Illinois-Chicago welcomed two former women’s volleyball players back to the athletics department as full-time staff members. Katie Kozak was hired as the assistant director of development and special services, while Casie Sullivan will serve as assistant director of marketing and game operations.

Other transactions

Athletics directors – Clayton State athletics director Mason Barfield announced his retirement after 22 years at the helm. Barfield has been the only AD in school history and will officially leave the office on October 21.

Coaches

Baseball – UC San Diego hired Eric Newman to lead its baseball program as head coach. Newman had previously been the pitching coach at Nebraska since 2007.

Women’s basketball assistants – La Salle named Shayla Scott assistant women’s basketball coach. Scott played collegiately at Pittsburgh.

Men’s and women’s gymnastics – Centenary (Louisiana) selected Jackie Fain as its head women’s gymnastics coach. She most recently worked at the U.S. Gold Gymnastics Academy.

Men’s and women’s lacrosse – Hilbert tabbed Julia Decker head women’s lacrosse coach. Decker is the first full-time coach in program history … Meghan Keelan is Shepherd’s new head women’s lacrosse coach. An assistant at Bucknell previously, Keelan replaces Tammy Butler, who resigned from the position.

Men’s and women’s soccer assistants – Rensselaer added Bridgette Varin and Erika Van Zandt to its women’s soccer staff as assistants, with Van Zandt focusing on the goalkeepers. Varin recently graduated from Rochester (New York), while Van Zandt most recently worked at Bard.

Conferences

The Landmark Conference and Marywood have agreed to an affiliation in men’s and women’s swimming and diving. Marywood’s programs join seven women’s and six men’s team already a part of the conference … Texas A&M officially notified the Big 12 Conference that it will submit an application to join another conference. The affiliation could end effective June 30, 2012.

Staff

Development and fundraising – Indiana State hired former men’s basketball student-athlete Nate Green as executive director of the Sycamore Athletic Foundation. Additionally, Darrin Barton was added to the staff as director of development for athletics … San Jose State named Tim Rice development and stewardship coordinator for the Spartan Foundation.

Send announcements – including hirings, contract extensions, retirements, milestones and deaths – to transactions@ncaa.org.