Athletics Announces Staff Promotions & Reorganization
10/15/2020 8:30:00 AM | General
MALIBU, California – Pepperdine University Director of Athletics Dr. Steve Potts announced today multiple promotions within the department.
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With former Deputy Director of Athletics/SWA Karina Herold recently departing to become the Vice President of Major Events at the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission/LA Super Bowl Host Committee, a restructuring of the department has been put into place.
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Amanda Kurtz will take on the role of Senior Woman Administrator in addition to her Associate Director of Athletics position. Kevin Wright will also become an Associate Director of Athletics. Four others – Lauren Edwards, Jordan Holm, Sarah Otteman and Jessica Swann – will become Assistant Director of Athletics. Additionally, within the athletic training department, Karissa Scherer will become the Director of Sports Medicine and Nicole Elby will be the Director of Rehabilitation.
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"Karina's commitment to our student-athletes was an inspiration to us all and she will be greatly missed," Potts said. "But we wish her the best of success in her new role and we know that she will always be part of the Waves family.
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"As we sought to restructure our staff in a way that would best fit our current personnel, we are very fortunate to have a deep group of very talented individuals that were willing to take on additional responsibilities. This group has served our department, coaches and student-athletes with the strongest commitment and dedication."
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Kurtz, who has been a member of the department since 2011 and became an Associate Director of Athletics in 2018, oversees compliance, academic support and sports performance and is now the Title IX liaison.
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Wright, who joined Pepperdine's staff in 2002, was previously the Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine. He will now oversee sports medicine, facilities and game management and co-lead the student care team/athletic mental health area. He is a 1996 graduate of Pepperdine and was a member of the men's volleyball team.
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Edwards, now the Assistant Director of Athletics for Business Operations, joined the department in 2019. In addition to being the department's budget manager, she will be the human resources liaison and oversee apparel contracts and on-campus housing matters. She is a 2013 graduate of Pepperdine.
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Holm, now the Assistant Director of Athletics for Academics/Student Development/Chaplain, returned to Pepperdine in 2018 as the Director of Student-Athlete Development and Academic Support. In his new expanded role he will oversee academics and student-athlete leadership development, be the point person for diversity, equity and inclusion work and be the co-lead for the student care team/athletics mental health area. He is a 2009 graduate of Pepperdine.
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Otteman, now the Assistant Director of Athletics for Marketing and Digital Content, joined Pepperdine's athletic communications department in 2015 and was promoted to Director of Marketing and Communications in 2019. In her latest role, she will oversee marketing, social media and digital content, branding and graphic design, game day experience, ticket sales and merchandising in addition to keeping her communications role.
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Swann, now the Assistant Director of Athletics for Facilities and Game Management, returned to Pepperdine in 2018 as the Director of Athletic Facilities and Events. She manages the day-to-day maintenance, annual projects, scheduling and managing of all athletic facilities and events and oversees apparel and equipment operations. She is a 2013 graduate of Pepperdine.
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Scherer, a member of the staff since 2013, will take over the day-to-day operations of the sports medicine department. Elby, who joined Pepperdine in 2017, will oversee pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation for all Pepperdine student-athletes and direct the department's new physical therapy clinic.
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With former Deputy Director of Athletics/SWA Karina Herold recently departing to become the Vice President of Major Events at the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission/LA Super Bowl Host Committee, a restructuring of the department has been put into place.
Â
Amanda Kurtz will take on the role of Senior Woman Administrator in addition to her Associate Director of Athletics position. Kevin Wright will also become an Associate Director of Athletics. Four others – Lauren Edwards, Jordan Holm, Sarah Otteman and Jessica Swann – will become Assistant Director of Athletics. Additionally, within the athletic training department, Karissa Scherer will become the Director of Sports Medicine and Nicole Elby will be the Director of Rehabilitation.
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"Karina's commitment to our student-athletes was an inspiration to us all and she will be greatly missed," Potts said. "But we wish her the best of success in her new role and we know that she will always be part of the Waves family.
Â
"As we sought to restructure our staff in a way that would best fit our current personnel, we are very fortunate to have a deep group of very talented individuals that were willing to take on additional responsibilities. This group has served our department, coaches and student-athletes with the strongest commitment and dedication."
Â
Kurtz, who has been a member of the department since 2011 and became an Associate Director of Athletics in 2018, oversees compliance, academic support and sports performance and is now the Title IX liaison.
Â
Wright, who joined Pepperdine's staff in 2002, was previously the Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine. He will now oversee sports medicine, facilities and game management and co-lead the student care team/athletic mental health area. He is a 1996 graduate of Pepperdine and was a member of the men's volleyball team.
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Edwards, now the Assistant Director of Athletics for Business Operations, joined the department in 2019. In addition to being the department's budget manager, she will be the human resources liaison and oversee apparel contracts and on-campus housing matters. She is a 2013 graduate of Pepperdine.
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Holm, now the Assistant Director of Athletics for Academics/Student Development/Chaplain, returned to Pepperdine in 2018 as the Director of Student-Athlete Development and Academic Support. In his new expanded role he will oversee academics and student-athlete leadership development, be the point person for diversity, equity and inclusion work and be the co-lead for the student care team/athletics mental health area. He is a 2009 graduate of Pepperdine.
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Otteman, now the Assistant Director of Athletics for Marketing and Digital Content, joined Pepperdine's athletic communications department in 2015 and was promoted to Director of Marketing and Communications in 2019. In her latest role, she will oversee marketing, social media and digital content, branding and graphic design, game day experience, ticket sales and merchandising in addition to keeping her communications role.
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Swann, now the Assistant Director of Athletics for Facilities and Game Management, returned to Pepperdine in 2018 as the Director of Athletic Facilities and Events. She manages the day-to-day maintenance, annual projects, scheduling and managing of all athletic facilities and events and oversees apparel and equipment operations. She is a 2013 graduate of Pepperdine.
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Scherer, a member of the staff since 2013, will take over the day-to-day operations of the sports medicine department. Elby, who joined Pepperdine in 2017, will oversee pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation for all Pepperdine student-athletes and direct the department's new physical therapy clinic.
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