FORT MYERS, FLA.- Florida Southwestern State Athletic Director George Sanders has announced the hiring of Sports Information Director Roy Allen, who will take over the reins of Bucs media relations after nine years as SID and one as Athletic Director at Seward County CC in Kansas.
In nine years as the SID at Seward County, Allen helped promote over 200 All-Conference athletes, 140 All-Region performers, 220 KJCCC Player of the Weeks, 35 NJCAA National Player of the Weeks, and 25 All-Americans.
An active member of CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) for nine years, Allen served for four years on the publication awards committee as well as voting on a number of different regional and national awards that the group gives out. In 2014 he became the first President of 2YSIDA (Two-Year Sports Information Directors of America) and held that role until he was announced as the Saints Athletic Director in May of 2017. He also served on CDMAC (College Division Management Advisory Committee) for that stretch.
In 2017 Allen was recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association as the National winner of the Grant Berger Media Award given to the two year SID who members felt displayed the most dedication to the promotion of the sport. In 2013, Allen received his first major national award, netting CoSIDA's 'Second in the Nation' award for his work on the Saints Baseball Media Guide.
He was a key part of the Jayhawk Conference's change towards a uniform Player of the Week system. He served as the chair for the Volleyball, Softball, and Men's Basketball committees and also served on the Baseball, Football, and Soccer committees.
In 2013 he helped promote a pair of Seward student-athletes (Johnny Griffith & Stephanie Mark) to Capital One Academic All-American awards, the first time in school history that the Saints had placed a student-athlete on the list. Both Griffith and Mark were the only junior college student-athletes in the country to receive the awards.
In his one year as Athletic Director at Seward, the Saints saw great success, winning four Jayhawk Conference Championships (Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Men's Tennis, Women's Tennis) and three Region VI Championships (WBB, MTEN, WTEN), while two more teams (Softball & Volleyball) reached the Region VI Championship game. The Saints and Lady Saints produced 27 All-Conference athletes and five NJCAA All-Americans in 2017-18.
Between his time at Seward County and his hiring at FSW, Allen spent time as an Athletic Communications Assistant at Florida Gulf Coast University where he managed media relations for the Eagles' Women's Soccer, Baseball, Men's Tennis, and Men's Basketball teams.
As a student-athlete, Allen made three stops during his collegiate playing career, at Colby CC, Lamar CC, and the University of Northern Colorado. He helped UNC to two straight Division I Independent Championships and was on the mound in his final collegiate game as the Bears defeated North Dakota State to capture the title in 2006. Northern Colorado defeated #2 Nebraska, #7 Arkansas, #19 Wichita State, and #24 Kansas during Allen's stint in Greeley. Allen finished his senior season at UNC with the lowest ERA at the school since the 1986 season.
Following his playing career, Allen joined the coaching ranks at his alma mater. He helped guide the Bears in 2006-2007 and was a member of the Colorado Sox summer baseball coaching staff in 2007 and then again in 2009. In 2009 Allen coached six former Saints to an 11th place finish at the NBC World Series. Upon completion of his Sox season, Allen joined the Liberal BeeJays coaching staff and was a part of their 3rd place National finish. During his three seasons of coaching, Allen coached 13 players that signed professional baseball contracts.
Originally from Lakewood, Colorado, Allen earned a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations and minors in Communications and Economics. He and his wife Thais, who is the Head Volleyball Coach for the Bucs, were married June 23, 2012 and live in Cape Coral.