Heather Freehill brings award-winning publications and design service during her seven years of work in media relations and marketing support to her new position as assistant media relations director for Redbird athletics at Illinois State University.
Since June, 2003, Freehill has been on Todd Kobers Athletics Media Relations staff at Illinois State as a graduate assistant. She was co-editor of the Redbird football game day program voted Best in the Nation by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) in 2003 and the mens basketball game program named No. 3 in the nation by CoSIDA in 2004. Freehill also has served as primary media relations contact for Redbird softball and soccer. During the past year, Freehill has developed content and supervised operations for www.redbirds.org, Illinois States athletics web site.
Freehills creative work has included design for Redbird schedule cards and supporting Redbird marketing with development of billboards, signage and other promotional efforts. She also has assisted with game-day operations for mens and womens basketball, football and volleyball.
Kober appreciates what Freehill brings to his staff.
"Obviously I'm very excited to have Heather joining the staff at a full-time capacity," Kober said. "She has a great understanding of our role in athletics media relations and brings a wealth of design experience. More importantly she has a passion for this profession. It takes a lot of courage and integrity to change careers like she has and I'm glad to see it has paid off for her and she has the opportunity to do something she enjoys."
The Carlinville, Ill., native began working in athletics media relations while a student at McKendree College in 1995, working for current Missouri Valley Conference Assistant Commissioner Stacey Montooth. She transferred to East Tennessee State and did a sports marketing internship for the Kingsport Convention and Visitors Bureau before completing her bachelors degree in communications/public relations in 2000.
From 2000-2003, she won three national design awards as a public information supervisor for the Bensenville Park District before electing to enroll in the graduate program in sports management in ISUs School of Kinesiology and Recreation. Freehill will receive her masters degree in May, 2005.
Along the way, she has done volunteer work for a homeless shelter and Special Olympics.
Her promotion fills a position that has been open since Erica Fricke joined the Missouri Valley Conference communications staff in 2003.
