Jeff Schaefer has been named Kent State University's director of athletics communications, effective July 1.
"I am very pleased to name Jeff Schaefer as our director of athletics communications," Director of Athletics Laing Kennedy said. "He has brought energy and enthusiasm as a member of
our staff and has been serving as interim director for the last six months. Under Jeff’s guidance as interim director, we have made significant advances in athletics communications and I expect him to take our communications efforts in new and exciting directions."
During Schaefer’s time as interim director, he debuted the department’s new athletics website,
kentstatesports.com, a more graphically-enhanced, user-friendly website that has elevated Kent State Athletics’ web technology to among the best in the country. He also oversaw the media efforts surrounding the naming of Doug Martin as Kent State’s new football coach in March.
An assistant sports information director at Kent State since October 2002, Schaefer has served as the primary media contact for the Golden Flashes’ men’s basketball, baseball, women’s soccer and golf teams, as well as assuming day-to-day media responsibilities for football this spring.
Prior to coming to Kent State, Schaefer spent 3-1/2 years as the sports information director at Allegheny Pa.) College and one year as a graduate assistant sports information director at Niagara (N.Y.) University. Schaefer is a member of CoSIDA and serves on the organization’s Academic All-America Committee. His 1999 football media guide at Allegheny earned third in the nation honors from CoSIDA.
With Schaefer’s promotion, Kennedy has also announced a change in the naming of the department to Athletics Communications from Sports Information, recognizing the expanded role of not only Schaefer’s position, but the athletics communications department as a whole.
Schaefer replaces former Sports Information Director Will Roleson.