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Young Professionals Spotlight – Jordan Sarnoff: Youngest D1 men's basketball SID in the country
The sophomore at Fairleigh Dickinson is in his second year working with the Knights and the first as the men's basketball media relations contact.
by Preston Jones – Fairleigh Dickinson University, Director of Creative Services @preston_jones12
Growing up around the world of sports, it comes as no surprise that Jordan Sarnoff would find himself in the athletic arena — albeit not on the playing surface. The sophomore at Fairleigh Dickinson University is in his second year working with the Knights and first as the men’s basketball media relations contact, making him the youngest NCAA Division I men’s basketball SID.
After four years at Fort Lee High School in Fort Lee, N.J. where he served as the sports information director and public address announcer while attending high school, Sarnoff chose FDU in part because of its proximity to New York City, closeness to home and his perceived ability to get deeply involved with a Division I athletic department.
In his freshman year “on the Hackensack,” the Fort Lee native served as the communications contact for women’s bowling and men’s soccer while helping quarterback FDU’s broadcasts on the Northeast Conference’s digital network, NEC Front Row. Following the Knights’ NEC women’s bowling championship, Sarnoff organized tremendous coverage in the Big Apple, earning the team exposure on FOX5, ABC7, News12, 1010 WINS and various print and digital outlets heading into the 2021 NCAA National Collegiate Women’s Bowling Championship in North Kansas City, Mo.
Following his first year, Sarnoff added more responsibility as the most seasoned SID in the Burgundy and Blue, taking the reins of the now-media relations office as a 19-year-old sport management major who takes a full course load while also serving as the primary contact for five teams, adding men’s basketball, women’s lacrosse (set to begin play in 2023) and softball, while staying loyal to his inaugural two sides in men’s soccer and women’s bowling. In his expanded role, Sarnoff maintains relationships with the working press in New York City and beyond, gaining publicity for FDU’s 21 NCAA Division I teams and their student-athletes.
“This is all about them (student-athletes),” remarked Sarnoff. “Everything I do is with our athletes in mind. Without question, the 300-plus student-athletes who don the Burgundy and Blue are my driving motivation and the reason I get up in the morning,” he added.
Additionally, Sarnoff provides support and guidance to the Knights’ growing sports information staff consisting of several graduate assistants and a director of creative services. Making the “Top 40 Power Players in North Jersey Athletics” list [The Record/NorthJersey.com] his junior and senior years of high school, Sarnoff is responsible for staffing athletic events, covering gameday duties and caring for the department’s instant replay review system, WingWarp, which he says is one of his favorite parts of the job, among other responsibilities.
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