DEMOREST, Ga. - After nearly a dozen years telling the stories of student-athletes, teams and coaches at Piedmont University, Assistant AD of Communications Danielle Percival will be leaving Demorest for the first time in her professional career to pursue a different opportunity.  

The long-time communications leader for the Green and Gold is trading her spot on the sideline for one in the conference office at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) as the league's new Assistant Commissioner.

"Although we are sad for the loss to our department with Danielle's announcement, we are all so excited for her to start this new chapter in her life," Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jim Peeples said. "Everyone could see her talent for storytelling, but Danielle also did an amazing job mentoring the student-athletes who worked in so many different capacities and helped to launch many of those students into careers in athletic communications."

Percival's move to the SCAC conference office comes after a standout beginning to her athletic communications career, the entirety of which came at Piedmont University. 

"Coming to Piedmont, I had no idea what I was getting into, but Timmy McCormack took me under his wing and helped me find a passion for athletic communications and mentoring students," Percival said. "I began my time at Piedmont by finding a job but fell in love with a career."

Percival first stepped into the Johnny Mize Athletic Center back in the fall of 2014 as the department's first full-time communications assistant hire. Her journey with the Lions began in the role of Assistant Director of Athletic Communications working under the department's then director and now Head Women's Soccer Coach Timmy McCormack.

"Danielle's talent in the field of communications was obvious from the very start," said McCormack of the chance to bring Percival to Demorest. "However, it was her ability to learn, adapt and develop new talents while subsequently becoming an expert in the field that many likely did not expect when she first came on board."

Having already gained invaluable experience in front of the camera during her college days at Troy University and in the months that followed as a sideline reporter for ESPN, the Alabama native quickly helped Piedmont's broadcasting network build a national brand that several times made appearances on SportsCenter's Top Ten.  

Despite having the ability to blossom in front of the camera though, Percival's work behind the scenes with the game day staff at Piedmont, comprised mostly of student workers, became respected throughout the conference. With a large student work staff and interns who have gone on to become professionals in the world of athletic communications, Percival's legacy is evident in the lives she's impacted. 

"Danielle's versatility and passion in the athletic communications arena is unmatched," said Joseph Garwood, Piedmont's Director of Athletic Communications. "Her ability to adapt to the ever changing environment of the athletic communications field and the level of resources available is especially admirable, as is her ability to consistently elevate the successes of Piedmont student-athletes."

Her storytelling also heightened Piedmont's national profile as well with stories like that of Anna Lassiter's "ring the bell" moment, celebrating her victory in her battle with cancer which made people care about the student-athletes at Piedmont and their stories in ways not seen before.

Whether it was navigating the Covid-19 pandemic as all sports shifted to competition to the spring or the countless extra-inning and overtime contests that lasted long into the night and sometimes early morning hours, it was Percival's perseverance that will truly stand out as she departs a department that she spent 11 years with in her time.

"She also helped me facilitate our leadership program pouring into our student-athletes as they learned about their individual leadership qualities," said Peeples. "Her impact in so many areas has been tremendous,"

"Living the life of a SID or in the field of communications, it's a job that often goes unnoticed, and sometimes under appreciated," said McCormack. "But with Danielle, I don't think anyone will forget how she battled and fought through so much adversity at times to always bring the Piedmont Athletic Department to fans beyond the walls of these facilities."

Founded in 1962, the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference consists of Division III member institutions from Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, and Texas. The SCAC is led by Commissioner Dwayne Hanberry with 12 members competing in 19 sports. 

Once known as the College Athletic Conference prior to 1991, the league has undergone significant change over the years and once included typical foes on Piedmont athletic schedules like Berry College, Sewanee, and Centre who now form the SAA, Southern Athletic Association.  

As one of the premier conferences in Division III, the SCAC is unlike many leagues in the NCAA's largest division with the primary focus for alignment being on academics similar to the NESCAC and UAA rather than geography being the main reason for the conference's construction.  

Percival will start her new role in the SCAC's conference office, which is located in Suwanee, Georgia, this month leaving behind a department that is nothing other than transformed from the time she took over.  

"I could never hope to publicly thank everyone who had had an impact on my time at Piedmont, but I can say I will miss the Piedmont family," Percival said. "While I am excited for the future, my time with the Lions will always be special to me and I look forward to seeing the department's continued success."