Sept. 15, 2006

GREELEY, Colo. - Leah Howard has been named Coordinator of Athletic Facilities and Events at the University of Northern Colorado as announced by Director of Athletics Jay S. Hinrichs on Friday.

Howard's responsibilities will include scheduling athletic and special events at the various athletic venues, game management and coordinating maintenance of athletic facilities and fields.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to work at Northern Colorado," said Howard. "It is great to be part of a program that has a real focus on facilities and event management, as proven by the recent facilities renovation and expansion project."

Howard comes to Northern Colorado after spending two years at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla. There she held the position of Assistant Director of Operations and Facilities and oversaw game day operations for the sports of men's and women's soccer, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's swimming and diving, softball and baseball. She was also in charge of rentals and maintenance at FAU's arena, two baseball fields and swimming complex.

Prior to working at FAU, Howard spent three years at the University of Texas where she was the game manager for rowing, softball and volleyball and assisted with the sports of soccer, swimming and diving and women's basketball. Also while at Texas, Howard assisted with several NCAA events including the 2003 Men's Swimming & Diving Championships, the 2002 Women's College Cup, the 2002 Women's Swimming & Diving Championships and the first and second round of the NCAA Women's basketball Tournament. She also helped develop an events operation manual for the UT Athletics Department.

Howard graduated from the University of Louisiana-Monroe with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 2001. She obtained her master's degree in sport management from Texas in 2003.

Howard's husband, Ryan, will be serving as an assistant swimming & diving coach at Northern Colorado beginning this season.