Abilene Ruff Riders Hire Long Standing Community Member Danny Kittley As The New General Manager
By: Abilene Ruff Riders Press Release
Updated: August 3, 2012
The Abilene Ruff Riders announced today the hiring of long standing community member, Danny Kittley as the new General Manager of organization. "We are excited and honored to have the fortune of Danny as our General Manager. Danny has a long history in Abilene, Texas as both a track athlete at Abilene Christian University and as community leader over an impressive career focused in sports. The owners feel that Danny is another step in the process of getting the team involved in the community and Abilene seeing the team as their own", said Randy Sanders, Owner. "I have only had a short period time to work with Danny, but I have been extremely impressed with him in all of our meetings. The General Manager and Head Coach relationship is one that must be positive for the organization to be successful both on and off the field. Danny and I are going to work great together in furthering the community involvement focus that the owners want. The team supporting the community and the community supporting the team is a vital piece to a championship being won and we will have the players to do just that next year. It is going to be a great year for this franchise in 2013.", said Joe Brannen, Head Coach
Danny Kittley was formally the Intramural Sports Director for Abilene Christian University from 1998-2009. Danny served prior to that as a Residence Hall Director from 1986 to 1998 at Abilene Christian University and retired from ACU in May of 2009 after 23 years of service to the University. Danny is the owner of Kittley Sports Promotions which he founded in 2006. Danny has served as University Minister at Hillcrest Church of Christ from 2004 to 2005. Danny is very active with the Action Sports Medicine Champions Classic and has been or is currently involved in several civic activities including:
Director and Founder of the Abilene 7on7 Summer Football league 2006-present
Sports Alliance Committee Member 2006-present
President of the Abilene High Booster Club 2007-2009
Head sponsor for Sub T-16 social club at ACU 1999-2004
Director and Founder of the annual Area-Wide Youth Track Meet 2000-2007
Director and Founder of the Thomas Elementary Youth Track Meet 2003-present
Abilene Youth Basketball Association Secretary 2001-2002 and Coach 1998-2002
Franklin Middle School PTA President 2001-2002
Taylor Elementary PTA Vice-President 1997-1998 and President 1998-1999
Danny has been married to his wife Nikki for 27 years. Nikki is a 4th grade teacher for the Abilene Independent School District at Thomas Elementary. Their family includes, son Luke and his wife Jensen, Ben who is a sophomore football player at Abilene Christian University, Nate a senior football player at Abilene High School and grandsons Jett and Jones who undoubtedly have football somewhere in their future.
The Abilene Ruff Riders are in the process of having Abilene help to rebrand the team with a new name, colors and mascot. "This is the first step to getting the team more tied into the community and getting Abilene tied into the team. I am excited about the opportunity to help continue the process that the owners have begun. The owners have been very open about the aspect of the organization that they feel are weaknesses and are very proud of the aspects of the organization that have been turned into strengths over the last couple of years. I look forward to making this organization a strong partner of the Abilene Community and giving Abilene a great product of professional sports entertainment that it will be proud to support for years to come.", said Danny
The Abilene Ruff Riders have established a schedule on the announcement of the new team brand. The owners will be making a decision by August 15th from the concept submitted. A press conference will be held on August 17th to announce the new brand concept. Further details on the press conference will be released on the 15th and a lot of information about next season will be released. Be sure to plan to attend.
Danny Kittley was formally the Intramural Sports Director for Abilene Christian University from 1998-2009. Danny served prior to that as a Residence Hall Director from 1986 to 1998 at Abilene Christian University and retired from ACU in May of 2009 after 23 years of service to the University. Danny is the owner of Kittley Sports Promotions which he founded in 2006. Danny has served as University Minister at Hillcrest Church of Christ from 2004 to 2005. Danny is very active with the Action Sports Medicine Champions Classic and has been or is currently involved in several civic activities including:
Director and Founder of the Abilene 7on7 Summer Football league 2006-present
Sports Alliance Committee Member 2006-present
President of the Abilene High Booster Club 2007-2009
Head sponsor for Sub T-16 social club at ACU 1999-2004
Director and Founder of the annual Area-Wide Youth Track Meet 2000-2007
Director and Founder of the Thomas Elementary Youth Track Meet 2003-present
Abilene Youth Basketball Association Secretary 2001-2002 and Coach 1998-2002
Franklin Middle School PTA President 2001-2002
Taylor Elementary PTA Vice-President 1997-1998 and President 1998-1999
Danny has been married to his wife Nikki for 27 years. Nikki is a 4th grade teacher for the Abilene Independent School District at Thomas Elementary. Their family includes, son Luke and his wife Jensen, Ben who is a sophomore football player at Abilene Christian University, Nate a senior football player at Abilene High School and grandsons Jett and Jones who undoubtedly have football somewhere in their future.
The Abilene Ruff Riders are in the process of having Abilene help to rebrand the team with a new name, colors and mascot. "This is the first step to getting the team more tied into the community and getting Abilene tied into the team. I am excited about the opportunity to help continue the process that the owners have begun. The owners have been very open about the aspect of the organization that they feel are weaknesses and are very proud of the aspects of the organization that have been turned into strengths over the last couple of years. I look forward to making this organization a strong partner of the Abilene Community and giving Abilene a great product of professional sports entertainment that it will be proud to support for years to come.", said Danny
The Abilene Ruff Riders have established a schedule on the announcement of the new team brand. The owners will be making a decision by August 15th from the concept submitted. A press conference will be held on August 17th to announce the new brand concept. Further details on the press conference will be released on the 15th and a lot of information about next season will be released. Be sure to plan to attend.
