University of Minnesota Athletics
Slieter, Strick to Join Minnesota Athletic Communications Office
10/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Matt Slieter and Jim Strick have been selected to join the Minnesota Athletic Communications office, director of athletic communications Garry Bowman announced today.
Slieter, a Minnesota alum, joins the Gophers’ communications staff from the Minnesota Timberwolves organization and will serve as the department’s associate director. He will handle media relations for Minnesota’s men’s basketball, men’s golf and women’s golf beginning Monday, Oct. 22.
Strick comes to Minnesota from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he has worked as the assistant director of athletics for media relations since 1999. He will serve as the Gophers’ primary media contact for men’s hockey, men’s tennis and women’s tennis beginning Monday, Oct. 15.
“I am thrilled to announce the hirings of Matt and Jim,” Bowman said. “Both bring excellent credentials to their respective positions and I believe each will prove to be real assets to Gopher Athletics. I am looking forward to working with both of them.”
A native of Owatonna, Minn., Slieter received his bachelor’s degree in sports management from Minnesota in 1999 and added a master’s degree management from the “U” in 2002.
Slieter’s career in athletics began at the Continental Basketball Association's league office in Phoenix, Ariz., as a media relations assistant. In this role he was responsible for building media contacts, pitching stories, working on the team level with public relations staffs and writing, editing and designing the league’s media guide.
From there Slieter moved on to the Shakopee Valley News and Savage Pacer as the sports editor and staff writer. With those papers, Slieter worked the local sports beat as a writer, editor and photographer and also worked on the papers’ design.
For the last four years, Slieter has been a key figure on the public relations staff of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA's Minnesota Lynx. He started as an intern and worked his way up through the ranks, eventually overseeing the public relations efforts of the Minnesota Lynx and becoming the No. 2 contact with the Timberwolves’ public relations staff.
While with the organization, Slieter worked extensively with the players and local media, oversaw the team’s greater Minnesota public relations efforts, compiled team media guides and supervised staff and other interns.
Slieter currently resides in Savage with his wife Kelly and their daughter, Emily.
“It is an honor to have the opportunity to return to the University of Minnesota and work with a legend like coach Tubby Smith,” said Slieter. “I'm excited to be a part of what I believe will be one of the great basketball programs in the country.”
At UW-Stevens Point, Strick promoted three NCAA Division III basketball championship teams and successfully nominated two NCAA Top VIII Award winners. He was also a member of the Division III West Region men’s ice hockey committee from 1999-2003.
In addition to his work at Stevens Point, Strick served on the media staff for the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics, working as the press supervisor and press conference moderator for freestyle and slalom skiing events. He also assisted with media services at the 2006 NCAA men’s hockey Frozen Four, the 2002 NCAA men’s basketball Midwest Regional and the 2001 NCAA women’s hockey Frozen Four.
In 2007, Strick was recognized as the “Rising Star” award winner by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The award is presented nationally to one non-Division I member of the organization with less than 10 years in the profession.
A 1997 graduate of St. Norbert College, Strick spent two years as the first full-time sports information director as his alma mater before moving to UW-Stevens Point in June 1999.
“As a longtime follower of the WCHA and college hockey, I am well aware of the passion that exists for the Gophers in Minnesota,” Strick said. “I'm excited and honored for the opportunity to join a program and athletic department with such a deep tradition.”
