Ron Mears was out of the sports information business for a year, but that didn't stop him from thinking about the job he loved.
Mears, who took a job as the Director of Community Relations at Fayette Memorial Hospital in LaGrange last year, jumped at the chance to apply for Texas State's Sports Information Director when the position opened up earlier this month.
Mears, who had 15 years of previous SID experience at both Nicholls State University and the University of Memphis from 1988-03, was named Texas State's new SID on Thursday. He will replace Tony Brubaker, who resigned after 14 years at the university.
"It was a great opportunity to get back to doing what I love," Mears said. "I can't tell you how excited I am. When I was out for a year, I really missed it. I missed dealing with students, coaches, the media and the public."
During his tenure at Nicholls State, Mears' 1996 football media guide was named Best in the Nation for NCAA I-AA, and his publications finished in the top five nationally during three of his final four years. At Memphis, Mears was responsible for the public affairs and media relations efforts for the university's basketball program.
Mears said one of the most exciting aspects of the Texas State SID job is the fact the Bobcats will soon have their website on collegesports.com (formerly OSCN). Memphis had an OSCN athletic website when Mears was at the school.
"I think it's great that we're on board with collegesports.com." Mears said. "It's so pivotal for a university like Texas State to have a great website. You have so many alumni all around Texas, the nation and the world. We can keep them informed with a great information tool.
"We have an opportunity to put out box scores, stories, statistics and game notes out instantaneously for fans, alumni and for recruits, as well as the local, statewide and national media."
Mears said it will be an added bonus for fans to be able to track games online, a feature Texas State signed up with at collegesports.com.
"When you can follow games up-to-the-minute, and have the radio broadcast streamlined in, it makes for a very cool feature," Mears said. "I think the fans will really enjoy every part of collegesports.com."
Texas State athletic director Larry Teis said Mears was a perfect fit for the job.
"Ron has a wealth of athletic public relations knowledge and experience," Teis said. "He understands the challenges of media relations in a market our size and has also been at a higher level. That combination of experiences is what will make our sports information office a great operation."
Mears said he hopes to develop solid relations with the community and the media quickly.
"Texas State is a unique setting because it's so close to Austin and San Antonio," Mears said. "I want to try to develop solid inroads with the statewide and the local media. Building those relationships will be key. I want to go out and see folks in the community and beyond, and provide everyone with all the information they need."
Mears will start his new job in the first week of August.