Sept. 28, 2011
CHICAGO - Robbin Cooley and Mike Laninga have joined the UIC Department of Intercollegiate Athletics as Assistant Directors of Athletic Communications, it was announced Wednesday.
"I'm excited about the additions of both Robbin and Mike to our communications staff," said Brett McWethy, Director of Athletic Communications. "Robbin has been on board for two months now, and brings great energy and enthusiasm to our operation. Her experiences at both Notre Dame and Augustana have definitely prepared her for this opportunity, and in a short time, she has developed a great rapport with our coaches and athletic department staff.
"Mike worked in our office on a part-time basis last year, and his familiarity and experience with the Horizon League will make for a great addition to our staff. He's excited about coming on board full-time, and promoting our student-athletes and department as a whole."
Cooley, who began her services at UIC on July 25, is a 2010 graduate of Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. She was a four-year student assistant in the athletic media relations and alumni office, while also competing on the lacrosse team. During the 2010-11 academic year, Cooley was a media relations assistant in the Notre Dame athletic department, serving as the primary contact for six sports, including men's and women's cross country and track & field, men's tennis and women's golf.
Laninga, who began his duties on Wednesday, has three years of full-time experience in the athletic media relations business - he also worked in UIC's athletic communications office on a part-time basis last year. From 2009-10, Laninga served as the Assistant Director of Communications at the Horizon League, handling the communications efforts for men's and women's soccer, swimming and diving, baseball and softball. He also worked closely with WebStream Productions to develop and add content to the Horizon League Network web site.
From 2008-09, Laninga was a communications intern at the Big Ten Conference, where he was the primary media contact for soccer, swimming and diving, track and field and golf. Laninga graduated in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in sport administration from Ball State University, where he was a student assistant in the athletics communications and marketing department, and lettered on the Cardinals' track & field team.
Cooley will serve as UIC's primary media contact for volleyball, men's and women's gymnastics and softball. Meanwhile, Laninga's duties will include being the contact for Flames' women's basketball and baseball -- he will also serve as the coordinator for UIC's content distributed through the Horizon League Network.
During the 2011-12 athletic season, McWethy will continue his efforts as UIC's primary contact for men's soccer, men's basketball, men's and women's track & field and women's golf.
