SENATOBIA - Northwest Mississippi Community College has announced the hiring of Tori Fugatt as the academic advisor for the Rangers' football program.

"I am honored and beyond excited for the opportunity to work alongside the Northwest administration and football staff for the development of our student-athletes," Fugatt said. "I want to express my sincerest gratitude to Northwest for their warm welcome and confidence in me. Being a former student-athlete, I understand the need for balance and the doors that an education will open up far beyond a student-athlete's playing career. There is a culture established that empowers our student-athletes to excel on the field and in the classroom, and I look forward to building on that foundation and achieving new heights."

Fugatt joins Northwest after spending the last two years as the Director of Athletic Operations for the softball program at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. While there, she performed numerous duties, including handling compliance, recruiting, financial and administrative support tasks. Other duties Fugatt performed included maintaining social media accounts for ULM softball, gameday operations, organizing team travel and fundraising.

Fugatt is a graduate of ULM, earning her bachelor's degree in business administration in 2020 and earlier this spring, she earned her master's degree in exercise science, with a focus on sports management. The Mayflower, Ark. native also played softball for the Warhawks from 2017-19.

"Tori has a great experience as both a player and employee in a college athletic department," Northwest athletic director Jake Gordon said. "Our football student-athletes will benefit from her knowledge and experience, and Northwest will benefit from having this extra academic support in our department."