BILLINGS, Mont. – After serving five years as Director of Athletic Communications, Portland, Oregon native Evan O'Kelly is departing Montana State University Billings to assume the same role at fellow Great Northwest Athletic Conference school Concordia University.

"We were very fortunate to have had Evan on our staff for the past five years," commented MSUB athletics director Krista Montague. "He elevated our athletics communications department immensely and did an excellent job highlighting our student-athletes and coaches. Although he will be sorely missed, we are happy for him to make the move to his home town and to another quality GNAC program. Evan has a bright future ahead of him and we wish him nothing but the best in this next step of his career. We want to thank Evan for his dedication and tireless work for our university and department."

O'Kelly will begin his time at Concordia on Sept. 3.
 

With O'Kelly's departure to the Pacific Northwest, Montague has named Charlie Snelson interim director of communications. Snelson will take over coverage of MSUB's 16 Division II sports after serving as assistant director of communications under O'Kelly for 13 months. Snelson completed his master's degree in sport administration at the University of Northern Colorado and was a sports information graduate assistant and broadcaster at UNC prior to his tenure in Billings.

"We are thrilled Charlie has accepted our offer to step into the role of Interim Director of Communications," said Montague. "He was able to learn from the best in the business and is ready to lead our communications and sports information office. He has a strong education and good background in sports information, and we look forward to supporting him in his new role. Charlie understands our student-first philosophy at MSUB, and will work hard to help us continue to provide the best possible overall experience for them."

"I am grateful for the opportunity to step into this new role and continue to promote our Yellowjacket student-athletes," Snelson said. "Evan helped me immeasurably in my time at MSUB and I want to personally thank him and wish him well in his new role at Concordia. Also, my thanks to Krista Montague and the rest of the athletics staff for all their support during the transition. I look forward to another great season of Yellowjacket athletics."