BULLS NEWS

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo Division of Athletics has announced several additions to its staff for the 2002-03 academic year, both in the coaching ranks and in administrative positions, announced Director of Athletics Bob Arkeilpane.

"We're excited to welcome all of these new staff members to the University at Buffalo and we look forward to their contributions to our athletic department," said Arkeilpane.

The following is a list of the new personnel, including the positions they hold at UB and some relevant background information.

Tara Donahue - Assistant Women's Soccer Coach
Donahue begins her first season as an assistant coach with the UB women's soccer team after completing a three-year career with the Bulls from 1997-99, playing for head coach Jean-A. Tassy. Donahue was a team captain and played in all 55 games during her three-year career, starting 54 and accumulating three goals and four assists. She spent the 2001 season as the head coach of the Colorado Storm, an under-12 soccer team, and also spent time abroad and coached for the Manchester County Football Association in England. She is currently pursuing her master's degree in teacher education institute for secondary social studies.

Evelyn Thompson - Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
Thompson brings four years of Division I coaching experience and an impressive playing background to the Bulls' coaching staff for her first season as an assistant coach where she will primarily be responsible for overseeing the Bulls' recruiting program in addition to working with the Bulls' post players, running individual workouts and scouting opponents. Thompson was a Kodak All-American while at Northeast Mississippi Community College, and she went on to lead Auburn University to two NCAA Division I title game appearances, in 1988-89 and 1989-90. She was an NCAA All-Mideast Region selection and an SEC All-Tournament Team selection as a senior at Auburn. Thompson's coaching resume includes stints as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at both Arizona State (1990-93) and Western Kentucky (1993-94).

Brandon Newill - Assistant Wrestling Coach
An honors graduate of Pittsburgh University at Johnstown, Newill comes to Buffalo after capturing the 2002 NCAA Division II national championship title at 125 pounds. Newill was a two-time Eastern Regional champion and was a Division III All-American as a freshman at Capital University. After transferring to Pitt-Johnstown, he earned Division II All-America status for three straight seasons, culminating in claiming the national title at 125 pounds as a senior. In claiming the national championship, he became just the sixth wrestler in Pitt-Johnstown history to achieve that honor. At Buffalo, Newill will work primarily with the Bulls' lightweight wrestlers.

Timothy Beach - Assistant Track and Field Coach
Beach comes to Buffalo after serving as an assistant coach for two seasons at Columbia University where two of his athletes earned provisional NCAA qualifications. Beach has also served as an assistant coach at Pennsylvania as well as at the high school level at Friends Central School in Philadelphia. While at Penn, Beach coached two national provisional qualifiers, eight All-East honorees and six heptagonal champions, including one who set an Ivy League meet record in the triple jump. At UB, Beach will primarily work with the Bulls' pole vaulters as well as assisting with the horizontal jumps. He holds a Level II certification in sprints/hurdles, jumps/pole vaults, throws and combined events, and he is currently working towards his USATF Level II certification.

Ron Andrews - Assistant Track and Field Coach
Andrews comes to Buffalo after completing a successful career at Mid-American Conference member Kent State University, where he was a four-time MAC hurdles champion. Andrews earned All-America honors in 2000 by placing fifth in the 60-meter hurdles (7.77) at the NCAA Championships after setting a Kent State and MAC record with a 7.72 mark at the MAC Championships. Andrews is a native Western New Yorker and was a three-time state champion and state record-holder in the 60-meter hurdles while at Sweet Home High School.

Paul Hokanson - Staff Photographer/Designer, Athletic Communications
Hokanson joins the UB staff following eight years of freelance design and photography work for the University at Buffalo athletic department. Hokanson brings over 15 years of photography and graphic design experience, and he is responsible for designing media guide covers and various promotional pieces as well as photographing staff and player headshots and action shots in addition to special event photography.

Jon Fuller - Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
Fuller was the sports information director at Division II San Francisco State University for two years prior to coming to UB. He also served as a graduate assistant at Temple University from 1998-2000, and he was the director of media relations for the Memphis Chicks, the Double A Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, in 1997. A 1995 graduate of Temple, Fuller holds a BA in journalism, and he finished his master's degree in sport and recreation administration at Temple in 2000.

Sharon Sanford - Special Assistant to the Athletics Director
Sanford joined the UB athletic department in June of 2002 as a special assistant to the athletics director where she is responsible for various community outreach initiatives, community service projects and the implementation and execution of the department's diversity plan. Sanford began working at UB in August of 1993 as the Coordinator of Student Support Services in the Office of Student Multicultural Affairs, and in 1999, was promoted to the Director of the Office of Student Multicultural Affairs. A Buffalo native, Sanford holds a bachelor's degree in economics and a master's degree in student personnel administration, both from Buffalo State College.

Edward Majchrowicz - Equipment Assistant
Ed "Mack" joins the equipment room staff following 31 years of state service, 15 of which were with University Facilities. During his career, Majchrowicz has held such titles as stationary engineer, senior stationary engineer, plumber-steamfitter, general mechanic and maintenance supervisor 1 and 2. Some of the duties he has performed at the University include curator of the President's estate, facilities manager of all special events, manager of contract moves and supervisor of the University's moving services department. Recently retired, Majchrowicz brings his knowledge and work ethic to the Alumni Arena equipment room staff.

Julia Kaufman - Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
Kaufman comes to UB from Ball State where she served as a student strength and conditioning coach and earned her degree in exercise science in 2002. Kaufman worked with the Cardinals' swimming and diving, gymnastics, baseball, softball, and track and field teams. This past summer, she served as a performance specialist at Athletes' Performance in Tempe, AZ, where she worked with many professional athletes from the NFL, NHL, NBA, WTA and PGA as well as elite high school and college athletes.

Joey Bialkowski - Corporate Sales Assistant
Bialkowski joined the corporate sales department last May after serving as a graduate assistant in UB's student relations department from January to May. Bialkowski holds an undergraduate degree in sport management from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, and she completed her master's degree in sport administration from Canisius College in May of 2002. While at Canisius, Bialkowski served as a graduate assistant in the office of sport promotions, and she also interned with the Buffalo Sabres' public and media relations department during the 1999-2000 season.

Heather Gibbs - Assistant to the Office Manager for Payroll, Recreation and Intramural Services
Gibbs has joined the UB recreation and intramural staff full time as an assistant to the office manager for payroll after serving as a student assistant for the past three years. Gibbs is currently completing her degree in psychology from the University at Buffalo. She is the sister of UB assistant wrestling coach Sean Gibbs.