MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Darius Strickland has been promoted to a full-time employee and has been tabbed as the Manager of Athletic Facilities at Southern Arkansas University as it was announced by SAU Director of Athletics Steve Browning.
 
Strickland, a native of Camden, Ark., had become a fixture in the athletic department over the past couple of years, first serving as an undergraduate intern for the Fall 2014, and then most-recently, Strickland served as a graduate assistant in the Athletic Director's office since Spring 2015.
 
As an intern, Strickland gained hands-on experience in numerous facets of game day administration and facility management. Strickland's duties in that role ranged from facility set up and take down to hosting and taking care of NCAA officials while on campus. Additionally, Strickland assisted in concession stand management at various facilities as well as assisted in promotion (pre-game and in-game) of various athletic events on campus.
 
As a graduate assistant, Strickland served as an assistant to the Athletic Director. In that role, Strickland continued to gain experience in all aspects of game day administration and facility management. Internally, Strickland assisted in several projects including the maintaining and growing of the Mulerider Club, SAU's fundraising arm for athletics. Additionally, Strickland would ensure proper advertising signage was on display for each home event.
 
Prior to his time with the athletic department, Strickland was a student-athlete at SAU as a member of the football team. Strickland later went on to earn a Bachelor's of Science degree in Human Performance, Recreation, and Community Service with an emphasis on Sports Management in December 2014. Strickland is also on pace to graduate with a Master's of Science degree in Kinesiology.