Southern Arkansas University Director of Athletics, Steve Browning has announced the internal promotions of Darius Strickland and Kasey Wylie. Strickland, the former Manager of Athletic Facilities is now the Assistant Director of Athletics for Facilities and Game Operations.
Wylie, the former Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance, will now serve as the Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Operations and remain as the Senior Woman Administrator.
“Kasey and Darius are huge assets to Mulerider Athletics and Southern Arkansas University,” lauded Browning. “Their hard work and dedication on a daily basis does not go unnoticed by our coaches, staff, and student-athletes. I have enjoyed working alongside them, and look forward to many more years to come of success for Mulerider Athletics and our department overall thanks to their contributions”
Strickland came to SAU as a student-athlete on the football team for two seasons. He later earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Human Performance, Recreation, and Community Service with an emphasis on Sports Management from SAU in December 2014. Strickland then served as a graduate assistant in the athletic department working closely with Athletic Director, Steve Browning.
Upon earning a Master’s of Science degree in Kinesiology from SAU in August of 2016, Strickland remained with Mulerider Athletics and moved into a full-time position as the Manager of Athletic Facilities. In that role, Strickland was in charge of all athletic facility management on campus on a daily basis and also contributed to game day operations.
In his new role, Strickland will maintain a lot of his previous responsibilities with a larger role in game day operations. His primary focus will be ensure that Mulerider Athletic sporting events are presented in a first-class fashion for fans.
A member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Collegiate Event and Facility Management Association (CEFMA), and Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA), Strickland is also currently entering his second year as a Ph.D. student in Sport Management at Troy University.
Wylie has been a mainstay of the Mulerider Athletic department since 2013 when she came on staff full time as an eligibility specialist. Prior to that, Wylie earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from SAU in 2011 and a Master’s degree, also from SAU, in Kinesiology-Coaching in 2013.
Not long after Wylie joined the athletic department staff, she became an Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance in which she continued her duties in athlete certification, but also took on overseeing the entire department’s compliance efforts in accordance with Great American Conference and NCAA rules and regulations.
Additionally, Wylie serves as SAU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) advisor as well as the department’s Senior Woman Administrator.
In new role as Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Operations, Wylie will continue to handle many of her prior responsibilities, but will take on a larger role in the day-to-day operation of the growing department.
Wylie and her husband Justin Wylie are also proud parents of Richlynn Jane, who was born on July 13.