Rick Kindhart

Position: Assistant Athletics Director for Communications Sport Contact: Football, Men's Basketball

Missouri State alumnus Rick Kindhart is in his fourth year directing MSU's athletics communications efforts and his third as assistant director of athletics.

In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations of the department, he is the primary contact for Bears' football and men's basketball and serves on the University Marketing Council and the NCAA Self-Study Committee. Kindhart came to Missouri State in July 2008 after serving as assistant executive director for communications for the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) for a total of 11 years. Kindhart began his stint at MSHSAA in 1996 as communications and publications director and filled that role until 2000, when he accepted the job of statistics coordinator for the NCAA in Indianapolis. He returned to MSHSAA in 2001 and was promoted to assistant executive director on July 1, 2005.

Kindhart graduated cum laude from Missouri State University in 1991,and received his master's degree in 1993 from Southeast Missouri State, where he served as assistant sports information director from 1991-93. From 1993-96, he was sports information director at Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss.

Kindhartis a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America, Society for American Baseball Research, and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and is the recipient of numerous regional and national writing and publication awards.

He and his wife, Christy, have two children, Matt and Shelby.