CEDAR CITY, Utah. Southern Utah University Athletics lost one of its staunchest supporters as former Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations Neil Gardner passed away.  Gardner served as Southern Utah's Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations from 1991 until 2014. 

During that time, he oversaw the SUU Athletic Media Relations department and its workings with the University's 17 NCAA Division I sports, with primary responsibility for football, men's basketball and golf during his time with the Thunderbirds.

Gardner joined the SUU athletics department in 1991 as an assistant sports information director, with primary responsibility for football, men's basketball, gymnastics and baseball. He has also served as the primary contact for women's basketball, tennis and softball during his time at the University. He was named Sports Information Director in 1993, Athletic Media Relations Director in 1998 and Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations in 2007.

A 1980 graduate of SUU with a degree in communication, Gardner did post-graduate work at the University of Arizona before returning home to Utah. He taught part-time in the Southern Utah Department of Communications and worked a handful of media-related jobs before joining the SUU Department of Athletics.

After retiring from Southern Utah University, Gardner spent the rest of his days in Hawaii where he was able to let his hair down and soak up paradise in the sun. Neil is survived by his wife, Anne, and his son, Patrick.