University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Kevin Vannatta Named Big South's NCAA National SAAC Representative
06.15.2016 | Men's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – UNC Asheville men's basketball player Kevin Vannatta has been named the Big South Conference's NCAA Division I National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Representative, it was announced today. Vannatta, a rising junior, is one of just 32 student-athletes nationwide who serve as a member of the national SAAC, which is an integral part of the NCAA's governing structure.
In his role, Vannatta will assist in the mission of the NCAA Division I SAAC – to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare and fostering a positive student-athlete image. Vannatta will remain active in the UNC Asheville and the Big South's SAAC, and will be educated and informed about relevant issues.
Vannatta will also represent the voice of all of the Big South's nearly 4,200 student-athletes on legislative and other student-athlete centered issues.
“It's an honor and a privilege to represent UNC Asheville and the Big South, and I am excited to represent all of the student-athletes in our conference. I know I will learn a lot about the world of legislation at the NCAA level and the student-athlete experience – both from my perspective that I already know and also more of what the NCAA is trying to do for us as student-athletes,” Vannatta stated.
“It is really cool to be able to represent my teammates and fellow student-athletes, both here at UNC Asheville and from around the Big South. To be able to represent them and voice their opinions on their issues will be a tremendous honor and I am excited to get started. I am thankful for the support of my coaches, Athletic Director Janet R. Cone, our SAAC liaison Dawn Turner, and everyone else here at UNC Asheville and I look forward to representing the Bulldogs and the Big South.”
Vannatta, a guard for the Bulldogs, represented UNC Asheville at the Big South's Leadership Conference last summer and will serve as the Vice President of the Bulldog campus SAAC in 2016-2017 in addition to his national SAAC duties.
As a member of the Bulldog basketball team, Vannatta has appeared in 63 games with 52 starts in the last two seasons, including being one of two players to start all 34 games in 2015-2016 as Asheville won the Big South Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. He has started all 35 Big South Conference games he has appeared in to date in his Bulldog career.
