Jan. 29, 2002

By Tony Phifer
Fort Collins Daily Coloradoan

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Colorado State University athletic director Jeff Hathaway is importing some help from his old stomping grounds.

Hathaway announced Monday that Neal Eskin has been named senior associate athletic director for external relations. He replaces Casey Scott, who left his post in December to join former CSU athletic director Tim Weiser at Kansas State.

Neal Eskin has attributes that are going to be beneficial in helping student-athletes, coaches and staff, Hathaway said. He has been successful as an athletic administrator in a variety of situations and at a number of institutions. The experience and the knowledge that he has gained through the years will make him a valuable member of our staff and complement our excellent administrative team that is currently in place.

Eskin began his career in athletic administration in 1985, serving as assistant ticket manager at Maryland. He was promoted to ticket manager in 1987, then moved to athletic media relations in 1988, serving as director for one year.

Eskin later served in the marketing department for 10 years, the last three as assistant athletic director for marketing and promotions.

He joined Hathaway at UConn in 1998, serving two years as the assistant athletic director for development. He was promoted to associate athletic director of external operations in January 2001 and still holds that position.

Hathaway said Eskin's wide range of experience was the difference-maker when making his selection for the post. Matt Lucas, associate athletic director for external affairs at Eastern Michigan, was the other finalist.

What set him apart was his past experience and his knowledge of coming into a department and looking at external relations, sifting through that department and turning it into a fine-tuned operation, Hathaway said. He's a tremendous communicator, both within the department and on the outside, and in that world you just can't communicate enough.

Eskin will oversee CSU's athletic fund-raising, marketing, ticket sales and sports information. He will also work with Hathaway in creating a major gift cultivation program.

I think it will be a great benefit for us to get all of those areas under one umbrella, Hathaway said.

Eskin is scheduled to start at CSU on Feb. 18.