CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Champaign Swarm General Manager Jim Sheppard announced Friday the hiring of Sara Seed as assistant general manager for the club, while head coach Chris Daleo has added Zack Patterson as an assistant coach.

Seed will assist Sheppard in all facets of the Swarm’s operation. She brings a wealth of experience in promotions, marketing, event planning and athletics.  Since 1985, Seed has held roles of high community involvement in the Champaign-Urbana area. Her past positions include owning and running her own promotions company, directing sporting events for the Champaign County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and teaching in Champaign’s Unit 4 schools. Seed has also been a contributing tennis columnist and correspondent for The News-Gazette. She currently works as a personal stylist with J. Hilburn Men’s Clothier.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Sara’s caliber,” Sheppard said. “She’s a proven leader. With her extensive networks and knowledge, she will help us build our brand and team.”

Patterson is no stranger to the sidelines in central Illinois.  For the past four years, the Danville native was an assistant coach at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Ill. There he helped coach three Academic All-Americans and eight players that earned conference honors. He previously coached at Danville Area Community College with hall-of-fame head coach John Spezia, who currently serves as a consulting director for the Midwest Professional Basketball Association.

“I’m very grateful to Chris Daleo, Jim Sheppard and John Spezia for this opportunity,” Patterson said. “I look forward to representing the Champaign area with competitive basketball coaching.”