Jan. 28, 2004

FAIRFAX, Va.- George Mason University Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Tom O'Connor is pleased to announce that Richard Coco has joined the intercollegiate athletics department staff as assistant sports information director in charge of publications.

Previously, Coco served as sports information director at Gallaudet University in Washington D.C., where he spent the past 2 ? years. He produced Gallaudet's publications for all 18 of the Division III schools' intercollegiate sports and handled all statistics and media relations.

The Rockville, Md, resident began his career as a sports editor and journalist. He wrote for the Herald-Journal in Spartanburg, S.C., first covering the area's 17 high schools, then later as the beat writer covering Clemson University sports. Prior to that, he served as the assistant sports editor for Washington Daily News in Washington, N.C. from 1995-97.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Coco received a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from Brandeis University in 1993.

He and his wife Georganne, reside in Rockville, Md.