Aug. 2, 2006

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Commissioner Craig Thompson announced the addition of Multimedia Coordinator Lauri Pyatt and Championships/Communication intern Tim Tesar to the Mountain West Conference Staff. The Commissioner also announced the promotion of Carrie Wolf to Associate Commissioner for Championships; Javan Hedlund to Associate Commissioner for Communications; and Kelly Slater to Director of Championships.

Pyatt, a 1999 Waldorf College Cum Laude graduate in Public Relations, served as an Assistant Sports Information Director at Drake University for the past four years. She was the media relations contact for men's and women's soccer and softball, as well as being responsible for the daily maintenance of two websites - drakebulldogs.org and drakerelays.org. While at Drake, Pyatt earned Excellence in Sports Information honors twice from Soccer Buzz Magazine in 2002 and 2004. Her primary responsibility at the Mountain West will be daily maintenance and design of the Conference website.

Tesar is a 2006 Magna Cum Laude graduate in Public Relations from Drake University and will serve as the Conference intern for the 2006-07 academic year. The internship will focus in the areas of sport administration, championships and communications.

Carrie Wolf has been elevated from Assistant Commissioner for Championships to Associate Commissioner for Championships. Wolf is charged with directing 10 Mountain West Conference championships and supervises 17 regular-season MWC sponsored sports. She will continue to serve as the coaches' liaison and oversee of the game management policies and conference schedules for several sports. Wolf also is a staff liaison to the Joint Council senior woman administrators and works with the Conference's representative to the NCAA Championships/Competition Cabinet regarding issues affecting the Conference.

Javan Hedlund has been elevated from Assistant Commissioner for Communications to Associate Commissioner for Communications. Hedlund will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of the communications staff and the publicity efforts for the league's 19 sponsored sports. His responsibilities include the organization of the annual MWC football and basketball media days as well as serving as the media coordinator for the MWC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships. Hedlund also is the primary media contact for football and golf.

Kelly Slater has been elevated from Assistant Director of Championships to Director of Championships. Slater will continue as the liaison for nine regular-season Mountain West Conference sponsored sports in addition to serving as the championship contact for men's and women's cross country, women's soccer, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, men's and women's tennis and women's golf. Slater also serves as the ticket manager for the MWC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships.

TRANSACTIONS Mountain West Conference - Lauri Pyatt named Multimedia Coordinator; Tim Tesar named Championships/Communications Intern. Carrie Wolf promoted to Associate Commissioner for Championships; Javan Hedlund promoted to Associate Commissioner for Communications; Kelly Slater promoted to Director of Championships.