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Bethel Athletics Announces Staff Changes

Posted
McKENZIE (August 1) — Bethel University Director of Athletics Brad Chappell announced changes involving three staff members within the athletic department. 
 
Malissa Vaughn, the school’s Faculty Athletic Representative, was named Senior Women’s Leader. Vaughn has served as the Bethel Faculty Athletic Representative since 2004 and was awarded the prestigious Southern States Athletic Conference Wally Schwartz Faculty Athletic Representative of the Year Award in 2019. She served on the Executive Committee, Eligibility Committee and Women’s Leadership Committee in the TranSouth, Southern States and Mid-South Conferences. At the national level, Vaughn served on the FAR Council. She is a key member of the Five-Year Eligibility Task Force and the Evaluation Team for prospective new members. 
 
Vaughn joined the Bethel faculty in 2000 and is Associate Professor of Health and Human Performance. Before Bethel, Malissa taught and coached in Memphis and Shelby County. The Lambuth College and Memphis State University graduate is married to Rick Vaughn. They have two sons, David (wife Kara and grandson Reid) and Mark (wife Kelsey). Mrs. Vaughn continues in her role as the Faculty Athletic Representative.
 
Head football coach Michael Jasper was appointed Associate Athletic Director of Internal Operations. Before becoming the head coach Jasper served as Assistant Head Coach and worked with the defensive line. Prior to that, he was Offensive Line Coach and Run Game Coordinator and oversaw the strength and conditioning program. Coach Jasper’s career record is 15-14 overall and 9-12 in conference play. 
 
Coach Jasper was a starter on the University of Tennessee at Martin’s 2006 Ohio Valley Conference championship team. After redshirting at Middle Tennessee State University, Coach Jasper joined the Bethel University Wildcats as an offensive and defensive lineman from 2008-2010. He was the first-ever Wildcat drafted to the NFL in 2011 with his selection by the Buffalo Bills. He graduated from Bethel University with a bachelor’s degree in university studies.
 
Jasper served as Offensive and Defensive Line Assistant at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, N.Y. He spent three years in the National Football League with the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and Carolina Panthers.
 
Mike and his wife, Allison, along with their children Davis Reid, Millie Claire and Samuel David reside in McKenzie with their rescue dog, Caine. Jasper enters his fourth year as head coach of the Wildcats this fall.
 
Sports Information Director Dave McCulley is Associate Athletic Director of Communications. McCulley will continue as the Sports Information Director and radio broadcaster at Bethel. In 1993 he became the Voice of Lambuth University Athletics and served as the Sports Information Director and Assistant Athletic Director at Lambuth until 2010. McCulley was Interim Athletic Director twice at Lambuth. McCulley enters his 16th season this fall as the radio and video broadcaster for Trinity Christian Academy in Jackson. Dave is a member of the Lambuth University Athletic Hall of Fame and the Gibson County Sports Hall of Fame. 
 
Dave resides in Jackson with his wife, Peggy. McCulley and his assistants Austin Childress and Clay Cotham oversee 26 varsity sports at Bethel. They are responsible for coverage of club and developmental programs at the school.
 
Chappell stated, “We are extremely excited about today. These additions will allow us to operate more efficiently and effectively to best serve our student-athletes ultimately strengthening our department. These three positions will be integral in the development of the entire student-athlete experience.”