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CSCommunicators.com/CelebrateCSC
This feature is part of our series of profiles showcasing members throughout the CSC membership during the celebration of College Sports Communicators Membership Appreciation Week for 2022-23. See more features at CSCommunicators.com/CelebrateCSC.
Andy Fledderjohann – ACC, Assistant Commissioner/Communications
by Claudia Close – ACC Assistant Director/Communications and Amy Yakola, ACC Deputy Commissioner/Chief of External Affairs/CSC Membership Recognition Committee chair
As Assistant Commissioner/Communications at the Power 5 Atlantic Coast Conference,
Andy Fledderjohann oversees communications for ACC men's basketball, men's and women's fencing, men's and women's lacrosse and men's soccer. He came to the ACC in 2019 from the University of Miami where he served as Assistant Athletic Director for Communications & Content. At UM, he was the primary media contact for men’s basketball, and at the University of Virginia where he oversaw baseball media relations, several Olympic sports and was the secondary contact for men’s basketball. He managed the publicity efforts during the Cavaliers' four trips to the College World Series, including the 2015 NCAA Championship.
The Ohio State graduate (2002) was a graphic designer while an undergraduate and then was a graduate assistant at Marshall University where he received his masters in sports management (2007).
With ACC’s Kara Tyree (Director/Men’s Basketball) and Jasmine Palmer (Assistant Director/Championships and Football) and nationally renown halftime act Red Panda at the 2022 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament.
How did you first get into athletics communications?
AF: Honestly, I lucked into the entire field. After high school I got a summer internship at my local newspaper prior to going off to college at Ohio State. While I was working there, the newspaper editor mentioned that one of his former students was working in the sports information office at Ohio State. I had never heard of the field and didn’t know what it was about, but I knew they worked with the sports programs there and it sounded like fun. The editor connected the two of us, and I walked into the office to start volunteering on my first day at OSU. And from there I was sold. I worked there for all four of my undergrad years and it helped launch my career.
What is that transition like working for a school and making the jump to conference work?
AF: The first year in particular was really challenging. When you’re at a school, you mainly deal with your individual sports and the politics within your school. At the conference level you have to think a lot more globally and at the ACC in particular, you have to take 15 schools into account. It is a much different perspective, and you have to change your way of thinking, but in the end, the goal of promoting and publicizing the schools and student-athletes is the same, just from a much larger view.
L to R: With Andrew Ramspacher (Daily Progress sportswriter), Channing Poole (former Virginia sports network coordinator and now UVA Director of Development, Law School Foundation) and Damon Dillman (Assistant Director of Creative Services) at a NCAA Baseball Super Regional in which Virginia was participating.
The ACC headquarters is preparing to move from its long-time home in Greensboro, NC to Charlotte. Are you excited for the ACC’s transition to Charlotte?
AF: I am. It has been a long time coming, and I think it will be a relief just to get there this summer and get started with learning a new town, getting settled in and getting ingrained in the city. Charlotte keeps growing rapidly, so I think it will open a lot more doors for the conference and be a great home base for the ACC and the staff.
What’s been your most favorite event/milestone/initiative in your career?
AF: From the school side, I was fortunate to work with a pair of national championship teams during my time at Virginia. At the ACC, the 2022 Final Four was incredible, with Duke and North Carolina not only making it there but also playing an epic game in the semifinals.
At the 2022 NCAA Men’s Final Four (Caesars Superdome, New Orleans).
What advice would you give to those looking to start their careers in college athletics?
AF: Be open minded and willing to jump in to help, regardless of how mundane the task may be. Showing some initiative goes a long way to getting your foot in the door.
What do you do for fun outside of work?
AF: I try to stay in shape and work out, whether that’s hopping on my Peloton or getting out for a run or a walk to get some fresh air or doing hot yoga. I am a snooty beer drinker and enjoy getting out to try the many North Carolina breweries.
And, I’m obviously a big sports fan. I am still trying to get to each Major League Baseball park and chipping away at the list. I’m at 22 now and hoping to knock a couple more off the list this summer.