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SALISBURY, MD---This fall, fans of ºÚÁÏÍø athletics will be reunited with a familiar face—and voice—with the return of former announcer Sam Atkinson to the SU campus.

Atkinson is the University’s new sports information director, overseeing publicity and records for the Sea Gulls’ 21 teams. Earning his B.A. in communication arts from SU in 2000, Atkinson was the public address announcer for the Sea Gull football team in 1997 and the baseball team from 1999-2000. He also served as the play-by-play announcer for campus radio station WSUR (now WXSU) from 1996-1997 and was the producer and announcer for local cable broadcasts of the men’s and women’s basketball and lacrosse teams from 1999-2000.

He also covered the Sea Gulls in the print media, serving as sports editor for the campus newspaper, The Flyer, for two years before moving on to write about the teams professionally for The Daily Times for another two years. Following his graduation from SU, he landed a job in Salisbury with WBOC-TV. In 2003 he became the head sports producer for Sinclair Broadcast Group, a national news organization based in Cockeysville, MD.

For Atkinson, returning to the University has been a rewarding experience. “It’s a great opportunity to come back,” he said. “It’s a way for me to give back to SU what it gave to me.” In addition to covering SU athletics, he also served as a member of the Student Government Association and Student Organization for Activities Planning while pursuing his degree at Salisbury.

A Sea Gull fan since the mid 1990s, the Phoenix, MD, native was thrilled to find many familiar faces upon his return: “I know a majority of the coaches because they are the same ones I worked with five or six years ago.” He attributes the Sea Gulls’ many winning records to those coaches, who ensure a sense of stability and tradition for each team.

Prior to accepting the SU position, Atkinson was the Web content manager for U.S. Lacrosse Inc., a national organization based in Baltimore. He said he hopes to use his Web expertise to maintain and improve Salisbury’s athletics homepage. He also plans to involve graduate assistants with more aspects of the Sports Information Department.

Atkinson resides in Salisbury and soon will be joined by his fiancée, Emily Wilkinson, who is currently pursuing her master’s degree at Loyola College. Their wedding is planned for October.

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.