The College has named Harold Watson to the new position of Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and External Relations.  The Evanston, Illinois native has spent the past three years at the University of Hartford - a Division I athletics school - where he served the past two years as the Assistant Director of Marketing, Promotions and Events. Prior to that, he spent one year as Hartford's Manager of Athletic External Relations.

 

Knox Athletic Director Chad Eisele says the College was able to hire the position through the NCAA's Division III Strategic Alliance Matching Grant.  He says Knox was one of eight out of 55 schools to receive the funding.

 

Watson's duties as part of the marketing staff at the University of Hartford included developing, renewing and fulfulling corporate sponsorship contracts, generating sponsorship and ticket revenue and oversight of the school's internet marketing program and website marketing - which involved an online store and other online activities. He was also directly involved in designing promotional pieces and working with each team's booster club to plan special events.

 

"We are very excited to have Harold joining our staff in this new capacity," Eisele said.  "Harold's expertise in athletic marketing and booster clubs will be invaluable as we start our new athletic booster club at Knox this fall."

 

Watson earned a Master of Science Degree in Sport Management in 2007 at Western Illinois University.  He obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in English Literature in 2005 at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois, where he also played football and got acquainted with Knox College assistant football coach Kevin Krausz.  Krausz was on the Highlanders' staff during Watson's senior year.

 

Watson jumped at the chance to work at Knox College for both professional and geographical reasons.  "It was an opportunity to get closer to home," Watson said.  "I've been away for three years (and) I just wanted to find some place close to home."  Watson, who begins his new job July 19, calls it a great fit.

 

"Being at the Division I level at the University of Hartford and previously at Northwestern University, there's always that thing in the back of your mind that says 'I want to give back, and give back to student-athletes what the administrators gave to me.'  It definitely felt like the perfect opportunity to go from Division I to Division III, implement some of those things that happened at the Division I level to a Division III (school) while being able to give back to student-athletes like myself."

 

Watson served as a Marketing Intern in 2007 at Northwestern, where he worked on promotions for women's basketball and baseball, as well as special sporting events.  He also did an internship at Arlington Park race track in 2006, dealing with sponsorships and promotions.

 

Watson knows what a big part of his new job will entail.  "Definitely working with alums and trying to get them more involved in the (athletic) department," he said.  For (Knox) to be successful across the board - from football to swimming and diving - we need alums and boosters to give back to those programs so not only can the student-athletes have a great experience, but to also get the programs to the next level and winning on a consistent basis."

 

Watson acknowledges the responsibility of helping to create a booster club will be among the major challeges he'll face, and something he's prepared to meet head-on.

 

"I would say changing the mindset of some boosters and getting them away from the Division I mindset of 'I'm following Illinois or Iowa,' and let's get them more involved with what we're doing and how we do our business on a day-to-day basis so they can take pride when they're talking to their 18-year old sons and daughters who are looking for a

place to play sports and let them know they can have a great experience here at Knox, the same one that those Division I athletes get."

 

Besides the appeal of returning to his home state of Illinois, Watson was also impressed with Knox College's top athletic administrator.

 

"The number one thing for me was speaking to Chad (Eisele) the first, second and third time, someone who is so passionate about getting Knox College to the next level," Watson said.  "(Eisele) being the head football coach and the athletic director, you don't see that a lot at the upper levels.  I think the pride that he takes in the college as a whole is every exciting and it's something that I hope to be able to take with me when I get the opportunity to be an athletic director wherever it may be.  The chance to really work and learn from him while bringing my experience in is very exciting and I'm looking very much forward to it."

 

Eisele and his coaching staff have been preparing for the 2010 football season and the Prairie Fire's first game September 4 in St. Louis at Washington University at 7:00 p.m.  Knox plays Midwest Conference power St. Norbert College September 18 in the home opener at 1:00 p.m. at the Knosher Bowl.

 

Founded in 1837, Knox is a national liberal arts college in Galesburg, Illinois, with students from 45 states and 48 countries. Knox's 'Old Main' is a National Historic Landmark and the only building remaining from the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates.