SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Dan Cashel has announced his retirement from Drury University after 46 years of employment with the institution. Cashel served the university in a variety of roles, but his longest and most visible stint was as the Sports Information Director and Assistant Director of Athletics, a post he held from 1977 to 2005. He retires as Drury's Director of Campus Recreation & Student-Athlete Enhancement. His final day with the university was Friday.
 
Cashel joined Drury in the summer of 1974 and worked for two years in the Admissions Office. He shifted to the Athletics Department as the Sports Information Director for the 1977-78 season, a year that saw the Drury men's basketball program rise to become the nation's number one ranked team in the NAIA and, one year later, won the national championship.
 
"I want to congratulate Dan on an outstanding career," said Dr. Edsel Matthews, Drury's former Director of Athletics and head men's basketball coach who hired Cashel for the athletics department. "Some of the best years of my professional life came while working alongside Dan. His Hall-of-Fame caliber of work was at a high level will be difficult to replace, and his loyalty and dedication to Drury will never be matched. When this pandemic is over, I'm looking forward to spending time with Dan and properly honoring his career."
 
Cashel took on additional responsibilities as Assistant Athletics Director during the 1980s and was the head coach of the Drury men's tennis team from 1979-1985, guiding the program to a 102-68 record. The Panthers were the District 16 runner-up in each of his seven seasons, and he coached five All-District performers.
 
While serving as SID, Cashel assisted Drury's move to the NCAA in 1991-92 and took on the duties of Compliance Coordinator. On more than one occasion, Cashel filled in as an interim Director of Athletics guiding the department during times of transition.
 
"During my brief time at Drury University, one of the most important things I have learned is the impact Dan Cashel has had on this university and its athletics department over the last 46 years," said Corey Bray, Drury Vice President and Director of Athletics. "Such long and faithful service is rare these days, and any words of praise I write here are not enough to honor Dan appropriately. While his most recent service to the university has been in the Student Affairs department, he was still making a significant impact on the athletics department with his work at basketball games, NCAA championship tournaments, and other events we host annually. Dan's presence on campus every day will be missed by many, and I look forward to seeing him back on campus supporting our student-athletes as a loyal Panthers fan. Enjoy your retirement, Dan, and thank you for your impact on this athletics department, this university, and this community!"
 
In 2010, Cashel shifted to a role combining work in the Student Affairs office along with Athletics on various projects. He oversaw the daily operation of the Barber Fitness Center, served as coordinator for the Drury Athletics Hall of Fame, as well as Drury's All-Sports Awards held near the end of each academic year. He continued to play a vital role with Drury's basketball teams as he managed the official scorer's table for games at the O'Reilly Family Event Center. Cashel was also the tournament coordinator for the men's and women's tennis NCAA-II Sub-Regional each time the Panthers hosted the event, the most recent being in 2018.
 
"I was thrilled when Dan joined our Student Affairs team," said Drury Executive Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Dr. Tijuana Julian. "For the past seven years, he has taken on any task that was asked of him; some of these include designing a Parent Calendar for our parents and members of the Drury community, supervising the Barber Fitness Center, D-Cycle bike shop, and Intramurals. He also planned Family Day and served as the editor of our Parent Connection newsletter. There are many things behind the scenes and numerous details that Dan picked up for us - too many to mention."
 
While he served Drury in a variety of roles, it was his tenure as Sports Information Director that will leave a lasting legacy. His work earned more than 20 national awards from the College Sports Information Directors of America for various athletics publications, and his basketball yearbooks/media guides were voted the best in the nation numerous times in the NAIA. He worked with local, regional, and national media outlets promoting Drury Athletics through the launch of the Lady Panthers basketball program in 2000-01, in addition to the department's growth that featured six sports when he started in 1977-78 to its current total of 28 today.
 
"Dan's contributions to Drury Athletics and the sports media in southwest Missouri can't be measured," said Ed Beach, who is currently in Cashel's former role serving Drury as Assistant Director of Athletics for External Affairs & Media Relations. "He, along with Dr. Matthews, helped establish the Drury Athletics brand that not only highlighted a commitment to excellence in athletics and academics but set DU apart with a certain class and refinement that was befitting of the institution. It's a brand distinction that was brilliantly carried over by his predecessor Scott Puryear as well as our graphic design team, the Oliver-Rains Group. It's an image that everyone in Drury Athletics works to perpetuate today.  
 
"While I'm happy for Dan that he can start a new chapter in his life, his departure leaves a void for Drury Athletics and the university," Beach continued. "Someone with Dan's wealth of knowledge, skills, experience, and the rapport he has with students and alumni cannot be replaced. However, I'm looking forward to keeping him engaged with Drury Athletics, whether it be in the form of advice, which I will constantly need, or assistance on projects and events. He is someone I'll never stop learning from."
 
Due to concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic, an adequate opportunity to celebrate Cashel's retirement cannot be scheduled at the present time. In lieu of that event, Drury Athletics will accept congratulatory cards and notes to Cashel and deliver them in the coming weeks. Such communications can be dropped off at the Athletics offices in the O'Reilly Family Event Center during normal business hours or can be mailed to:
 
Drury University Athletics
Attention- Ed Beach, Media Relations
900 N. Benton Ave.
Springfield, MO  65802
 
 
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