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This story is part of our CSC 360 package for September 2023, to view more stories, click here.
Nominations for the Class of 2023 open through Oct. 15
Young professionals spotlight: Three up, three down with Jerod Fox — Athletic Communications Director at Kansas City
by Cole Helman – Palm Beach Atlantic University, Director of Athletic Communications // CSC Young Professionals Committee Chair
Jerod Fox is entering his fifth year at Kansas City Athletics.
He has found a home with the Roos starting as a graduate assistant during the 2019-20 school year. He helped lead the Roos throughout the tumultuous Covid-19 pandemic and was rewarded for his hard work, making the leap to Athletic Communications Director in October of 2021.
During his time at Kansas City, Fox has served as the media contact for all of the Roos' 14 Division One athletic programs. He has gotten to experience and cover several department achievements like the volleyball team’s first-ever postseason berth, the women’s basketball team’s conference title and first berth to the NCAA tournament
, and the golf team's 2023 NCAA Tournament run.
A former collegiate tennis player, Fox still has a love for the game. He has previously worked for the United States Tennis Association as a digital content assistant, organizing and writing stories for the Missouri Valley district's monthly newsletter. He also currently volunteers with the Stephanie Waterman Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides tennis opportunities for Kansas City's underserved population.
Fox began his path in athletic communications as a member of Hastings College Media during his undergraduate career - as the social media director and broadcaster for the Broncos' basketball, volleyball, football and soccer teams. With HC Media, he also had the opportunity to work in six NAIA National Championship tournaments in volleyball and women's basketball, directing productions and operating cameras.
A native of Newton, Kan., Fox received his bachelor's degree in broadcasting from Hastings College in 2019 before earning a master's in higher education administration from UMKC in 2021.
Having been at UMKC for over four years now, what have you learned about yourself throughout that time?
JF: My time in Kansas City has provided immense growth, both professionally and personally. I was thrust into a role that, frankly, I was not prepared for in the 2020 year, and that forced me to grow up quickly. I was the only communications employee in our department; and on top of that. I was in school full-time completing an internship and working with the USTA. While I would not want to go through that again, it helped me realize that I am capable of more than I had previously thought.
What are some trends that you see emerging in athletic communications, and how could they fit with the vision you have for your department?
JF: It's no secret that the athletic communications field is evolving, maybe more so than any other field in college athletics. We still fill the SID role — writing recaps, coordinating with media and the like — but now we're also expected to be social media managers, graphic designers, photographers, videographers, webmasters and branding experts. I think the ever-changing landscape of social media is maybe the most important trend. Whether it's Twitter's rebrand, the emergence of Threads or the continued explosion of TikTok, keeping up on social media is both the most exciting and the scariest thing about the new world of collegiate athletic communications.
Who are some mentors that you look up to in the industry, and what were some key takeaways that you learned from them?
JF: Our Deputy Athletic Director for External Relations,
Curt Jacey, will always be one of my greatest mentors. He has supported me through ups and downs, and is always the first to acknowledge the work I've done within the department and reward me for it. One of the biggest things he's taught me is that, while we work in a hectic industry, things are never too serious that you can't have a laugh. While it feels strange to call someone that is just a few years older than me a mentor,
Shelby Hild has been a huge help for me throughout my career journey as well. She also spent time at Kansas City to begin her career and has always been willing to listen and offer advice based on her experiences.
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