IPFW Media Relations Department

Media Relations Director-Rudy Yovich
Primary Contact: Men's Basketball, Men's Volleyball, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Baseball.

Assistant Media Relations Director-Christine Francies
Primary Contact: Women's Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Men's Tennis, Women's Tennis, Men's Golf, Women's Golf.

Media Relations Graduate Assistant-Jaclyn Puntillo
Primary Contact: Women's & Men's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field, Softball.


The Office of Media Relations at IPFW is responsible for the day-to-day publicity efforts of 16 Division I sports. The primary function of the IPFW Media Relations Office is to service and accommodate the media in its coverage of the entire Mastodons' Athletic department. Requests for interviews and photos of student-athletes, coaches, or administration must be made 24 hours in advance through the media relations office.

The Media Relations Office, located in the Hilliard Gates Sports Center, handles a myriad of press services, including, but not limited to, the issuing of credentials, the publication of media guides, game programs, and press notes, as well as compiling statistics and web site maintenance.

Members of the Media Relations Office will assist you with any day-of-game need, including player and coach information, in-game statistics and post-game notes and quotes.

Journalists and media covering IPFW Athletics benefit from working in a professional and comfortable environment.

Members of the Media Relations staff are on call virtually every day of the year, 'round the clock, in an effort to enhance the coverage of IPFW Athletics.

MEN'S BASKETBALL MEDIA INFORMATION

FACILITIES: Media facilities in the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum consist of an area at floor level on the east side of the court for reporters, broadcasters and photographers. There is also a Media Room located on the east side (across from the IPFW dressing room), open to the press before, during and after the games. Admittance to these areas is by special credentials issued only by the IPFW Media Relations Director.

CREDENTIALS: Credentials for home games are provided to those members of the media who are covering the game in a full working capacity and requests should be made by email as far in advance as possible. Members of the media MUST contact the Media Relations Office by noon on game day in order to request a seat. Passes may be claimed at the Media "Stage Door" Entrance of the Coliseum. A media pass does not necessarily guarantee a seat. Spouses, dates, children and non-workers are NOT permitted in the media areas. Passes must be displayed at all times, and IPFW reserves the right to revoke passes and privileges at any time due to misrepresentation or misconduct. Fan-based web sites are not eligible for media credentials.

PARKING: IPFW does not control parking at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum and therefore cannot issue parking passes.

ENTRY: Media representatives with proper IPFW-issued credentials will be allowed to enter the building ONLY at the Media Entrance (Stage Door). The Stage Door entrance is located off to the left of the VIP Parking area adjacent to the replica fighter jet and eternal flame.

GAME SERVICES: Programs, notes, media guides, statistics, quotes and play-by-play are provided only to credentialed media. Two phones are available in the Media Room. For wireless internet access, contact the Memorial Coliseum. Light refreshments are available in the Media Room (one hour before game time and at halftime).

RADIO: The visiting team's "official" station, as designated by the visitors' Media Relations Director, will be permitted origination privileges. A courtesy phone line is provided at courtside (on a reciprocal basis). If other connections are needed, contact the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. All pass requests should also be made to the Media Relations Director.

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Photographers are not permitted to shoot from in front of the team benches nor from the catwalk above the floor (for security, insurance and safety reasons). Along the end lines, photographers must stay behind the broken line and clear of the free throw lane. Flashes are not allowed. Photographers are required to shoot from courtside. Certified photographers of newspapers, magazines, wire services and TV stations must request passes in writing. No credentials will be issued to freelance photographers.

INTERVIEWS: IPFW's locker room is closed to all media. The head coach will be available for interviews in the Media Room after each game. Players will also be available by request at that time. To arrange for a player interview during the week, contact the Media Relations Office (260-481-6646). All player interviews must be approved by the head coach.

NCAA Guidelines and the Media
Media members should be aware of several NCAA rules that apply to student-athletes. If there is ever a question if any media-related activity or event including an IPFW student-athlete could be a possible NCAA violation, contact Media Relations Director Rudy Yovich for an interpretation.

Areas of concern include:
Coaches and University officials cannot make comments on prospective student-athletes until they sign a National Letter of Intent. A coach cannot comment on a prospective student-athlete who verbally commits to an institution.

The Media Relations Department cannot disclose any health issue relating to a student-athlete due to the HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1996 (HIPAA). All inquiries must be made to Head Athletic Trainer Dan Fox.

Coaches and athletic staff are not permitted to write guest columns for publications.

Do not ask student-athletes to list or endorse products. Commercial photographers cannot provide student-athletes with photographs or slides. The media relations office offers a similar service for student-athletes to purchase photographs.

Student-athletes may not be used in advertisements or endorsements of products, including media-related publications or on radio.

Student-athletes are not permitted to conduct interviews for 1-900 services.

During the playing season, a student-athlete may appear on local radio or television programming or engage in writing projects.