Courtesy of Dan Benson, Minnesota State University Director of Media Relations

Mankato, Minn. – Minnesota State Senior Deputy Athletic Director for External Operations Paul Allan, who has led MSU's athletic communications for more than 37 years, announced he will retire from MSU on Dec. 16.

"To say I've always felt fortunate to have landed in Mankato when I did would be an understatement," said Allan, who joined the athletic department staff at then-Mankato State University in 1985. "Minnesota State Athletics has progressed significantly over the years, and it's been a lot of fun documenting the stories of our tremendous student-athletes, coaches, staff and teams along the way."

Allan's tenure at Minnesota State is longer than any currently serving athletic communications professional at a Minnesota college or university. During his career, Allan has been recognized nationally for his contributions to college sports information, including being inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame in 2009.
 

Minnesota State Director of Athletics Kevin Buisman said Allan's contributions to Maverick athletics are immeasurable.

"Paul Allan's retirement marks a historical milestone in the timeline of Maverick Athletics," said Buisman. "His contributions over a highly decorated 37-year career are immeasurable, and his impact on the program has been profound and will be greatly missed.

"He has become an icon as the public face of our operation, as his narrative has proudly told the story of our many successes over the years. He pioneered our presence on the athletics website and across various social media platforms, recognizing much sooner than many others the importance of connecting far beyond our local audience.

"On behalf of all those who are better for the opportunity of having worked alongside Paul Allan, we salute him on a job well done and wish him well in his retirement and in any future endeavors he might elect to pursue."

Buisman said a reception to thank Allan for his years of service to Maverick Athletics will be held Monday, Dec. 12 from 3-4:30 p.m. in the Johnson Alumni Room, located in the University's Taylor Center. The University community and public are invited.
 

For more information about Paul Allan's retirement from MSU, please contact Allan at paul.allan@mnsu.edu.

Biographical Highlights from Paul Allan's 37 years with Minnesota State Athletics

Paul Allan, a Calgary, Alberta, native, joined the Minnesota State Athletics staff in the fall of 1985 as Sports Information Director. He was named Assistant AD/Communications in 2003, Associate Director of Athletics in 2009 and Senior Deputy Director/External Operations in 2022.

Allan serves as a member of the department management team and is responsible for providing departmental oversight and strategic planning for external communications and public relations initiatives involving intercollegiate athletics at Minnesota State.

Maverick team and student-athlete success

During his years overseeing MSU athletic communications, the Mavericks have won four national team championships (men's cross country NCAA DII co-champs in 1988; women's basketball NCAA DII in 2008-09; softball NCAA DII in 2017; and women's indoor track & field NCAA DII in 2022). Allan has publicized hundreds of conference champions, NCAA postseason qualifiers (teams and individuals), as well as academic award honors at the university, conference, regional and national levels.

Department growth, addition of Division I men's and women's hockey

When Allan arrived on campus in 1985, MSU's men's hockey program was at the start of a seven-year run (from 1985-86 through 1991-92) competing at the NCAA Division III level. The Maverick men's hockey team then became an NCAA Division II independent for four seasons before making the jump to Division I in the 1996-97 season. Allan has directed communications for the program throughout that time, including NCAA Frozen Four appearances the past two seasons, and his 37-year association with the Maverick men's hockey program is longer than anyone in University history.

Not long after the Mavericks moved up to Division I in men's hockey, Minnesota State added women's hockey as an NCAA Division I program for the 1998-99 season.

Looking back, Allan said, it's hard to imagine how much MSU athletics has grown.

"We've been along for a crazy ride which began in the North Central Conference and the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association...in an athletic department that didn't have women's hockey or women's soccer, while a rink downtown and Taylor Center on campus seemed like far away pipe dreams," said Allan. "Georgene Brock was the women's athletic director and Mark Schuck was the interim men's AD when I was hired. I will always be grateful they took a chance on a young guy looking for an opportunity. I also learned a lot in working with (former athletic directors) Ron Wellman and Don Amiot, and Kevin Buisman has helped usher in an era of unprecedented success."

Relationships and family

Buisman credited Allan for building strong relationships with colleagues as well as those who worked for him as assistants, grad assistants, student assistants and interns.

"A passionate promoter and advocate, Paul served our coaches and student-athletes with honor and dignity and mentored and guided many professionally who went on to their own successful careers in communications and public relations," Buisman said.

Allan said he is thankful for the contributions of all those who have helped in the Maverick athletic communications office, as well as the support of his family.

"We've had the best assistants in the business in Shane Drahota, Brian Zins, Scott Nelsen and Nick Burns, and I am extremely proud of the talented and hard-working graduate assistants and undergraduate interns that have come through our operation and gone on to bigger and better things," Allan said.

"Most importantly, I met my wife, Lori (a '92 MSU grad), a few months after arriving at MSU and we've built a life together that includes our three sons (Seth, Sean and Jack) and their significant others and a couple of unbelievably beautiful grandkids," said Allan. "It's been a wonderful journey." 

Education and career background

Allan, who spent three years in the sports information office at Northern Arizona University prior to coming to Minnesota State, is a 1982 West Texas State (now West Texas A&M) graduate and owns a master's degree from Minnesota State.

After joining MSU, Allan served as a press officer for the U.S. Olympic Committee at two U.S. Olympic Festivals (1990 in Minneapolis and 1991 in Los Angeles), one Winter World University Games (1999 in Poprad, Slovakia) and one Winter Olympic Games (1992 in Albertville, France). He served as the Venue Press Chief for hockey at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City and also spent three years as the league information director for the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (1989-92). In addition to serving on several committees at MSU and with CoSIDA, Allan is a member of the Harlon Hill National Advisory Committee which selects the NCAA Division II football Player of the Year.

In the summer of 2007 Allan was named the recipient of the Warren Berg Award - given annually to a CoSIDA college division member who has made outstanding contributions to the field of college sports information and who, by his or her activities, has brought dignity and prestige to the profession.  He also was presented with the North Central Conference Legacy Award in 2008 and in 2009 he was inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame.  In 2011 he was named the recipient of the MSU Sports Management Program Distinguished Alumni Award and in 2012 he was presented with the Vic Swenson Award by the Minnesota State Students Association.
 

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