by Zafiro Tellez | Staff Writer |

A CSUSB faculty member has been appointed to represent the west region in the Men’s Basketball Championship Committee.

Kevin Hatcher (Ph.D.), who has been the Director of Athletics at CSUSB for three years, has begun the school year with added responsibilities.

Hatcher is no stranger when it comes to dealing with a heavy work load, as he has worked at universities such as Colgate University in New York, University of Texas at El Paso and University of Southern California.

“I am all about service.” said Hatcher. “I get a joy from just serving the NCAA. To help serve the west region institutions, that’s what is exciting for me.”

This appointment to represent the region is a commitment that will last 5 years.

Hatcher explained that there are three levels in the NCAA.

The first division centers more on generating revenue. The second division centers more on the life aspect and opportunities with student athletes; they also award scholarships.

Division three is just in charge of recruiting but offers no scholarship opportunities.

The committee governs the Division II Men’s Basketball championship and oversees the bids on where to host the championship game.

The committee is in charge of deciding on the rules that the different basketball teams must abide by in order to participate Division II play.

Hatcher’s job and goal as chair of the west region will consist of making sure that this process goes as smoothly as possible.

With this appointment comes a lot of obstacles, one of which includes the time that will be devoted to research for weekly meetings.

Not only will research include figuring out all the small details to be put into weekly meetings, but afterwards, he will be reporting to the National Committee on their progress.

Hatcher earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

He also got a master’s degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in sports management and communications from the University of Michigan.

In representing the West Region Men’s Basketball Championship Committee, communications will be an important tool to utilize in order to ensure that things run smoothly.

Hatcher will be the chair of a committee that includes coaches, administrators and a commissioner who will all be sorting out the details of where the west region championship will take place.

With Hatcher as the Director of Athletics at Cal State San Bernardino, the program of athletics in CSUSB has won five California Collegiate Athletic Association titles and won three NCAA Division II West Region Tournament titles.