10/26/12 – KHSAA Tabs Angolia As Its New Communications Director

October 26, 2012 2012-2013 News Releases

KHSAA TABS ANGOLIA AS ITS NEW COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) Commissioner Julian Tackett today announced the hiring of Joe Angolia as the organization’s new Communications Director. Angolia brings over 10 years of experience in collegiate athletics at the NCAA Division I level to the position, the last seven of which were spent as the Sports Information Director at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock (UALR). He will  begin his duties at the KHSAA on full-time basis on November 12.

“We had an overwhelming number of qualified applicants for this position, but felt Joe’s experience and background made him an ideal fit for the KHSAA,” said Tackett. “He brings a wealth of experience in collegiate athletics, managing events and fulfilling media needs, a journalism background as well as a familiarity with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which will be a tremendous asset to this organization and our membership. Joe will be a valuable member of our leadership team and brings strengths that are very complementary to the talents of our existing staff, as well as allowing him to continue his personal and professional growth as we work to provide opportunities for students.”

Angolia joins the KHSAA after spending the past seven years as the Sports Information Director at UALR, where he coordinated the day-to-day media relations efforts of a 15-sport NCAA Division I athletic program. In addition to serving as the primary media contact for UALR’s men’s basketball, baseball and golf programs, Angolia also acted as the department’s web master, social media manager and publications coordinator. During the 2010-11 season, UALR was one of just 12 NCAA Division I institutions in the country to have its men’s basketball, women’s basketball and baseball teams qualify for their respective NCAA Tournaments.

“I am very excited and appreciative of the opportunity given to me by Commissioner Tackett to be the KHSAA’s new Communications Director,” said Angolia. “I am eager to get started and help the KHSAA promote the outstanding accomplishments of its membership and the talented student-athletes across the Commonwealth.”

In his seven years at UALR, Angolia had the opportunity to serve as the Media Coordinator for two NCAA Division I Basketball Championships. In March of 2008,he served as the Media Coordinator for the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship First-/Second-Round games at Alltel Arena in North Little Rock, Ark. He revised his role as Media Coordinator in March of 2012 for the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship First-/Second-Round games at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock. He also assisted the Sun Belt Conference by serving as the Statistics Coordinator at the league’s basketball championships each of the past four years.

Prior to his time at UALR, Angolia spent one year in the sports information department at Eastern Kentucky University and two years at Western Kentucky University. A 1998 graduate of Boyle County High School in Danville, Ky., he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in communications from Xavier University in 2002. He married the former Rachel Lee in Danville,Ky. in July of 2006.

— KHSAA —

About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency designated by the Kentucky Department of Education to manage high school athletics in the Commonwealth. The Association is a voluntary nonprofit 501(c)3 organization made up of 280 member schools both public and private. The KHSAA sanctions state championships in 19 sports, licenses and trains over 4,000 officials, provides catastrophic insurance for its member school student athletes as well as overseeing coaching education and sports safety programs.