POSITION SUMMARY: The Assistant Director of Athletic Communications assists in the planning, implementation, and promotion of Eureka College Athletics through strategic communications, media relations, digital content creation, social media, statistics, and game day operations. The position serves as the primary athletic communications contact for assigned sports while supporting department-wide branding, storytelling, and event management initiatives in accordance with Eureka College, NCAA, and conference policies.
Essential Functions:
- Serve as the primary sports information contact for assigned athletic programs.
- Write and publish game previews, recaps, feature stories, student-athlete and coach profiles, and other website content for assigned sports.
- Create graphics, videos, and other digital content for use on the athletics website and social media platforms.
- Assist in maintaining the Red Devils' social media accounts, including but not limited to Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube.
- Coordinate media coverage and distribute news releases for assigned sports and special events.
- Update and maintain assigned team pages on the athletics website, including schedules, rosters, bios, statistics, and records.
- Provide statistical support for assigned sports, including live statistics, conference reporting, NCAA reporting, and postgame statistical dissemination.
- Assist with game day operations, including event setup, breakdown, game management, and coordination of game personnel.
- Hire, train, schedule, and supervise student workers assigned to sports information and game day operations.
- Operate or oversee live streaming, scoreboard operations, public address, music, and statistical software during assigned contests.
- Assist with coordinating team, individual, action, and special event photography, including annual media days.
- Assist with content displayed on athletics monitors throughout the Reagan Athletic Building.
- Assist in preparing conference, regional, and national award nominations for student-athletes and coaches.
- Support the Director of Sports Information and Game Day Operations with departmental communications initiatives and special projects.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Participate in ongoing professional development opportunities through national and regional athletics communications organizations.
- Assist with maintaining the athletics photo and video library.
- Support departmental branding initiatives and ensure adherence to Eureka College brand standards.
- Assist with planning and promoting annual athletics events, including the Hall of Fame and Golden Tornado Awards.
- Assist the Office of Marketing and Strategic Communications with athletics-related communications as needed.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Sports Information and Game Day Operations.
SUPERVISORY REQUIREMENTS: Supervision of Game Day and Sports Information Student workers.
EDUCATION:
Essential: Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, Sports Management, or a related field.
Desirable: Master's degree or progress toward a graduate degree.
EXPERIENCE:
Essential: One to three years of experience in collegiate athletic communications, sports information, or a related field. Graduate assistantship, internship, or relevant student employment in collegiate athletic communications or sports information may be considered toward the experience requirement.
LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS:
None required
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
- Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop and InDesign; experience with Premiere Pro and After Effects is preferred.
- Knowledge of Stat Crew, PrestoSports, Genius Sports, NCAA LiveStats, or comparable statistical software.
- Knowledge of athletics communications principles, media relations, and journalistic writing.
- Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment and work independently while contributing to a collaborative team.
- Ability to work effectively with coaches, student-athletes, officials, media representatives, and campus constituents.
- Ability to learn and execute live statistical software and game operations procedures.
- Understanding of NCAA rules and conference policies related to statistics and athletics communications.
- Demonstrated creativity in digital content creation and social media storytelling.
- Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as required.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to operate equipment, reach with hands and arms, and communicate effectively. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The position requires the ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions during athletic events. Noise levels range from quiet office settings to loud athletic venues.
WORK SCHEDULE:
Work schedule varies as this is an athletics position needing to cover contests and other athletic obligations which may require evening, weekend, and Holiday commitments. This is a part-time, stipend position.
TARGET SALARY RANGE: $25,000 – 28,000 annually
