Associate Vice President of Athletics Communications

Job Description

USF Athletics is seeking a seasoned and strategic Associate Vice President, Communications to lead all internal and external communications efforts for the department while serving as the primary Sports Information Director (SID) for Football. This role will oversee the communications strategy, messaging, media relations, and storytelling across all sports, ensuring consistent, accurate, and compelling representation of USF Athletics.

As a senior leader within External Operations, the AVP, Communications will manage and develop the SID staff, serve as the department’s chief communications strategist, and act as the primary liaison with local, regional, and national media—particularly in support of football as the department’s highest-profile program.

The ideal candidate brings strategic communications leadership, strong media‑relations expertise, and sharp storytelling instincts, paired with the ability to navigate complex narratives and diverse stakeholder needs. This role requires a calm, decisive presence in high‑pressure environments and a collaborative, solutions‑oriented mindset. The position operates within a fast‑paced, high‑visibility collegiate athletics setting and includes significant evening, weekend, and travel commitments, including all home and select away football games. Success in this role requires a strong commitment to the mission, values, and brand of USF Athletics.

Responsibilities

Communications Strategy & Vision

· Set and lead the overarching communications strategy for USF Athletics across all sports and platforms.

· Ensure alignment of messaging with institutional priorities, brand standards, and competitive positioning.

· Develop multi-year communications plans that elevate the profile of USF Athletics at the conference and national levels.

Football Communications Leadership

· Serve as the primary communications lead for USF Football.

· Manage all football-related media relations, including press releases, media days, credentialing, interviews, press conferences, statistics, and game notes.

· Act as the primary communications advisor to the football head coach and program leadership.

· Coordinate with conference, NCAA, and broadcast partners on football-related communications and requirements.

Oversight of Sport Communications

· Lead, mentor, and oversee the communications staff across all sports.

· Assign sport coverage, establish standards, and ensure consistent execution of best practices.

· Foster professional development, accountability, and collaboration across the communications team.

External Communications & Media Relations

· Serve as the primary spokesperson for USF Athletics when appropriate.

· Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets.

· Proactively pitch stories, manage media inquiries, and position USF Athletics for positive coverage.

Internal & Corporate Communications

· Oversee internal communications across USF Athletics, including staff messaging, executive communications, and internal announcements.

· Partner with senior leadership to manage sensitive, high-impact communications and messaging.

· Ensure coordination and consistency between athletics communications and broader university communications efforts.

· Serve as the primary communications strategist and advisor for the CEO of Athletics, developing messaging, talking points, speeches, and media strategies to support departmental leadership and institutional priorities.

· Coordinate and manage executive-level communications on behalf of the CEO of Athletics, including media engagements, public statements, internal messaging, and crisis or sensitive communications.

Crisis Communications & Issues Management

· Lead crisis communications planning and execution for USF Athletics.

· Develop protocols, messaging frameworks, and response strategies for high-risk or time-sensitive situations.

· Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership during issues management and reputational challenges.

Collaboration & Cross-Functional Leadership

· Partner closely with marketing, creative services, digital, live events, development, and ticket sales to ensure integrated storytelling and messaging.

· Ensure alignment between earned media, owned platforms, and in-venue communications.

Measurement & Continuous Improvement

· Establish metrics to evaluate communications effectiveness, media reach, and message penetration.

· Use data, feedback, and benchmarking to refine strategies and elevate performance year over year.

Qualifications

Requires a Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Minimum of 12 years of related exempt level experience, including 7 years of management 
experience, typically in large, complex institutions. Requires broad practical and substantive expertise across multiple related disciplines.

Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree.
• Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
• Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

The ideal candidate will have 10+ years of experience in athletic communications, sports information, or media relations—preferably within collegiate or professional athletics—and a proven track record as the primary communications lead for a high‑profile sport, ideally football. They should bring demonstrated leadership experience overseeing communications teams across multiple sports, along with exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.

Demonstrated experience leading game presentation operations at the Power Five/FBS level or within professional sports, with strong proficiency in in‑venue technology, video production platforms, and emerging trends in live entertainment. Proven ability to manage substantial budgets and cultivate productive vendor partnerships is highly preferred.