THIBODAUX, La. - Nicholls State University has named K. Matthew Roan as its next athletic director, pending approval from the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. He will be introduced at a press conference at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Harold J. Callais Memorial Recreation Center; the public is invited to attend.Roan, who currently serves as deputy director of athletics at Eastern Kentucky University, will start Nov. 15, replacing long-time athletic director Rob Bernardi who resigned in July. Head women's basketball coach and senior woman administratorhas held the interim athletic director position since mid-July."From a highly qualified candidate pool, Matt stood out to me and the search committee for his extensive experience with strategic planning and budget management as well as his excellent communication skills," Nicholls President Bruce Murphy said. "We are excited to welcome Matt to Nicholls and look forward to him leading the Colonel athletic program to new heights."A former team captain on the Southern Utah University football team, Roan assisted with football operations at the University of Kentucky while working on his law degree which he obtained from UK's College of Law in 2012. He was then named deputy director of athletics at Southern Utah University before joining Eastern Kentucky in 2013.