Dec. 5, 2007

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jacksonville University has named Stephanie Garland as director of student-athlete development, it was announced by JU Director of Athletics Alan Verlander.

In her new role as director of student-athlete development, Garland will be responsible for running the Dolphin study hall program, monitoring student-athletes academic standing, while also serving as the liaison for the NCAA's CHAMPS/LIFE Skills program and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

"When Stephanie approached me about filling this position in our department, I felt like it was the perfect fit for all parties involved," said Verlander. "She has been a valued member of JU athletics for the past two years and we are very lucky to have her. I'm excited about the ideas she has for our student-athletes and I look forward to seeing her implement them as she settles into her new position."

Garland, a former student-athlete rower at the University of Tampa, spent her first year at JU as a compliance assistant before being promoted to Counsel of NCAA Compliance this year. Her duties were protecting the integrity of the University by ensuring compliance with NCAA, Atlantic Sun Conference and University rules and regulations. She also monitored all 18 sports, including investigating and reporting rules violations and educating staff, student-athletes and JU representatives on NCAA bylaws and interpretations; while also working with the NCAA Clearinghouse in determining qualification status of student-athletes.

Prior to JU, Garland's other sports experience includes working as a corporate sales assistant and men's rowing coach for the University of Tampa from 2000-01. She worked six seasons for the Hagerstown Suns baseball club, the Single-A affiliate of the New York Mets, and became the first and only female ever selected as South Atlantic League's "Batboy/Girl of the Year" in 1994. She has also worked as a judicial extern for Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer in the Supreme Court of Ohio and served as a law clerk in the office of Samuel B. Weiner, Esq.

The Cavetown, Md. native earned her B.S. in exercise science and sports studies from Tampa in 2001 and has her master's degree in sports administration from Ohio University. Garland is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA) and ABA Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries.