Virginia Intermont Makes Athletic Department Changes

June 15, 2006

Virginia Intermont College announced the appointment of five new head coaches of baseball, men and women's soccer, women's basketball, golf and an assistant athletic director, in a reorganization under new Athletic Director Heather Conley. All five new appointees are already employed by the college in other roles in athletics.

"We are excited to maximize the talents of very capable personnel who are already on our team," said College Vice President of Operations Con Sauls in making the announcement. "Having just won the overall sports championship in our conference, we are making these moves to stay on top of the Appalachian Athletic Conference."

The appointments are:
• Baseball Head Coach Jimmy Nelson. A Virginia Intermont alumnus, Nelson has spent four years as head softball coach, guiding the Lady Cobras to their first regional bid. Prior to that, he was assistant baseball coach.

• Men's Soccer Head Coach Michael Swan. Formerly head women's soccer coach for three years, Swan led teams that contended for the conference title and earned a national ranking. A native of New Castle, England, he is a graduate of Bluefield College (Va.). Swan will also serve as Director of Soccer.

• Women's Soccer Head Coach Aly Joslin.  Joslin served two years as assistant women's soccer coach. He holds a USSF national "B" coaching license and also has served as Varsity Soccer Coach of the boy's at Virginia High School. Also a native of England, he previously held the title of director of soccer of the Highlands Soccer Club.

• Women's Basketball Head Coach Jaclyn Dickens. Dickens just took the men's tennis team to the national championship after winning the conference and regional titles. This versatile Emory and Henry College graduate, also served two years as assistant basketball coach under Conley, and was assistant volleyball and women's tennis head coach.

• Former Baseball Coach Chris Holt will be Assistant Athletic Director and Head Golf Coach. Holt, a graduate of Ferrum College, was head baseball coach at VIC for six years.  His 2006 squad received the AAC's Champions of Character Award.

Conley was appointed May 3 as athletic director to replace the retiring Phil Worrell.

 "I've been a coach here the past six years and I know we have people experienced and deserving of the opportunity to move up," she said. "We are very pleased that our appointments at this point are from within."

The college is currently seeking a new head softball coach and to fill several assistant coach positions created by the promotions.