Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia College athletic department is excited to announce changes and additions to the Cougar team.
 
"I am very thankful to Dr. Dalrymple for his belief and support of Cougar Athletics," stated James Arnold. "These changes are just another opportunity for us to continue to be one of the premier small school college athletic departments in the country."
 
Over the last two months, Director of Athletics James Arnold has been serving the college in a dual role as the Interim Vice President of Enrollment, Marketing, & Communications. In addition to leading the Cougar Athletic Department, Arnold has been overseeing the overall enrollment, recruiting, financial aid, and marketing efforts of the institution. 
 
CINDY POTTER
Cindy Potter has been promoted to the position of Senior Deputy Director of Athletics after serving in an Associate Director role since 2011. Potter is in her 19^th year at Columbia, first as a student-athlete before moving into an administrator role in 2007.
 
"Cindy Potter has been the backbone for Columbia College Athletics for quite some time," stated Arnold. "Over time her portfolio has expanded well beyond just her sports information expertise.  This promotion is very much deserved and will allow her to focus on big picture, day-to-day objectives of our department and spend more time on compliance and eligibility."  
 
After completing a graduate assistantship in 2006, Potter was hired as the Coordinator of Media Relations and Compliance before being promoted to assistant director in 2007. Cindy has seen the department through many transitions through the years, including the addition of over 13 sports and 200 student athletes. She also served a brief stint as Interim Director of Athletics in the spring of 2019.
 
Her primary duties led to a heavy involvement in professional development which would land Potter serving in numerous board of director roles. She served as President of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Sports Information Directors Association and is the current Past President and served a three year stint on the College Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA) board in 2011. In 2018 Cindy was elected to serve CoSIDA in the officer rotation, which will put her as association president in 2021-22. She is the first ever female from a non-NCAA Division I institution and first ever NAIA member in the organizations history to serve in such role.


Potter has been recognized with three honors this year for her work in sports information. She was awarded CoSIDA's Warren Berg Award, American Midwest Conference Co-Sports Information Director of the Year and the NAIA Clarence 'Ike' Pearson Award
 
"Serving Columbia College and the athletic department over the years has been nothing short of amazing for me. I'm extremely grateful to the administration for this opportunity to help lead an already polished and successful staff and group of student-athletes into future."  
 
LORRIE ELLISON
Assistant Athletic Trainer Lorrie Ellison has been promoted to Associate Head Athletic Trainer. Ellison joined the department as a full-time staff member in the fall of 2018, returning just two years after completing the Master's Degree she earned while working as a graduate assistant. A Edina, Missouri native, Lorrie earned her undergraduate degree from Culver-Stockton College while competing on the women's basketball team.

"We are thankful for Lorrie and her hard work and commitment," said Arnold. "We look forward to seeing her continued growth with this promotion." 
 
Lorrie has taken on additional duties over the past year, facilitating many new regulations associated with COVID-19 and working closely with campus staff to keep up with the ever changing guidelines and schedules.
 
"I appreciate the opportunity to play a bigger role in the CC athletic department," said Ellison.
 
SCOTT BARKER
A new addition to the Cougar staff, Scott Barker will take on the role of Sports Information Coordinator starting on November 9.
 
"We are pumped to add a proven professional like Scott Barker to the team," stated Arnold. "His experience with sports information and game day management will be a huge asset to our Cougar family."
 
Scott has spent the last three years as the American Midwest Conference (AMC) Sports Information Director, returning to his home in the Midwest after spending a year working at the University of Mobile (Ala.) in the same role. Barker was a four-year member of the William Woods University Track & Field team and worked in the sports information office during his undergrad. After graduation he spent a year interning at the NAIA National Office in Kansas City.
 
"The opportunity to continue my career at one of the premier athletic departments at any level was something that I could not pass up. I would like to thank James Arnold, Cindy Potter and the rest of the CC administration for this opportunity. I am very excited to take on this new role and help CC reach new heights. In addition, I am extremely grateful for AMC Commissioner Will Wolper taking a chance on me a little over three years ago and all the friends and relationships I have made along the way."
 
Scott joins the staff after having won AMC Sports Information Director of the Year honors for the last two years, joining Potter as a co-winner in 2019-20.

Additionally, the department is excited to bring on a cheer and dance coach in the near future to further the success of the department in new sport offerings.