From Staff Reports

MONTEVALLO – The University of Montevallo announced the hiring of Wesley Hallman as the athletic department’s new Sports Information Director.

“We are pleased to have Wesley join our department,” said University of Montevallo Athletic Director Jim Herlihy. “He brings a great understanding of our campus, community and marketplace to our publicity and promotional efforts.”

Hallman joined the Montevallo athletic department after spending three years as the Sports Editor at Shelby County Newspapers, Inc., where he directed coverage for 17 high schools and the University of Montevallo for the Shelby County Reporter, Pelham Reporter and Alabaster Reporter newspapers, along with Shelby Living and H-Life magazines. Hallman also oversaw coverage of the PGA Champions Tour’s Regions Tradition at Shoal Creek, the Southeastern Conference baseball tournament and the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer College Cup in Hoover.

Hallman was awarded three first-place Alabama Press Association sports writing awards during his tenure at the Shelby County Reporter, including Best Sports Feature in 2010, Best Sports News In-Depth Coverage in 2011 and Best Sports Single-Event Story in 2012.

Hallman began his professional career as a sports reporter at The Birmingham News. Hallman covered high school sports in Shelby County for two years before spending one year covering high school sports in Hoover for The Birmingham News. Hallman also covered several collegiate sporting events for The Birmingham News and was a member of a team of sportswriters who won the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Best Football Feature Without a Deadline in 2008.

Hallman, 29, graduated from the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in May 2006. He replaces outgoing Sports Information Director Sean Forrester, who accepted a Media Relations Assistant position at Coastal Carolina University in July.