SAN ANTONIO – University of the Incarnate Word Athletic Director Richard Duran has announced several staff promotions in UIW Athletics. The changes include the addition of three staff members – Kenyon Spears, B.J. Lough and Tony Dollison – to the UIW Athletics Senior Staff, and the elevation of two additional staff members, Chris Artis and Bret Huth.
 
"I'm excited to have B.J., Kenyon and Tony as members of the Senior Staff," said Duran. "B.J. is a great administrator and has been such an asset for UIW Athletics through his 18 years here, and especially during the pandemic. Kenyon's experience as a coach and his work ethic will be a welcome addition, and I look forward to him growing in his new role. Tony has also been a key member of the athletics department throughout his time here, and I am excited to have his voice at the table as we continue to build our student-athletes into champions in the classroom, in the community and in competition."
 
Starting Nov. 1, Spears, who served as an assistant men's basketball coach for the Cardinals for the past three seasons, was elevated to associate athletic director for Administration & Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee (ADID). He joins Associate Director of Athletics/Compliance Dollison and Associate Director of Athletics/Sports Medicine Lough as the newest members of the Senior Staff. 
 
Artis, who spent the 2019-20 season as the director of operations for men's basketball, will replace Spears as the third assistant coach for the team. Huth, who joined the Cardinals prior to the 2018 Southland Conference co-Championship season as the director of Strength and Conditioning, is now the assistant athletic director/Strength and Conditioning.
 
Kenyon Spears, associate athletic director for Administration & Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee (ADID) and Senior Staff
Spears has 16 years of Division I coaching experience at six institutions. In his new role, Spears oversees game operations, facilities and UIW Athletics' diversity and inclusion efforts. He also now serves as the sport administrator for baseball, track and field/cross country and swimming and diving.
 
Tony Dollison, associate director of Athletics/Compliance and Senior Staff
Dollison joined UIW Athletics in 2014 and oversees all aspects of Compliance for the Cardinals. In his elevated role, Dollison will be part of the UIW Athletics Senior Staff.
 
B.J. Lough, associate director of Athletics/Sports Medicine and Senior Staff
Lough has been with the Cardinals for 18 years. Since the onset of the pandemic, Lough has been instrumental in working closely with UIW Health Services and the UIW Medical team to ensure safe participation environments for all student-athletes who returned to campus. In his new role, Lough will oversee the Sports Medicine department and the Strength and Conditioning department.
 
Chris Artis, men's basketball assistant coach
As the director of operations, Artis planned all travel and meals for the men's basketball team and helped with additional duties. Prior to UIW, Artis was on the coaching staff at Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Indiana. He has 16 years of coaching experience across various levels of basketball. He played collegiately at Valparaiso and professionally in Australia, Norway, France and Uruguay. 
 
"I'm delighted that coach Artis has agreed to become an assistant coach with our UIW men's basketball program," said UIW men's basketball head coach Carson Cunningham. "For the last year-and-a-half, coach Artis has served as director of basketball operations. He knows our program well. He has over a decade of college coaching experience, and he's a fantastic person. To be able to welcome him to this new role within our program is exciting."
 
Bret Huth, assistant athletic director/Strength and Conditioning
Huth designed and implemented a workout program that helped guide the Cardinals to the most successful season in program history in 2018. UIW went from 1-10 in 2017 prior to Huth's arrival to 6-5, a Southland Conference Championship, and an FCS Playoff berth in 2018. In Huth's second season (2019), he created a workout regime that helped UIW win five games and set multiple records. 
 
"I'm excited to elevate Bret to the role of assistant athletic director of Strength and Conditioning," said Duran. "Throughout his time here, Bret has excelled as a leader and has shown that he truly cares about the health and well-being of our student-athletes. I look forward to continuing to support his growth as a leader."
 
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