UA turns to Trainor for SID job

BOB HOLT
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas conducted a national search for a new sports information director, but Athletic Director Frank Broyles said in the end the best candidate was across the hall in the Broyles Center.
Kevin Trainor was promoted to sports information director, Broyles announced Tuesday. Trainor served as Arkansas' associate and assistant SID the past five years.
"We had more than 50 applicants for the job from around the country, but that national search confirmed what we had initially thought -- that we had the best candidate already in our house in Kevin," Broyles said. "Kevin understands Arkansas' tradition, knows the people, what makes Arkansas tick, and he'll serve the Razorbacks and the media very well."
Trainor, 28, replaces Rick Schaeffer, who resigned to take a position as Northwest Arkansas regional director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Schaeffer announced his resignation June 22 but served as sports information director through Monday.
Arkansas football Coach Houston Nutt said he had supported Trainor's promotion in talking with Broyles.
"I think Kevin really deserved this promotion," Nutt said. "He's done a great job for Arkansas, and I love to keep that continuity going."
Trainor, a native of Fredonia, Kan., and the younger brother of former Razorbacks All-American place-kicker Kendall Trainor, has worked his way up the ladder in Arkansas' sports information office.
He is entering his 10th year at Arkansas, including the past two as associate SID. He was a student assistant in the SID office, then after graduating spent one year as a media relations assistant with the SEC office before returning to Arkansas in 1995 as assistant SID.
Trainor said he didn't know he was being promoted until getting the word from Broyles on Tuesday morning.
"I'm obviously very excited, and it's a great opportunity to follow a legend like Rick Schaeffer," he said. "It's a great time at Arkansas, with so many exciting things happening, and to be the sports information director is a dream come true for me."
Schaeffer pointed out he also was 28 when he was promoted to Arkansas' sports information position in 1979 after being an assistant SID.
"I'm thrilled for Kevin, and I know he's ready for this," Schaeffer said. "He's got great people skills, he's loyal to the Razorbacks, and he understands our program so well."
Among Trainor's first duties in his new position will be hiring someone to fill his previous position as associate SID.

This article was published on Wednesday, August 2, 2000

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