Former NSU assistant SID Kenny Lannou, here in 2002-03 before moving to his alma mater at Baylor, has rapidly moved up the ladder in the sports information business. Earlier this year, he was elevated to the top spot in the Kansas State SID office after spending the football season as interim SID.
Lannou worked with women's basketball and baseball as his primary sports at Northwestern, while handling graphic design for all publications. His positive personality earned him the nickname "Can Do" which also turned into "Kangaroo" when our friend Coach Black got involved. (Former Demon softball catcher Jamie Frasier, who is about as zany as it gets, also deserves some credit for popularizing the "Kangaroo" moniker. Jamie once sprained a dimple from laughing too much.)
Before this year, Lannou worked with baseball and the Wildcats' nationally-powerful volleyball program. In baseball, he worked alongside former Demon pitching coach Sean McCann (1998-2001), who came to Natchitoches with John Cohen in January 1998.
McCann left NSU to go into private business but couldn't stand being out of baseball and coaching. He took a spot as head coach at Bossier Parish Community College, then moved after a year to Missouri and helped revitalize the Tigers into an NCAA Tournament team. When his friend Brad Hill got hired at K-State, McCann moved west and the Wildcats have quickly moved into the high end of the Big XII baseball world.
Sean is definitely in it for "the love of the game." If you ever have the chance to meet him, request a Harry Caray impression. It's dead on.
Also in Manhattan, Kan., Lannou works closely with another friend of Demon baseball. Mark Janssen is the sports editor of the Manhattan paper, and the father of former Demon third base coach Travis Janssen, now at Jacksonville State.
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