This summer, UTSA Athletics will be profiling its numerous areas to provide an inside look into how each unit serves Roadrunners’ student-athletes.
In this edition, we sat down with Kyle Stephens, Associate Athletics Director for Communications, to discuss the Communications unit.
Q: How does your department service UTSA student-athletes?
Kyle Stephens: “Our department is responsible for the publicity of UTSA student-athletes and sport programs to the media, broadcasters and other external entities. There are a variety of ways to do this, but in general this is accomplished through communication channels such as press releases, game notes, the official UTSA Athletics website, social media and story pitches to media outlets. We provide individualized media training to student-athletes and help coordinate their availability to members of the media. Our unit also is responsible for maintaining records, statistics, bios, images and other items for the historical archives of the UTSA Athletics Department.”
Q: How many members are on your team and what roles do they serve?
Kyle Stephens: “We have a total of four full-time staff members, and each staff member serves as the main point of contact for their assigned sports to the media. Our primary objectives are to grow the UTSA Athletics brand and presence locally, regionally and nationally while utilizing the media and other available internal and external platforms to tell our story; to disseminate accurate information in a timely, efficient and effective manner; and to provide professional and courteous services to the media. We also have two work studies and a handful of volunteers who help out both at home events and in the office with various tasks such as social media, statistics, recordkeeping and research projects.”
Q: What makes UTSA a leader in your area?
Kyle Stephens: “Every athletics department houses a unit similar to ours, but we all prefer to be behind the scenes. It’s never about us. It’s always about the student-athletes, coaches and sport programs, so this is a difficult question to answer honestly. If pressed, I believe we are at the forefront among our peers when it comes to being able to collaborate with other units within the department to deliver high-quality content and information in an impactful manner that helps enhance the UTSA Athletics brand and engage the public. We’re also relevant in a major media market, and I believe we are among the best in the country when it comes to media relations and media services.”
Q: Why did you choose to come to UTSA?
Kyle Stephens: “I have worked at UTSA since 2003 after spending a combined five years at Texas and Texas A&M. It was obvious no more than one month into my tenure here that UTSA is a special place, and that’s because of the people and the San Antonio community. It’s been incredible to see how much rapid growth this university and athletics department have experienced over the past two decades. The future is and will always be very bright for UTSA.”
Q: What are the most rewarding aspects of your role?
Kyle Stephens: “For me, the most rewarding aspect of working in this industry is when student-athletes receive the recognition they deserve. This includes All-America, all-conference, conference or national player of the week and national award lists. It’s also very fulfilling when you see a student-athlete’s story told positively within the television or radio broadcast of a UTSA game or through other traditional media outlets.”
Q: What is something about your department that people may not know?
Kyle Stephens: “When the NCAA selects San Antonio to host a Men’s or Women’s Final Four or other NCAA Division I Championship events, I typically serve as the local media coordinator. My staff and I assemble a staff of volunteers — sometimes as many as 50 — to fulfill various roles that assist with the media services operation, which sometimes includes managing media and broadcast credentials, staffing press conferences and distributing statistics, quotes and notes. There is much work and many long nights during these events, but the experience of being involved behind the scenes on that level makes it all worth it in the end.”
Q: What advice do you have for students or student-athletes who may be interested in going into your profession?
Kyle Stephens: “Experience is extremely valuable, so my advice is to get involved during your undergraduate years. If you are interested in communications, video/photo, graphic design, fundraising or marketing — among other areas — reach out to the appropriate unit within the athletics department to see if they are accepting interns or volunteers.”
Q: What type of educational background is required for your role?
Kyle Stephens: “Most people in this industry have a degree in journalism, communications, sport management or a similar field of study. It always helps to have strong writing skills, an ability to communicate using various platforms and a well-rounded understanding of how sports work when it comes to statistics and records.”