Nicholls Athletics Director Rob Bernardi announced that Gary Gallup, has accepted the position of Athletics Director at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Kentucky. A veteran of the intercollegiate athletics, Gallup heads to Division II member KWC to oversee all 13 Panther programs.

"We are obviously disappointed to see Gary go but wish him and his family nothing but the best," Bernardi, about to embark on his sixth full season at the helm of the Colonel program said. "Gary is a true professional who only knows one way to do things: the right way.

Our fans will miss his, now familiar, voice on the radio and on the internet broadcasts. It's never easy to lose someone of Gary's caliber."

At Nicholls, Gallup served as its Associate Athletics Director for External Relations as well as the Voice of the Nicholls football, men's and women's basketball, baseball and softball. A broadcaster by trade, Gallup becomes an athletics director for the fourth time in his distinguished career after leading athletics programs at Lamar, Southern Utah and Texas-Pan American. Gallup also spent time working at the University of Texas El Paso, SMU and the University of New Orleans.

"Our decision to leave Nicholls was the toughest I have ever made in 30 years in athletics administration. Rob and I have been friends a long time, and I am really going to miss working with him. He is among the brightest and talented young athletics directors in college athletics. He's doing a tremendous job at Nicholls. I am excited about the opportunity that awaits me at Kentucky Wesleyan. I have enjoyed my stay in south Louisiana and will miss the warm spirit and welcoming nature of everyone. I have lived and worked in many places, and I can tell you that I have never met people as genuine and kind as I have known in south Louisiana," said Gallup.

A 1986 graduate of the University Texas-Dallas, Gallup will relocate to Kentucky with his wife Sharon. Both natives of Roswell, New Mexico, Gary and Sharon are the parents of four children and eight grandchildren. Bernardi stated that a search for Gallup's successor would begin shortly. Seth Thomas, Nicholls football color commentator for the last five seasons, will remain on the broadcast. A new play-by-play person is to be named soon.