Illinois State

2011-12 Mens Basketball Virtual Guide

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ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION Larry Lyons Executive Associate Athletics Director Larry Lyons, C.P.A., is in his 25th year at Illinois State. He oversees business operations, facility operations, human resources and the Weibring Golf Club, supervises the athletic training, athletic equipment and strength and conditioning units, and provides administrative leadership for men's and women's golf and baseball. He assists the Director of Athletics with Football and Men's Basketball. In addition, during the spring 0f 2011, Lyons served as the department's interim director of athletics. In 2008, Lyons managed the conceptual, design and construction stages of the Illinois State Baseball Stadium at Duffy Bass Field. The Illinois State alumnus, who also has a degree from Illinois, serves as the athletics department's liaison to the university for human resources, administrative and fee-related projects. Currently he serves on the Campus Master Plan Committee, the Capital Planning and Budget Team, the Campus Technology Policy and Planning Council, the Data Stewardship and Information Technology Services Council and the Campus Facilities Charges and Access Work Group. In addition, he is a campus representative on the Illinois State Foundation Board of Directors. Lyons and his wife, Maureen, have two children: Matt (27) and Kristin (24). Leanna Bordner Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Women's Administrator Leanna Bordner is in her 18th year on the Illinois State staff. She became the event manager in 1993, and then became marketing director two years later. She was promoted to assistant athletics director in 1997 and Senior Women's Administrator in 2002. Under Bordner's direction, ISU's marketing division experienced signifi cant growth, as did the department's sales revenues. In her current position, Bordner directly supervises 12 sports and handles day-to-day operations for two others. In addition, she serves as the department liaison to the Missouri Valley Conference offi ce; is a member of the MVC Offi ciating and Marketing Committees and chairs the MVC Women's Basketball Marketing Committee. Bordner serves on the Preview Committee, Athletic Council Gender Equity Committee, Homecoming Steering Committee, Alcohol Task Force and NCAA Choices Grant Committee. She also directs Cinco de Redbirds, a fundraiser for women's athletics, and started the 'Birds in the Burbs program, a pen pal initiative with ISU student-athletes and children from a Chicago suburban elementary school. In the community, Bordner serves on the Red Cross Board; the McLean County Chamber Board and the Chamber Government Affairs Committee; the BNACVB Sports Commission Board; is the chair of the Red Cross Evening of Stars Program Committee; and belongs to the Bloomington Kiwanis. Previously, Bordner spent eight seasons as an assistant basketball coach at Michigan State, part of a 16-year coaching career. Bordner received a bachelor's degree from Michigan State in 1977 and a master's degree from Indiana in 1979. While at MSU, she lettered in fi eld hockey, basketball and softball. Cindy Harris Associate Athletics Director/Compliance Former Redbird volleyball star Cindy Harris is in her 13th year at her alma mater as associate athletics director for compliance. Harris oversees all aspects of the athletics department's compliance efforts, including review of all eligibility and fi nancial aid matters for 19 sports and approximately 450 student-athletes. In addition, she is responsible for the data collection and submission of Illinois State's NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) and Graduation Success Rate (GSR) reports. She formerly served as a liaison to the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee and served a four-year stint on the NCAA Division I Progress Toward Degree Waivers Committee. Before returning to ISU, Harris was an associate commissioner for the Mid-Continent Conference, where, in addition to compliance, she coordinated the league's championship program. A successful college volleyball coach, Harris served as an assistant at both Utah and Penn State before moving on to the head coaching position at Valparaiso, where she was named the Mid-Continent Conference Coach of the Year in 1991. Harris is a 1984 graduate of Illinois State and received her master's degree from Utah. A native of Buffalo, Ill., Harris has a 13-year-old son, Neil. Todd Kober Associate Athletics Director/Athletics Communications Todd Kober returned to Illinois State in 2001 to lead the department where he served as a student assistant, graduate assistant and assistant director from 1995-2000. In 2000-01, he was assistant sports information director at Rice. Since his return to Illinois State, Kober continues to institute leadership and training programs for staff, enhance Illinois State's website, GoRedbirds.com, increase ISU Athletics' social media presence, elevate offi ce technology and handle the department's television and radio networks. In 2011, management of the department's external units were also added to his responsibilities. An award-winning publications editor, Kober leads Illinois State's publicity, promotion and information support efforts for all 19 sports. Since his return to Illinois State, the athletics media relations offi ce has had fi ve "Best in the Nation" publications and 10 ranked among the top-three. He has also mentored 31 young professionals who pursued careers in athletics. Kober and his wife, Susan, an Illinois State alumna, reside in Normal, Ill., and have a daughter, Anna, and two sons, Halas and Crosby. 192 2011-12 Illinois State Basketball

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