College Sports Information Directors of America

"Have passion for what you are doing and be flexible. Understand what you are getting into and at the same time, make time for yourself ... Get involved and communicate with colleagues from other institutions on a regular basis, and speak up for yourself and the needs of your department internally. And relax; this is something that I didn't actually understand until the birth of my oldest six years ago."
- Brian Kipley


Brian Kipley is in his 15th year as the Director of Athletic Communications at Aurora University, which his alma mater. He bleeds Royal Blue and White, having graduated from Aurora in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in business administration as a Dunham Scholar recipient within the Dunham School of Business.

The Chicago, Illinois native was a baseball player and coach for Aurora, helping his squad win numerous conference championships and qualify for one NCAA Regional Championship. Kipley has guided his department from the ground up and has seen numerous changes, including the addition of 13 sports and the increased demand of live coverage for each home game.

How did you find out about the athletic communications profession and what got you interested in pursuing it as a career?
I was a student-worker at Aurora in the sports information department for my final three years of undergrad and was the first AU spotter for football and basketball using StatCrew software. Sports has always been a passion of mine, specifically baseball growing up, so when the opportunity opened for me six months after I graduated to return to my alma mater to become the SID and an assistant baseball coach, I took that chance.

Being an alum of Aurora, what is your passion for the University and the athletic department?
The University has given me so much, first as a student-athlete and now as an employee. I was able to be part of a highly successful baseball program as a student-athlete and I want the current Spartan student-athletes to be able to experience the same joy and satisfaction of wearing the AU uniform that I had. I met my wife Samantha here and my closest friends have AU ties. Because I am so passionate about AU, I don't think I could do the job as a one-man shop with 24 sports anywhere else.

The Aurora athletic department has grown tremendously since you became the Director of Athletic Communications in 2003 - growing from 11 sports to the present 24 programs. What are the main challenges you face being a one-man office?
As the AU athletic department has grown, probably the biggest challenge has been the ability to be in multiple locations at one time, which is not possible! I've come to rely on my student staff, which has grown as the sports offerings have grown - and they truly never disappoint. Another challenge is the dreaded crossover season in the fall/winter and winter/spring. With the additions of sports who start sooner or play through during the crossover season, that has been tough. Finding time away from mid-August to mid-May beyond a day here or there is difficult.

How have you involved your family into the Aurora athletic department? Those in athletics know of the long succession of work days and travel.
My family is around all the time, whether it is in the office during the normal business day or at games. My wife (Samantha) and sons (Max, 6, and Chad, 4) are the most important part of my life. So if it means bringing them to a practice or photo shoot or a game that allows for them to be at, I do it. My wife is a NICU nurse and works midnights, so that creates challenges sometimes - but nothing a game day visit with dad can't cure! My student work group knows my family and they are an extension of the family, so having the boys around is fun for everyone. I am also lucky to work for a great group of administrators from athletics to the President of the University. Having the flexibility to be there for my family or have them with me is tremendous and I am very thankful for that.

If you had a chance to go back and tell your younger self something when you were in year one or two of this profession, what would it be?
Get involved and communicate with colleagues from other institutions on a regular basis, and speak up for yourself and the needs of your department internally. And relax; this is something that I didn't actually understand until the birth of my oldest six years ago. The little thing that you got agitated about then, really is not a big deal.

For those that might be wanting to get into the profession, what is the first piece of advice you would tell them?
Have passion for what you are doing and be flexible. Understand what you are getting into and at the same time, make time for yourself. To borrow a phrase from an esteemed colleague, "we are not performing brain surgery," so when that "thing" you think has to be done right now, doesn't get done, it will be there for you tomorrow.