ROCK HILL, S.C. — The Tusculum University Athletic Communications Staff has been selected as the 2024-25 South Atlantic Conference Media Relations Staff of the Year announced league officials Wednesday.
Voted on by members of the SAC Media Relations Directors Committee, the Tusculum staff consists of Dom Donnelly (Associate Athletic Director for Communications), Jim Miller (Associate Director of Athletic Communications), Jessica Biggers (Assistant Director of Athletic Communications), Joe Yates (University Director of Creative Media & Athletic Marketing and Bryce Grimball (Graduate Assistant).
The Tusculum Athletic Communications team works to provide accurate and timely content on its athletic website, keeping schedules, team rosters, coaches and player bios, game recaps, feature stories, and statistics posted and updated for all 23 sports sponsored by Tusculum on a daily basis.
The Tusculum team has prided itself on having an active and positive social media presence on all platforms, utilizing graphics and videos to generate engagement with student-athletes, coaches, alumni, parents, and fans.
“This award is very humbling and greatly appreciated by our athletic communications team,” said Donnelly. “I am grateful to my fellow media relations professionals in the South Atlantic Conference for this honor and appreciate all of their tremendous work at our league institutions. We also share this award with our student staff, interns, clinical students and volunteers from our community for all their efforts in enhancing the student-athlete experience at Tusculum.”
This marks the second time that Tusculum has been awarded the SAC Media Relations Staff of the Year honor. They previously won the inaugural award during the 2019-20 academic year. They are the first department to win the award multiple times.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT TUSCULUM ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
Patrick Britz, South Atlantic Conference Commissioner
“The media relations staffs in our conference work tirelessly to cover and promote all of the teams, student-athletes and coaches. This is a tremendous honor for the Tusculum University staff to be selected for this recognition by their peers. Dom Donnelly and the Athletics Communications team at Tusculum do an amazing job for the Pioneers and the SAC overall. We are so appreciative of the efforts of all of our media relations staff members because we could not do what we do without these amazing professionals.”
Josh Ealy, Tusculum University, Vice President of Athletics
“I am thrilled to have our media relations staff recognized for their hard work and contributions promoting Tusculum Athletics. They work tirelessly, oftentimes behind the scenes, but it does not go unnoticed. I appreciate the SAC for honoring them with this special award. TU is blessed to have this group serving our student-athletes and staff.”
Adam Cavalier, Carson-Newman University, Associate Athletics Director for Athletic Communications & External Operations
“I don’t remember how long ago it was that Dom Donnelly announced that he was leaving sports information at Tusculum. And I don’t remember how long it was before he went back on that initial decision. However, there’s not a day that goes by where I’m not thankful that Dom came to his senses and remained in his role. He is a credit to this industry and this profession. He is a credit to his institution for the leadership he provides not only his department, but his coaches and student-athletes. Forget SAC Media Relations Staff of the Year, Dom should be a Tusculum and South Atlantic Conference Hall of Famer. It speaks the world of him the staff continuity he has been able to maintain with Jim and Jessica. Their work showcases the synergy they have been able to build as a team.
When my wife and I were pregnant with our first child, Carson-Newman played Tusculum about two weeks before the due date. The visiting radio booth was decorated in pink balloons and streamers celebrating our now six-year-old’s impending birth, Dom and his staff routinely go the extra mile and do so with excellence at every turn. To this day, when I have a question, I find myself turning to Dom, Jim and Jessica.”
Jeremy Zalacca, South Atlantic Conference, Assistant Commissioner for Communications and Operations
“Dom and the entire Tusculum Athletic Communications staff have been a joy to work with. As I entered this role just over a year ago, they have been a constant help in my transition as Dom was when I became the Director of Athletic Communications at Lenoir-Rhyne. He has had an unparalleled career in the field, and I am honored to work with him in this position. The Tusculum staff is one of the best in the division and are a great representation of the South Atlantic Conference.”
