Eleven-Year Veteran Newbery Promoted at MAIA
The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association added a third full-time position to the conference staff, and commissioner Ralph McFillen announced a staff reorganization, naming Matt Newbery, director of sports information since 1994, assistant to the commissioner for media relations.
"Matt has been my right hand since we opened the office in Overland Park in 1997, and he stepped up recently with his efforts in the administration and conduct of the basketball tournament this year."
Entering his 12th year, Newbery has the second-longest tenure of any full-time conference staffer -- trailing only the 16 years of service by Ken B. Jones, the MIAA's first full-time commissioner.
He coordinates the league's media relations and statistics, and oversees the design and editing of the association's publications. Newbery also aids in the administration of MIAA championship events such as the MIAA basketball, baseball and softball tournaments.
Over the past 11 years, Newbery has overseen the growth of the conference's sports information operation, including the implementation of a desktop publishing system and advanced information dissemination with a presence on the world wide web at the www.themiaa.com.
While with the MIAA, Newbery has five "Best in the Nation" citations from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) for publications excellence, with the 2004-05 Winter Media Guide the latest to earn such recognition. A total of 13 other citations for excellence with publications produced for the conference have been earned.
Newbery came to the MIAA after four years as assistant sports information and marketing director at Pittsburg State University, where he was in charge of coordinating publications for Pittsburg State's sports information operation.
The department earned seven awards from CoSIDA for its work, including "Best in the Nation" for the 1992 Football Game Program and the 1994 Track & Field Media Guide. Newbery also aided in the promotion in PSU's two Harlon Hill Award winners (Division II Football Player of the Year) in 1991 and 1992.
Newbery, a native of Pittsburg, Kan., was assistant sports editor at the Pittsburg Morning Sun from 1988-89, after three years as a sports writer. He also worked at several Pittsburg-area radio stations from 1982-87.
Newbery graduated from PSU in 1990 with a bachelor of arts degree in communication. He's a member of CoSIDA, served on the Daktronics Division II Football All-America Committee for six years, and was the chairman of the CoSIDA Publications Contest Committee for five years.