MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State University Vice President of Athletics, Travis Whipple, has announced four staff hires within the athletic department as SMSU Athletics prepares for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year.
 
Three of the additions are recent hirings, while one of the positions was hired last fall.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome such a talented group of Mustangs to our team," Whipple said. "They are dedicated to enhancing the student-athlete experience and striving for excellence. This has been a strategic, collaborative effort over several months to ensure student-athletes are at the center as we modernize the department and maximize our resources. I'm personally excited to partner with each new member as we continue Creating Champions and Mustangs for Life!"
 
Sean Howk just completed his first year as Assistant AD for Event Operations & Ticketing. He is the main point of contact for Mustang fans looking to purchase season and single-game tickets and the lead administrator for event management and facility scheduling. Howk, who was hired in October of 2025, was a six-year member of the SMSU wrestling program and earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from SMSU.
 
Mason Sellner was named Assistant AD for Development & Special Events in May of 2026. He will oversee the Mustang Club and annual giving for the Athletics Department, while assisting in fan engagement, special events, and outbound ticket sales. Sellner was a graduate assistant for SMSU event operations and development during the 2025-26 season. He earned his bachelor's degree in sport management from SMSU and is currently pursuing his master's degree at SMSU.
 
Riley Kramolisch was named Director of Creative Content and started her position on July 15, 2026. The role will oversee SMSU webcast productions for home events, while creating video and social media content to help enhance the department's digital presence. Kramolisch is a recent graduate of SMSU with a degree in broadcasting and digital media. She was a four-year member of the SMSU softball program and closed her career with a program record 231 base hits.
 
Devon Johns was recently named the Director of Performance and will begin his new role on Aug. 3. He will oversee strength and conditioning, the refueling station, and the weight room, along with associated programming. Johns comes to SMSU after spending the past two years at Wayne State College as the assistant strength and conditioning coach. He has also spent time as a strength and conditioning coach at Concordia-St. Paul, Western Kentucky University and Bowling Green University. He earned his bachelor's degree in exercise science from Western Kentucky and his master's degree from Concordia-St. Paul.