Utah St. campus briefs

Published: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 1:06 a.m. MST

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ADMINISTRATION: Kevin Rice has joined the Utah State Athletics Department as an Associate Athletics Director for Development it was announced Monday. Rice replaces Kevin Dustin who resigned in July to take a position with the Utah High School Activities Association.

Rice has spent the past 17 years working at various executive management levels in both the private and corporate sectors of business. Most recently, Rice was the Regional Operations Director for Development for a multi-national corporation. As regional operator, Rice and his staff were recognized nationally for their sales, marketing and customer development/retention models by TRSA of America.

Rice received his undergraduate degree in international relations/business from Utah State in 1992 and in 2005 he finished his masters of business administration degree. Rice also played tight end on USU's football team from 1988-1992.

A native of Utah, Rice is married to the former Stacy Ann Shulsen, a Utah State graduate, and the couple has two sons, Austin (15) and Kade (9).

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At Utah State, Rice's primary responsibility will be to focus on major gifts and specific fundraising projects for Aggie Athletics. He will also play a significant role in the creation of a national board of former athletes to create the Varsity Club, a communication and connection vehicle, serving alumni of all Aggie sports.

CROSS COUNTRY: Utah State cross country athlete Brian McKenna has been named the Utah State Student-Athlete of the Week.

McKenna a sophomore from Farmington, culminated the cross country season with a first-place finish at the Western Athletic Conference Championships in Reno, Nev., on Oct. 31. McKenna completed the 8K course with a time of 26:00.1, leading the Aggies to a first-place overall finish.

McKenna earned the WAC Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Year honor and was also named first-team all-WAC.

Utah State is the five-time repeating WAC champion, earning the title every year since joining the WAC in 2005. McKenna has also been the Aggies' top finisher in every race thus far this season.

The USU men are now ranked fifth in the Mountain Region, as released by U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Monday.

McKenna and the Aggies next action will be at the NCAA Mountain Regionals in Albuquerque on Nov. 14.