Hempstead, NY - Hofstra University Vice President and Director of Athletics Jeffrey A. Hathaway today announced the appointments of Jim Furlong, Courtney Crews and Haile Urquhart to positions in the Hofstra University Athletics External Relations Department.
Furlong, who will serve as director of athletic development, comes to Hofstra after serving as a development assistant at Penn State University from January 2012 to August 2013. During his time in State College, Furlong worked in development for the Nittany Lions Club and the Varsity 'S' Club, where he assisted in developing and distributing both print and electronic materials for the school's sports-specific giving programs.
While at Penn State, sports-specific giving by donors increased 105 percent from 2012 to 2013 with former student-athlete donorship increasing by 28 percent over the same period. Furlong was also instrumental in assisting research and development initiatives, including the Penn State Alumni Challenge.
Furlong helped the Varsity 'S' Club spread its reach across multiple social media platforms and also served in a leadership position – supervising a staff of interns to assist with special projects.
Furlong got his start in development at the University of Notre Dame, his alma mater, as an assistant in the Monogram Club from August 2007 through May 2010. He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Notre Dame in 2007 and also holds an MBA degree from Note Dame, graduating with a concentration in marketing in 2011.
Crews, a four-year member of the Hofstra softball program from 2009 to 2012, returns to her alma mater to serves as assistant director of athletic development/special events.
Crews returns to Hempstead after completing a graduate internship with Hillerich & Bradsby Corporation. She represented the Louisville Slugger brand at various events and showcases with an emphasis on marketing and selling products to coaches and players.
After graduating Hofstra with a degree in exercise science in 2012, Crews went to work for East Carolina University as a graduate assistant. Her experience in Greenville, NC, included working with the kinesiology department as well as serving as a volunteer coach for the softball program; particularly the development of the catchers. Crews was the interim head softball coach for the Pirates from August-October of 2012.
Crews played on two Colonial Athletic Association championship teams as a player, helping the Pride earn NCAA Tournament berths in 2010 and 2012. As a senior in 2012 she started all 57 games and hit .255 with two home runs and 19 RBIs while serving as the team's primary catcher. A hard-nosed player, Crews led the league in hit-by-pitches with 26 and helped star pitcher Olivia Galati earn All-America first team honors as Hofstra made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Super Regionals. She also served as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) from August 2011 to May 2012 after spending the previous year as a committee member.
Crews is working towards as a master's degree in sports management from East Carolina with an expected graduation date of December 2013.
Urquhart enters his first season as director of ticket sales after nearly two years as a sales and marketing account executive for the Gwinnett Braves Baseball Club.
During his tenure with Gwinnett, the AAA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, Urquhart helped generate more than $300,000 in revenue through season ticket sales, group packages, luxury suites, min-plans and vendor booths. He also was responsible for creating theme night events to increase group sales and vendor booths at games. Urquhart also coordinated game day operations, game entertainment, pregame ceremonies, in-game and sales promotions.
Before working for the Braves, Urquhart served as a ticket sales executive trainee for the Atlanta Falcons from August 2011 to January 2012. He began his career as an undergraduate at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA.
Urquhart started as a marketing intern during his senior year and went on to serve as a graduate assistant before being promoted to marketing assistant from May 2009 to December 2010. He was then elevated to assistant director of marketing, a position he held until July 2011. Under his watch, Georgia Southern set attendance records in football, volleyball, softball and baseball.
Urquhart graduated in 2009 from Georgia Southern with a degree in sport management and then earned his master's in sport management from the school in 2010.
