Clyde Verdin, a 2008 graduate of Nicholls, was hired as the new sports information director after the recent resignation of Charlie Gillingham.
Verdin plans to implement several ideas as the new director in addition to familiarizing himself with new coaches at the University.
His goals include making sure every sport gets equal treatment and making sure that each team has the ability to get their message across. Verdin said he believes this will be made possible through several tools, such as geauxcolonels.com, Twitter and Youtube. Another one of his goals is to help athletics grow as a department and become one of the top schools in the Southland Conference.
“There are a lot of exciting things happening here,” Verdin said. “I plan to highlight those things, and although I’m coming in when there are already a lot of sports in competition, I believe that I have the ability to get up to speed with everybody.”
This is not the first time Verdin has worked at Nicholls. After attending the University of New Orleans for two years, Verdin decided that it was time to come home.
“I’m originally from Morgan City, and after graduating from Central Catholic High School, most of my friends went to Nicholls,” Verdin said. “In New Orleans, however, I felt out of place, and I found myself coming to Morgan City and Thibodaux during weekends to hangout with my friends.”
As a student at Nicholls, Verdin worked with the Athletic Department as a stat collector for various athletic teams. He was also a sports writer and sports editor for The Nicholls Worth.
“Coming here (Nicholls) was by far the best decision I have made in terms of going to school and getting a degree,” Verdin said. “In my opinion, what helped me do a better job is that only at Nicholls and other small universities are you able to get an all encompassing feel for what it is really like to work in a real athletic department and work with sports. Also, my degree I was pursuing was in broadcast journalism, and working for the Nicholls Worth enabled me to make many connections on campus.”
These connections proved beneficial for Verdin, and during his senior year, he was given the opportunity to work as an intern for Channel 26 News in New Orleans. Verdin noted that this was a great experience, and only because he went to Nicholls did he get the chance.
After graduating in 2008, Verdin moved to Columbia, Mo. to take the position as an intern for the University of Missouri. He cooperated with track and field, volleyball, football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball for the athletics media relations department. Verdin then put his experience as a Nicholls Worth employee to the test by writing sports recaps for the Missouri Press Association.
“It was a cool experience writing for them, because thousands of people were able to read stuff that I personally wrote.”
Verdin worked for that university until July 2010, after which he was hired by the New Orleans Hornets as communicator for the organization.
“That was just another amazing experience that I had the fortune of having,” Verdin said. “I got to see the behind-the-scenes things that go into operating a NBA team, and I’m glad I had that job before working full-time at Nicholls because it was more experience.”
Verdin worked with the Hornets until he received his position as sports information director at Nicholls.
“I’m lucky to work in a community where basically, you have so many people rooting for you. This is how I’m repaying the people that helped me because I want to give back,” Verdin said. “There is no limit to what you can do if you give your all. Everything one does is not always easy; that is why it is important to put in hard work.”
Verdin explained that all of his work experience has allowed him to grow, but working for the University holds special meaning.
“I love Nicholls, and no matter where life may take me, my heart always lies with NSU,” Verdin said with a look of great pride in his eyes.
