UMobile Trio Sweeps Top SSAC Awards

UMobile Trio Sweeps Top SSAC Awards

The University of Mobile (UMobile) swept the major end-of-year awards at the 2015 Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Awards Banquet in Montgomery on May 17.  Joe Niland was named the SSAC Athletic Director of the Year, Jacob Lewis was selected as the SSAC Athletic Trainer of the Year and Matthew Hicks was chosen as the SSAC Sports Information Director of the Year.

All three awards were voted on by their peers. SSAC is comprised of 14 schools from the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.

Kris Nelson, vice president of operations and athletics, said the awards are a well-deserved recognition of the trio’s influence and excellence.

“Being chosen by your peers and recognized by others who know what it takes to do your job — that’s a pretty impressive thing,” Nelson said.

Nelson pointed to the respect and reputation for class that Niland has throughout the SSAC, one of the top conferences in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Niland is wrapping up his eighth year as athletic director at UMobile. He oversees an athletics program that recently grew to 17 teams with the addition of men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field in 2014–15. He also concluded his 16th year as head coach of the men's basketball program.

Nelson said Lewis was promoted from assistant to head athletic trainer for the university May 15, just prior to receiving the athletic trainer of the year honor. He praised Lewis’ knowledge, compassionate approach and calm manner, adding that it is significant that Lewis has made such an impact after just two years as a trainer in the conference.

Lewis’ primary sports in 2014–15 were soccer and softball, and he also oversees the daily operations of the training room.

Nelson said Hicks is recognized as a relentless worker who is a “one-man crew who sees what needs to be done, makes it happen and does so with excellence.”

Hicks is completing his ninth year as the school's sports information director. As the sole member of the sports information department, he oversees game day operations and staffing, broadcasting, media relations, press releases, social media, photography, web site maintenance, public relations, marketing and more for the 17 athletics programs.

Since starting at UMobile, Hicks launched a social media presence for athletics, which rank among the best in the NAIA in growth; he has started online broadcasting for all home soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball games; and worked with SIDHelp and the UMobile marketing department to launch the new athletics website in 2013.

UMobile athletics consistently rate among the top in the NAIA, and 2014–15 is no exception as men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis and softball all qualified for their respective NAIA National Championships. Men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field and men's and women's golf also had individuals qualify for their NAIA National Championships.

Previously this season, Brian Person was named SSAC Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year, Daniel Whelan was named SSAC Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year and Colby Odom was named SSAC Men’s Golf Coach of the Year.

Person guided the Lady Rams to the SSAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships and earned a spot in the NAIA National Championships for the fifth-consecutive season.

In his first season as head coach of the UMobile men’s soccer program, Whelan guided the team to a 15–4–3 record and a trip to the quarterfinals of the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championships.

Odom led the UMobile men’s golf team to a runner-up finish at the 2015 SSAC Championships and Zach Day earned an individual spot at the NAIA Men’s Golf National Championships under Odom’s tutelage. The Rams finished in the top-five in all but one tournament on the year. (UMobile)