Marshall University Athletics
Matt Turk Named Associate Sports Information Director
7/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | General
July 16, 2009
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall University Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations Randy Burnside announced Thursday that Matt Turk has been named Associate Sports Information Director.
Turk, a native of Flushing, N.Y., joins the Marshall staff after spending 11 years as the Sports Information Director at Simpson College (Iowa). He will serve as Marshall's primary media relations contact for men's basketball and men's golf while assisting in the coverage and promotion of all 15 of Marshall's athletic programs.
"Matt brings a great deal of experience in all areas of sports information and I am pleased to have him join our staff," Burnside said.
Responsible for coverage of all 18 varsity sports at Simpson, Turk earned 15 College Sports Information Directors of America publication awards including five "Best in the Nation" certificates. His wrestling publication earned eight awards from the Amateur Wrestling News. Turk served as the primary media coordinator at nine NCAA Division III Tournaments in five different sports at Simpson. His publicity campaign for Nick Ackerman, the 2001 NCAA Division III 174-pound wrestling champion, resulted in Ackerman's appearance on NBC's Today show in May 2001.
"Both (fiance) Sara (Kahler) and I are very excited about joining the Marshall family," Turk said. "This position is what I have been working toward throughout my career. I believe that I have a lot to offer not only the Marshall Athletic Department, but Marshall University as well."
He began his career as a graduate assistant sports information director at North Dakota State University in 1995. During his two years in Fargo, Turk earned five CoSIDA awards, while working as a member of the Bison athletic media relations staff that hosted four different NCAA Division II Tournaments.
Turk earned a bachelor's degree in Communications Arts from St. John's University in 1994. He is engaged to Sara Kahler, a former softball All-American at Simpson College. The couple resides in Barboursville.
Turk replaces Brandon Parro who accepted a similar position with the University of Maryland in January.
