Job Title

Associate Director - Athletic Communications/Creative Services/Graphic Design

Department

Sports Info Director

Salary

$59,724 - $74,355; commensurate with experience

Job Summary/Basic Function

The Associate Director of Athletic Communications / Creative Services/ Graphic Design assists the Associate Athletic Director for Athletic Communication in handling all forms of athletic communications for the athletic department. Primary focus: This position exists to direct all creative efforts, including videography, graphic design, photography and social media, in conjunction with the Associate Athletic Director for Communications and Associate AD for Marketing and other areas of the athletic department to further the reach and current brand awareness of MTSU Athletics. This position leads the graphic design efforts of the athletic department by creating visuals for social media, digital and print marketing and publications, email messaging, and large-scale designs for facilities. This position also exists to help lead the media relations efforts of the Athletic Communications office by directing, teaching and, assisting sports information assistants in the aspects of graphic design writing, social media, and the upkeep of statistical records. This position works under the supervision and direction of the Associate Athletic Director for Communications. This position also provides support to and works with the Blue Raider Athletic Association, marketing staff, and ticketing staff, among others, by providing visual elements (graphic design, videography, photography) and social media direction to accomplish shared athletic department goals. This position provides support to other members of the Athletic Communications staff by monitoring, editing, and contributing to the athletic department website, by scheduling videographers, photographers, sports information directors, and other necessary game day staff to cover events, and by assisting with the statistical needs of the office. This This position also leads the photography efforts of the athletic department, including the scheduling of event coverage by full-time employees, interns, or student workers, taking action photos, conducting studio photoshoots, and managing data storage. This position also works with sports information directors to grow their graphic design and photography skills. This position also leads the videography efforts of the athletic department, including the scheduling of event coverage by interns or student workers and regular quality control checks of all social media videos, marketing ads, and other projects. This position oversees more than $100,000 worth of videography and photography equipment. This position also leads the social media efforts of the athletic department by controlling the day-to-day aspects of the Athletics account as well as the Football account. This position works closely with sports information directors to form, carry out, determine the effectiveness of, and adjust a social media plan for each of the other sport accounts on various social media platforms. This position will stay apprised of emerging techniques, strategies, and trends that could be applicable, elevate MTSU Athletics’ current social media presence, and monitor analytics to inform and shape the creative and online strategy of the MTSU Athletics brand. This position will also stay apprised of trends in the sports information industry, including website design and maintenance, statistical operations, and more. This position is also responsible for the hiring and onboarding of incoming sports information and creative interns. This position will also work with the Deputy Athletic Director for External Affairs and Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Operations to manage the athletic department’s INFLCR contract, which provides content to student-athletes and allows them a place to create and track their Name, Image, and Likeness prospects.
Position also expected to interview, hire and oversee Graduate Assistants, interns and student assistants assigned to additional sports programs. Essential duties include but are not limited to: produce internet media guides for the assigned sports including page layouts; take and/ or secure quality photos for assigned sports for all media outlets; oversee the production of player biographies; produce game notes. Additionally the position will oversee all content and updates for the newly redesigned athletic website which will include but not be limited to: the sports content for each sport, upcoming marketing and promotions, NCAA compliance and booster information, athletic staff information, visitor guides, all athletic ticketing and BRAA information, Learfield sponsorships, Aspire ticketing opportunities, Lightning's Locker Room merchandise and all other aspects of the website for the 17 University Division I athletic programs. This position will also oversee all statistical information for content of the web page and social media outlets for our 17 NCAA division I sports; hire game personnel for specified athletic events (Scoreboard operators, scorebook, shot clock, etc.) and oversee media pass distribution; production of game programs, schedule cards and posters for assigned sports. The position will also work with all aspects of media coverage for athletics programs by producing video and written feature stories on all events, produce video updates and distribute to local and national television outlets and produce all national award nominations for our student athletes and coaches and distribute to media outlets. The position will produce game day programs for all sports and emcee press conferences for assigned sports. Handle game day "press" and media outlets and television credentials for all sports, Assist the Head Coaches of assigned sports to promote MTSU's NCAA Division I athletic programs within NCAA guidelines and in a professional manner. Make public appearances or speak at civic events within the community to promote our athletic programs. Attend national NCAA and Conference meetings and/or conventions to stay current of assigned sports and changes that occur in athletic communications. The position will represent the University on selected NCAA Media committees as assigned. Must know and follow NCAA rules and regulations and promote a culture of compliance for the student athletes, coaches and supporter of the athletic programs and perform other related tasks as assigned.

Required Education

Bachelor’s degree required, preferably with a concentration in Communications, Public Relations, Athletic Administration, or a related field.

Required Related Experience

Two (2) years of full-time or equivalent part-time relevant experience in the field of sports information or sports reporting to include reporting of actual athletic events, design and layout of media guides, posters, schedule cards, etc.; and advanced writing skills for feature stories of selected athletes required. Special consideration will be given to time spent working in college athletic communication offices. Specifically one (1) year of the required experience in media relations, with graphic design, social media, writing and/or editing skills as well as development of graphics for social media platforms, photography or comparable experience required; Marketing preferred.

Desirable Related Experience

Three years of NCAA Division I experience in a Athletic Communications/ Media Relations office and/ or with a professional sports program preferred. Master's degree preferred.

Required Documents Needed to Apply

Resume and examples of Graphic Design portfolio required

Special Instruction to Applicants 

Please submit examples of Graphic Design portfolio as "Supporting Documents"

Application Review Date: January 30, 2026; for optimal consideration, please apply before January 5, 2026

Please Note: Middle Tennessee State University offices will be closed December 24, 2025 - January 4, 2026.  Normal office hours will resume on January 5, 2026.