18 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2004
--said.
New assistant director named
'True professional,' Chris Theisen will start position in August
By Joe Burke jburke@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
The revolving door at the University of Kansas Athletic Department brought in another new face last week.
Chris Theisen was named the assistant athletics director for media relations at the University last week.
Theisen will begin his job in early August and will be the men's basketball contact as well as oversee the publicity and promotion of University athletics.
Theisen
He replaces Mitch Germann, who left the University for the public relations firm of Fleishman-Hillard in Kansas City, Mo.
Theisen, an Oklahoma City native, said he was excited to start at the University and get a chance to work with men's basketball coach Bill Self.
"Coach Self is awesome. He's well respected, a genuine person," Theisen
"He has done terrific work both at the conference level and at the NCAA tournament level. He is a true professional, with outstanding contacts both regionally and nationally. We are delighted to have him join our team."
Jim Marchiony Associate athletics director
Theisen is an original Big 12 staff member who has been with the conference since its days as the Big Eight. He has served the past six years as the associate media relations director for the Big 12 Conference. His duties included assisting with the publicity and championships management for the conference's 21 sports.
No stranger to Big 12 basketball, Theisen said the opportunity to come to Kansas was something he could not
pass up.
"I'm very excited about the opportunity. I've followed University of Kansas athletics and the basketball program a long time," said Theisen.
Associate athletics director Jim Marchiony said he was looking forward to working with Theisen.
"I have known Chris for several years," Marchiony said. "He has done terrific work both at the conference level and at the NCAA tournament level. He is a true professional, with outstanding contacts both regionally and nationally. We are delighted to have him join our team."
Prior to his promotion to associate director of the Big 12 in February 1998 Theisen served as an assistant media relations director for the conference beginning in July 1996.
Theisen has also been the coordinator of the Big 12 football championship, the Big 12 men's basketball tournament and the last three NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament first and second rounds hosted by the Big 12.
— Edited by Erik Johnson