first season as a women's basketball coach after a professional basketball career in Europe that included stops in Germany and Italy. Holly competed for four years at Brown University but will now hone all of her skills in working with the Bengals.

Finally I would like to introduce our two newest members of the department staff, Compliance Director Joel Vickery, and Assistant Sports Information Director Katie Zigars. Both began working for the department this summer and have proved to be dependable and valuable assets for Idaho State University. Both are graduates of Idaho State as well.

Stepping away from the personnel side of things, I would like to make mention several other important items. Football will begin this weekend at Boise State and will continue for another week on the road at the University of Idaho. However, when we return to home action on September 18, we ask you to please join us at Holt Arena cheering on the Bengals. Festivities begin at 4:30 p.m., with BengalFest in the Holt Arena parking lot. At BengalFest, we ask you to join with the rest of ISU's campus and business community for the closing check presentation and party of the annual "I Love ISU" campaign. The event is free to everyone in attendance and there will be plenty of good food and beverages. Please join us as we begin our athletic season in style.

I must also mention our excitement for our men's basketball team. Coming off of a fourth place finish in conference play, Coach O'Brien now has his eyes on the championship. With the addition of new players, this year's team is sure to be outstanding.

This year I am pleased to announce that we will not be playing any home basketball games on Sunday. In addition, Coach O'Brien has rounded up an exciting home schedule which will feature marquee home match-ups with Brigham Young University, the University of Utah, Utah State University, and the University of Idaho. If ever there was a year to purchase season tickets, this is it. Purchasing season tickets will assure you good seats for those match-ups.

Speaking for the athletic department collectively, I would like to thank all of you for your continuous support of ISU Athletics and our student-athletes. No matter what we do to improve our teams or the competition arena, we cannot continue without your support. I now ask for your continued support and commitment. Work with me and the entire athletic department to help our teams rise to new levels of success. Please know that we are working very hard to reward you with teams that you can be proud of. Sincerely yours,

Jeff Tingey Interim Athletic Director Idaho State University