Whether you are an adamant sports fan, a citizen in the community or a prospective student-athlete, the new Northern Kentucky University athletics Web site has everything you need – and then some.

Northern Kentucky University has shaped and created a new and revised athletics information Web site in an attempt to garner more attention to the growing NKU sports fan base on campus.

Chris Hafling, director of marketing promotions at NKU, ‘really spearheaded the preliminary efforts to gauge what we wanted the site to include and highlight,’ said Mike Anderson, assistant sports information director at NKU.
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It features several services, including a special Athlete of the Week section that highlights one male and one female athlete, along with providing the opportunity to sign up for an e-newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on NKU sports via e-mail.
The main feature is a link to both mens’ and womens’ sports, which highlights records, upcoming schedules and player profiles.

‘The decision to redesign the Web site came strongly last year when the Great Lakes Valley Conference made a push to outsource athletic Web pages,’ Anderson said.’ Since then, more GLVC schools have outsourced their athletic Web sites.

Whether a fan or prospective student-athlete, the site offers a special Inside Athletics section that features links such as staff directory to get in touch with your NKU athletics staff, and employment opportunities available with the NKU athletics department.

If you are an NKU student and want up-to-date statistics on games in progress, there are live audio or video streams that allow you to follow your favorite athletes as they compete.’ If you would rather be there live and in action, the site also has a link that allows you to purchase tickets for upcoming games.’ Anderson said he is a fan of both featured improvements.

For hardcore Norse fans, the Web site contains a fan zone where you can follow NKU athletics on Twitter, acquire information on the popular Norse Force fan club, or easily access the online store where you can purchase NKU attire to wear while you’re tailgating or just supporting the team around campus.

There is a’ visitor information section for those traveling to NKU to watch their favorite team play. The section features hotels, tailgating, restaurants around town and a campus map for accommodating NKU guests.

The site also’ features a link to the Norse Kids Club, NKU athletic camps for the community youth and a special community programs section.

‘The Web site is a wonderful way to display NKU athletics to the community and allow the community to donate money to athletics through the marketing or the booster club,” Anderson said ‘The booster club will put on fundraisers to garner revenue for athletics, such as the next one which will take place Oct. 2, 2009 which will revolve around a golf outing.’

One of the improved and exciting aspects of the Web site features a prospective student-athlete section that contains links to recruiting information, questionnaires and NCAA eligibility information.

Prospective recruits can take a glimpse into the history of NKU in the traditions and history section that highlights all of the awards athletes have received, as well as career achievements, a hall of fame section, an All-American section and championship history.

There is also a feature entitled ‘Why NKU’ that focuses on quick facts and a virtual tour of the campus.’ On top of all that, you can retrieve information on all of the facilities, both new, old and under construction for your informative viewing.

‘Absolutely,’ Anderson said very passionately when asked if the site will aid in recruiting.

‘(NKU web officials have) led the way to enhance the virtual tours to give prospective students the real NKU feel.’

Many parts of the Web site are still under construction, but this promises to be one of the bright spots for NKU once fully complete.’

‘It is hard to say when any site will be 100 percent complete,’Anderson said. ‘New data is always being added, and we want to keep it as up-to-date as possible.’