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Dan Rives named Athletic Director at MDCC
There’s no place like home for MDCC alum Dan Rives. The Cleveland native has been appointed as the new Athletic Director at his alma mater, Mississippi Delta Community College. The news was announced by MDCC President Dr. Tyrone Jackson after the monthly board of trustees meeting on Thursday afternoon (April 9, 2020).
"Mississippi Delta Community College continues to prepare for the future in the midst of challenging times. We are very pleased to welcome Dan Rives as our new athletic director," Jackson said. "I'm excited to see the path that our athletic department can take under his leadership."
Rives spent nearly four seasons (the 2020 campaign was cut short due to COVID-19) as the head baseball coach at MDCC with the dual role of serving as the Trojans’ Assistant Sports Information Director as well. He is certainly appreciative of his new role.
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MDCC‘s newly appointed Athletic Director, Dan Rives, pictured with his wife Andrea (Atchley) and their children Madelyn (12) and Luke (8). |
"I am extremely thankful for the confidence shown by Dr. Jackson, the interview committee and our board of trustees throughout this whole process," Rives said. "The goal of the entire administrative team here at MDCC is to continue moving this college forward and I can’t wait to get going.”
In addition to his new AD role, Rives will serve as the school’s Sports Information Director. He will hand off his head coaching duties for the baseball team that he’s been building into a success. During Rives’ almost four seasons at the helm of the baseball program, he had two Trojans named to the All-Region and Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) All-State first teams and nine Trojans named to the All-State second team. Nearly 30 former student-athletes under his tutelage moved on to the four-year level (including 14 to the Division I ranks) to continue their academic and athletic careers, along with his program having a team GPA of greater than 3.0 in each of the previous seven semesters.
Rives, who played at MDCC in 2003 under former head coach Terry Thompson, spent 11 years as an assistant coach at Hinds Community College prior to coming to Moorhead in July 2016. It was in Raymond that he served as the Eagles recruiting coordinator, as well as their sports information director. Rives oversaw the redesign of the athletic website on three occasions as well as the production of all athletic publications and news releases.
During his time in Raymond, Rives helped lead the Eagles to three MACJC state championships (2010, 2012 and 2015) and one National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) regional championship (2014). It was also during this time that the Eagles had over 100 players move on to the four-year or professional ranks, including over 50 student-athletes advancing to the Division I level.
His college baseball career began at Delta State University in Cleveland where he spent the 2001 and 2002 seasons under one of the most highly-respected baseball minds in the country in Mike Kinnison. It was during these two seasons that the Statesmen compiled records of 50-11 (2001) and 50-8 (2002) and earned berths in the Division II College World Series in Montgomery, Alabama. Kinnison, now DSU’s Athletic Director knows Rives will bring even more success to the entire athletic program at MDCC.
“Dan is a solid choice for MDCC’s Athletic Director,” Kinnison said. “He has been involved in sports all of his life and has been in successful programs as a player and as a coach. He has been part of the Trojan Athletic family and will have valuable knowledge and leadership skills.”
Rives first came to MDCC in 2003 and finished his playing career at Mississippi College. The Choctaw earned All-American Southwest Conference (ASC) honors as a senior infielder in 2005. He was also voted Team MVP by his teammates and coaches at the conclusion of his senior campaign and he obtained All-Academic honors in his junior and senior seasons.
Rives has a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Mississippi College in 2005 and later received his Master of Arts degree in Social Science from MC in 2007.
Rives, a Cleveland native, is married to Andrea (Atchley), and the couple resides in Indianola. They have a daughter, Madelyn (12), and a son, Luke (8).