The Director of Athletics Communications disseminates all information regarding the University’s Athletics Department. This position is responsible for ensuring sound information reporting, recording, and distribution for all athletics at the University by performing the following duties personally or through staff.

Essential Duties:

Develops contacts and relationships with media representatives to create opportunities for keeping the college's Athletics program in front of the public.

Serves as a liaison between coaches and student-athletes and the press, radio, television and social media.

Supervises the Assistant Director of Athletics Communications and any other full-time or part-time staff in the Athletic Communications department.

Oversees all MIAA Network Broadcasts to ensure compliance with MIAA Network policies. Coordinates with on-campus television station for football and basketball broadcasts. Schedules and supervises staff for broadcast production in all other sports being broadcast on the MIAA Network.

Assigns, monitors, regulates and supervises all press box, press row, and scorer’s table workers for all sports as required. This could include but is not limited to positions such as statistical staff, line judges, libero tracker, public address announcer, official scorer, music operator, clock operators, scoreboard staff, and instant replay staff.

Nominates student-athletes, former student-athletes, athletic staff, and the Athletic Department for awards and recognition through a variety of organizations (MSSU, MIAA, NCAA, etc.).

Maintains the Athletics Department website and assists in website design or redesign as necessary.

Assists the Hall of Fame committee by provided statistical, biographical, and other information required for the committee to evaluate potential inductees.

Serves as the Athletic Department spokesperson whenever necessary.

Advises the Athletics Department staff and student-athletes on media relations.

Corresponds and coordinates local, state, regional, and national media regarding the athletics program.

Works in conjunction with the Athletics Marketing office to assist in coordination of website activities, video production, social media, and print materials (schedule cards, game programs, etc.) including coverage of photography and videography for home games and select road and postseason events.

Develops and communicates news story ideas of interest to the community with the media and provides necessary materials to produce those stories.

Plans and coordinates all coaches’ radio shows and press conferences.

Schedules media interviews.

Writes press releases for department website and other publications.

Maintains database of public relations contacts.

Operates within the guidelines of NCAA, MIAA and institutional rules and regulations.

Hires and supervises all student workers and interns within the Athletic Communications department.

Gathers and maintains statistics for all sports programs.

Produces and maintains the official statistical record and all record books for the Athletic Department.

Travels as necessary or requested with MSSU sports programs to provide athletics communications functions and services for road or neutral site contests or events.

Coordinates the setup of media tables and functionality on game day.

Successfully works with diverse populations.

Performs other related duties as required.

• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, procedure manuals and press releases. 
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of administrators, faculty, staff, students, vendors, and members of the general public.
• Knowledge of Adobe software (inDesign, Photoshop, Premiere, etc.)
• Knowledge of StatCrew and Genius Sports statistical software.
• Knowledge of Hudl (formerly BlueFrame) Production Truck livestreaming platform.
• Ability to calculate statistics within an athletics setting. 
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Requires the ability to manage the budget within assigned department.
• Requires the ability to use small office equipment.
• Requires the ability to use computers for data entry.
• Requires the ability to use computers for word processing and/or desktop publishing.

About Missouri Southern State University

Missouri Southern State University is a four year liberal arts public institution serving more than 5,600 students in over 140 academic programs offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. Internationally-focused semesters and enriching cultural events in theatre, art, music and film create an engaging learning environment for students and citizens of the region. MSSU is located in Joplin, MO, which is considered to be the Crossroads of America, and serves as the commercial hub for the four states area. Joplin is a resilient and vibrant city with a population of over 50,000 serving a metropolitan statistical area of 208,000. There is quick and easy access to Northwest Arkansas, Kansas City, and Tulsa, as well as numerous outdoor activities and attractions throughout the Ozarks. Missouri Southern State University is a NCAA Division II institution and a member of the MIAA Conference, sponsoring fifteen varsity sports teams.

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