Bryant Announces Staff Additions: Tim Brien and Kelley Tiarks Join Department at Fitness Center Director and Academic Services Coordinator

August 2, 2007

BRYANT UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS ANNOUNCES STAFF ADDITIONS:
Tim Brien Named Fitness Center Director
Kelley Tiarks Appointed Academic Services Coordinator

Tim Brien

SMITHFIELD, RI - The Bryant University Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the hiring two additional support staff members: Fitness Center Director and Woonsocket, R.I. resident Tim Brien and Academic Services Coordinator Kelley Tiarks. The announcement was made today by Director of Athletics Bill Smith.

Brien, a 2001 graduate of the University of Rhode Island and master's of science recipient at URI, served as Bryant's volunteer strength coach for the 2006-07 academic year.  He will oversee day to day operation of the 9,000 square foot Elizabeth and Malcolm Chace Wellness Center. 

A retired Emergency Medical Services Coordinator for 16 years with the Woonsocket Fire Department, Brien was an athletic trainer at Brown University from 1996 to 2006, working primarily with the Bears' football, basketball, wrestling, hockey, gymnastics and track athletes. During his time, Brien helped establish the Brown University Football Players and Woonsocket Youth Football Mentor Program.

An active member of various organizations in Woonsocket and throughout the state, Brien is also a world-class power lifter.  As recently as 2005, he placed first in the American Masters Weightlifting Championship and first at the AAU National Power Lifting Championships.  In 1985, Brien placed first in the New England Strongest Man Competition for his weight class, and successfully defending his title in 1986. 

He is a certified Athletic Trainer by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), National Strength & Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and will begin his duties immediately.

Tiarks, a 2001 graduate of the University of Massachusetts, begins her first year with the Bulldogs.  She will oversee Bryant's student-athlete academic programs in conjunction with the campus Academic Center for Excellence (ACE).  Prior to arriving at Bryant, Tiarks was a graduate assistant in the office of Academic Advising at Fordham University where she assisted in counseling and academic guidance. 

A member of the three-time Atlantic-10 Champion UMass Women's Varsity Crew team, Tiarks recently received her master's degree from Springfield College.  While at Springfield, she was involved in the college's Athletic Counseling Services.  In addition, she has also interned with the Sport Psychology Department at the University of Utah (2004-05) and served a six-month internship at London's Sion Manning Girls School.