Hazel Named Assistant AD for Communications - Welcome to Stetson University

Athletic Department

Hazel Named Assistant AD for Communications

Release: 11/01/2011

Stetson University Director of Athletics Jeff Altier announced today the hiring of Ricky Hazel as Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications.

Hazel begins his tenure as a member of the Hatters Department of Athletics immediately.

“It was important to me to bring in someone with outstanding media relations experience to join our management team as we continue to grow our athletics program,” Altier said. “With the additions of sand volleyball in the spring, women’s lacrosse in 2012 and football in 2013, this is a critical role for our department and I am excited to have Ricky joining our team.”

Hazel comes to Stetson from Troy University in Alabama where he served as Director of Athletics Media Relations since 2004. Prior to his tenure at Troy, Hazel worked in a similar capacity at Alabama A&M University, Marshall University and the University of Southern Mississippi.

“I am extremely excited to be joining the Stetson Athletics family,” Hazel said. “This is an exciting time in the history of Hatter Athletics with the ongoing expansion of the program. I am especially excited to be involved with the return of football to Stetson University. I know from experience how important a successful football program is to the growth and vitality of the entire university community.”

During his career, Hazel has been involved with some of the most successful “mid-major” football programs in the nation.

The University of Southern Mississippi was a founding member of Conference USA and was a regular competitor for league championships and appeared in two bowl games during his time there.

Marshall University posted an undefeated season in 1999, Hazel’s first with the program, and finished the year with a No. 10 national ranking. Hazel guided the Heisman Trophy campaigns of Chad Pennington and Byron Leftwich during his time there, which included three Mid-American Conference titles in four years and four bowl victories.

At Troy University, Hazel was involved in five consecutive Sun Belt Conference championships as well as five bowl appearances in seven full seasons.

In addition to his involvement with successful football programs, Hazel has also been involved with numerous conference championship baseball teams and has worked several NCAA Regional Tournaments.

“I have been extremely fortunate throughout my career to work with some of the best coaches in the nation,” Hazel said. “In the short time I have been at Stetson, I see the same determination and work ethic among the Hatters coaches, who are working hard to make each team as successful as possible.”

Hazel is a native of Huntsville, Ala., and is a graduate of the University of Alabama and the University of Southern Mississippi. He and his wife, Joan, who is a published author as well as classically trained opera performer, have been married for more than 20 years.