Pierce and Thorpe promoted

FAYETTEVILLE — Long-time Razorback athletic media relations staff members Phil Pierce and Jeri Thorpe have been promoted to associate media relations directors, it was announced today. Pierce is in his 13th year with Razorback Athletics while Thorpe is in her 15th year with the Razorbacks. Both have previously served as assistant media relations directors.

"Phil and Jeri have been valuable members of the media relations staff for more than a decade," Associate Athletic Director of Media Relations and Communications Kevin Trainor said. "Their efforts and media relations expertise has helped publicize the academic and athletic achievements of Razorback student-athletes in many of our 19 sports. As the primary media relations contacts for our men’s and women’s basketball programs, they currently work with two of our most visible programs. Phil and Jeri continue to be an integral part of our media relations team."

Pierce is the contact for men’s basketball and Thorpe for women’s basketball.

Pierce is also the contact for men’s golf, assists with football and edits Razorback Game Day, the game day programs for both football and men’s basketball.

Pierce joined the staff in 1996 as an intern. Hired as an assistant for women’s athletics in January of 1998, he worked primarily with the women’s cross country and track and field teams, and with soccer while also working with swimming and diving and tennis.

He was the media relations contact for baseball in 2008 and 2009, and assisted with football.

He has worked with four NCAA championship track teams, 17 Southeastern Conference cross country and track championship squads, a College World Series baseball team and was the media coordinator for eight NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship meets.

A 1996 graduate of Baldwin-Wallace (Ohio), the Darien, Conn., native earned his bachelor’s in sports management and business administration.

Thorpe joined the staff as an intern in 1994-95. She worked primarily with volleyball, women’s golf, softball and gymnastics while assisting with several other sports prior to taking over women’s basketball this season. In addition to handling women’s basketball, she also currently works with women’s golf.

A 1991 graduate of Mankato State University, she earned her master’s in 1994. She has worked the 1994 volleyball Final Four, the 1994 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championship and several SEC events.

Her publications have earned regional and national recognition from the College Sports Information Directors of America with the 1996 volleyball guide earning the Viggo D. Nelson Collegiate Media Guide Award for best in the nation from USA Volleyball.