ABILENE, Texas – Former McMurry baseball standout and current sports information intern, Thomas Beckham, was promoted to assistant sports information director effective July 1, and in addition, he will join head coach John Byington on the baseball coaching staff for the 2011 season.

Beckham, who graduated in 2008 from McMurry, spent the last school year as the intern to the sports information office after receiving his master's degree in sports management from Baylor University in Waco in May of 2009.

On the baseball diamond, Beckham was a two-year letterman for head coach Lee Driggers and was a member of McMurry's last American Southwest Conference championship team his senior season in 2008. Byington who was on the coaching staff as an assistant under Driggers both years Beckham was on the team, said he would find Beckham as an asset to the program.

“It's always good when you can add an alum to the coaching staff, it brings extra motivation on our part to hire someone who had already invested in the program and cares about its future,” said Byington. “Thomas will work hard and he will be an asset to us particularly working with catchers.”

Beckham will have increased responsibilities in the sports information office and will serve as the primary media contact for men's and women's soccer, women's basketball, and men's and women's golf. He will also provide support for football and men's basketball.

“I'm extremely pleased that Thomas is staying at McMurry in an increased role for the upcoming school year,” said Kyle Robarts, associate director of university relations for athletics. “His work ethic is second to none, and he will help us continue to enhance the image of McMurry University and its athletic programs.”