DUBOIS – Ken Nellis of Clarion has been named the new Athletic Coordinator at Penn State DuBois. His duties will include working with the six varsity athletic programs to schedule games and transportation. He will also manage intramural, recreational, and club athletics, and coordinate activities with students and coaches. Nellis will also supervise the Fitness Room and athletic facilities.
A 1996 graduate of Clarion University, Nellis has nearly 20 years of experience working in academics.
Nellis most recently worked as an Athletic Development Officer at Clarion University where he raised funds for the university’s athletic programs. Prior to that, he served as a wrestling coach at Clarion for 16 years. He was head coach for nine of those seasons, and served on the board of directors for the National Wrestling Coach’s Association for six years. Nellis also supervised summer wrestling camps for children during his time as coach. The camps hosted 600 to 800 youngsters each year.
“This is a great opportunity for me to get back into athletics administration and to work with students again,” Nellis said of his new position. “The recreational and intramural side really pulls everything together. I’m not just working with student athletes on a varsity level, but I also get to interact with the student population as a whole.”
Kinesiology Instructor Maureen Horan, who helped to conducted interviews for the job, said Nellis is a great fit. “His focus on being student-oriented came across very clearly. The uniqueness of overseeing Athletics and Intramurals and other Student Life areas make this a very student-friendly position,” she said.
Nellis said he was also attracted to the Penn State DuBois athletics programs because of their recent growth and the addition of several varsity sports in recent years. He said he agrees with campus administration who sees athletics as an important part of the college experience. “I think the athletic component is a great part of the academic process,” Nellis said. “It teaches students priorities, organization, teamwork, and leadership.”
Nellis replaces former Athletic Coordinator Scott Feldman, who recently relocated to Texas.