College Sports Information Directors of America

Al Barba has been appointed Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations of the California Collegiate Athletic Association, Commissioner Robert J. Hiegert announced today.

Barba will oversee all facets of CCAA communications, including media relations, print and online publications, athletics schedules, league statistics and record keeping, championship events administration, web site management and the technology infrastructure at the league office. Additionally, he will administer the weekly and seasonal awards programs for all 13 CCAA sports.

“I’m extremely pleased for the CCAA that we are able to gain the services of Al Barba,” Hiegert said. “His experience should serve our members well and continue to improve the recognition of the conference on a national level.”

Barba begins his term on August 20 and succeeds Hung Tsai as the third full-time media director in league history. He recently concluded a nine-year sports information stint at his alma mater Pepperdine University, the latter five as the school’s Sports Information Director.

At Pepperdine, Barba managed a full-time staff and oversaw all facets of the publicity for the university's 15-sport Division I athletic department. His duties included preparation and dissemination of news releases, statistical updates, record keeping, and media guides. Other responsibilities included sustaining and enhancing local and national media relations, game management, and assistance with marketing and promotions. Among his many accomplishments was the successful re-launch of the athletics web site in 2003, which was later recognized by CollegeHoops.com as the nation’s second-best collegiate athletics web site.

A veteran of athletic public relations, Barba began his career in 1988 as a sports information assistant at the University of San Francisco upon graduation from Pepperdine with a journalism degree. He then worked in the public relations department for the San Francisco 49ers (1989-94) before a three-year term at RML Enterprises, a public relations vehicle for former Niners star Ronnie Lott. During that time, he also worked as a sportswriter for the West County Times newspaper in Richmond, Calif.

Barba went on to serve as Media Relations Manager for the Arena Football League’s San Jose Sabercats (1997-98) prior to returning to Pepperdine in 1998.

Barba has many years of event experience, including the role of media relations coordinator for the 2006 NCAA Baseball Malibu Regional. He has worked numerous sporting events, including the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, the 1997 NCAA Men's Basketball West Regional and the 2006 World Baseball Classic.