JON COLES NAMED ASSOCIATE ATHLETICS DIRECTOR

Local High School Athletics Director To Direct FSU Athletics Marketing and Promotions

"We're thrilled to add an individual to our (athletics) staff with the experience and enthusiasm which Jon brings," said Kirinovic. "He has demonstrated a great amount of success locally with the Big Rapids (Mich.) High School boosters and also at Lake Superior State University in the areas which he will be overseeing. We (at Ferris State) want to tap into the success which he has accomplished and help him expand our relationships with Ferris State supporters and boosters.

"Jon brings solid ideas and special energy to Bulldog Athletics which we need at this time. Jon was the best fit for what we're trying to do and I believe he will do an outstanding job for Ferris State University," added Kirinovic.

Coles' primary responsibilities will be overseeing the athletics department's business operations, serving as the marketing and promotions director, and coordinating game day management for football and hockey.

Coles, a native of Greenville, Mich., arrives to Ferris State after serving as the activities and athletics director/assistant principal at Big Rapids (Mich.) High School since 2004. During his stint at BRHS, Coles developed and implemented a Captain's Clinic while also creating a department slogan and a Cardinal Game Plan for College Athletics. He was a committee member of the Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary Award and served on the MIAAA Educational Athletics Committee. On the playing field, the Cardinals featured five all-state academic teams from 2007-08 and were the Central State Activities Association (CSAA) All-Sports Champions in 2007-08. Big Rapids hosted numerous Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) tournaments, including a state semi-final soccer match during his tenure.

Before his position at Big Rapids, Coles was the men's and women's tennis head coach along with intramural director at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. from 2001-04. While at LSSU, Coles guided the 2004 men's team to its best record in school history and the program's first-ever NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament appearance. The Lakers also achieved their first regional ranking (fifth place) in the men's tennis program's history during the 2004 campaign. As a result of his success, Coles was chosen as the 2004 Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) Regional Coach of the Year. Coles, who was tabbed as the 2001 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Men's Tennis Coach of the Year in his inaugural season, recruited four LSSU Athlete of the Year recipients. He was the chairman of the NCAA Regional Ranking Committee from 2003-04 after previously serving as a committee member from 2002-03. Coles was the co-chairman of LSSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (S.A.A.C.) from 2002-04.

Prior to joining the LSSU coaching staff, Coles taught English and was the varsity boy's tennis head coach at Big Rapids High School in 1999-00. While attending Valparaiso (Ind.) University from 1995-99, Coles spent the offseasons as a tennis instructor at the Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton, Ind., the city of Mount Pleasant, Mich., and the Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island, Mich. While directing the junior tennis program for the city of Greenville, Mich., from 1992-96, Coles increased tennis enrollment in Greenville's intercity program 600 percent.

A 1999 graduate of Valapariso, Coles was a four-year (1995-99) letterwinner on the Crusaders' men's tennis team. He earned team Most Valuable Player recognition in 1999 after garnering 1997 team Most Improved Player Award honors. The 1998-99 team captain, Coles was chosen as the Mid-Continent Conference's (Mid-Con) Player of the Week in the 1999 season and was a Mid-Con Tournament finalist in the same season. In 1998, he was the Eastern Michigan University Invitational #1 Singles Tournament Champion. While at Valparaiso, Coles was a committee member for the university's S.A.A.C. from 1998-99. Coles earned a master's degree in athletic administration from Central Michigan University in 2004 and was selected as the CMU Physical Education and Sports Department's Outstanding Alumni in 2007. He currently is working towards his doctorate degree in sports psychology at San Diego (Calif.) University for Integrative Studies.

Coles, a 1995 graduate of Greenville (Mich.) High School, was a four-year All-Seaway Conference tennis performer for the Yellow Jackets and a two-time (sophomore and junior) team MVP selection. He competed in both tennis and basketball for four years and presently ranks second on the school's career leaders list for the most No. 1 singles victories.

Coles is married to Emily Guenther and are the parents of a son, Carson, who is three months old. The family resides in Big Rapids.

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Transaction
Ferris State University - Named Jon Coles associate athletics director