An undergraduate student has been hired to take the reins and handle the media relations job for the equestrian team. Rob Beuerlein, a junior sociology major, said the director of media relations, Mark Cohen, approached him about the position.

“Mark (Cohen) just came up to me, and we discussed it,” Beuerlein said. “I was willing to take on the new project. It’s a great opportunity for me to fill a need within the department.”

Cohen said Beuerlein has an excellent sense of his duties and has received assignments not normally given to student assistants. Nationally, the hiring of students to these positions is not out of the ordinary, he said.

Beuerlein is currently the only undergraduate to hold a position in media relations this year.

Cohen said Beuerlein is not the first TCU undergraduate to hold a media relations position. Cameron Harris, a 2006 graduate of the Schieffer School, was the sports information director for the rifle team.

“It’s not uncommon across the board (that) when you have top-notch student assistants at schools, they’ll be given some sports to oversee,” Cohen said. “It’s a chance to get your feet wet in a profession and gives them a chance to see if this is something they really want to do.”

Media Relations Coordinator Ryan Schulz, the former media representative for the equestrian team, despite covering women’s basketball, soccer and both the cross country and track and field teams, said he was not overwhelmed by the job. The change served as a reward and opportunity for Beuerlein, a hard-working student, Schulz said.

Beuerlein said he will continue his student assistant duties of interviewing the opposing coaches after games and setting up for press conferences and he will now create a media guide, send meet results to local media and update the Web site.

Beuerlein said he is a good fit for the job because he isn’t afraid to try fresh ideas in order to increase the equestrian team’s media exposure.

“I am going to try to think of a lot of innovative ideas and think outside the box,” he said. “I’m very aggressive and want to try out every option.”

His ideas include running feature stories in local and national media and hosting a meet and greet at a baseball game, Beuerlein said.

Head coach Gary Reynolds said Beuerlein is well-informed about the sport.

“(Beuerlein) has really studied the team, the girls that are on the team, and in, just a few weeks, has moved down the ‘trail,’ so to speak.”

The experience Beuerlein gets at TCU will be a boost to his resume later, Beuerlein said.

“Professionally, this is one of the biggest steps forward I can imagine, because I want to go into either collegiate or professional sports,” Beuerlein said. “As a junior, I’m going to get two years of experience doing this. I think that’s going to be real valuable.