ATHLETICS LAUNCHES NEW WEB SITE

Weston, Mass.-After many months of anticipation Regis College athletics launches its official athletics Web site. GoRegisPride.com is expected to showcase Regis athletes in a way that had not been expected previously.

The department signed with Presto Sports to design www.GoRegisPride.com and develop all of the sites usable functions. One of the most debilitating aspects of the previous site was its issue of not being able to captivate an audience.

A Web site, especially athletics driven site, should be a tool to interest students in your school. "It's a recruiting tool," says Michael Kotch, head coach for swimming and diving.

GoRegisPride.com Capabilities

The new Web site has the capability of displaying multiple stories and accompanying pictures on not only the homepage, but each team specific page as well. A function that was not previously available.

On each team page visitors to the site can follow stories about that specific sport at any given time, check the teams roster with biographies about each student-athlete, and even watch highlight clips from games as they are updated. "If kids are going to put in the work for you, then give them the best possible tools," said Kotch. "And this is a step in the right direction."

Students that got a sneak peek of the site seem most interested to see student-athlete biographies, read "Cat Scratch Fever," an occasional blog by a department staffer or student-athlete, and seeing the action shots from games.

What about Social Networking

Following the pop culture trend, GoRegisPride.com will utilize Twitter and FaceBook to keep in touch with fans. You can currently follow the Pride on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/GoRegisPride.

The site gives the athletics department a more effective way to communicate with students and student-athletes. "It's information sharing that has yet to be done at Regis College," said Assistant Director of Athletics for Operations Jessica Gould.

"It's going to be a monumental tool for us."

Several students and student-athletes have followed the department twitter page since the NCAA passed legislation allowing NCAA Division III institutions to use the capability.

GoRegisPride.com will give the department the autonomy to update, present, and change information as often as needed, or to feature multiple teams and student-athletes at one time. "It's an unbelievable addition to our athletic department and the direction we are going," Gould states.

How about some other features

Along with ability to tweet, www.GoRegisPride.com will feature a calendar on not only the home page, but also team pages. The calendar on the home page will display all athletic events that will go on that day, month, or you can view several months in advance.

Visitors will be able to view the same information on team pages, but the dates seen on the calendar will only pertain to that sport.

The site will also feature the ability for representatives of the media to access information directly from the web at any given time. Information for statistical programs, media list, the Pride's new athletics logo, or visitor information can all be viewed on the Web site.

It's understood that issues may be present, as there always are with new ventures, but the department is keeping all things in mind as it continues to progress with its new direction.

Later this month the department expects to open its new outdoor athletic complex for fall competitions, and its annual homecoming being held Oct. 15-18. The complex will feature an eight-lane track surface with field event area, synthetic turf field surface, six tennis courts, and new softball diamond.

Regis College athletics released its new logo in late August after having spent the summer working on the design with Phoenix Design works.

For further information, contact:

Edward T. Jones II
Coordinator for Sports Marketing and Communications
Regis College
235 Wellesley Street
Weston, MA 02493
Ph. (781) 768-8661
Fax (781) 768-7152
Edward.jones@regiscollege.edu