Associate/Director of Basketball Marketing and Fan Experience

Overview

The University of Connecticut Athletics is looking for an energetic and strategic leader to fill the role of Associate Director or Director of Basketball Marketing and Fan Experience. This newly created position will spearhead the development and execution of top-tier marketing strategies and fan engagement initiatives for both Men's and Women's Basketball programs. The role centers on enhancing game-day presentations, creating vibrant venue atmospheres, and boosting fan interaction to solidify UConn as a forefront leader in the collegiate fan experience and establish a strong home-court advantage supporting student-athletes.

Key Duties

• Design and coordinate comprehensive marketing and promotional strategies for UConn Basketball, emphasizing fan engagement and revenue generation through various channels, including grassroots, traditional, and digital platforms.
• Create and implement engaging game themes that elevate in-venue excitement, increase attendance, and enhance overall fan satisfaction at basketball events.
• Work alongside digital marketing teams to craft email marketing campaigns, including scheduling, designing graphics, and selecting target audiences from the athletics database.
• Lead game presentation and fan experience efforts, ensuring alignment with the priorities of coaches, administrators, and external partners.
• Innovate continuously to keep in-game entertainment fresh and captivating, encompassing team introductions, national anthem, music, videoboard content, on-court activations, and halftime shows.
• Produce precise game scripts and manage game-day operations as the primary show-caller to ensure smooth execution of all event components.
• Guide creative brainstorming and collaborate across departments like marketing, communications, and video production to produce sponsor-aligned, brand-consistent in-game content.
• Partner with Learfield and UConn spirit groups (band, cheer, dance, mascot) to deliver an energetic, collegiate atmosphere.
• Work with student section leaders to boost student attendance and customize fan experiences for diverse groups including families and alumni.
• Explore new fan engagement technologies and premium experience offerings to enhance revenue streams.
• Use data, surveys, and feedback to continuously refine fan experiences while staying abreast of trends in sports entertainment.
• Manage gameday staff and student interns, oversee vendor relationships, and maintain operational standards within budget.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• At least 3 years of professional experience in game presentation, live event production, sports marketing, or related fields.
• Proven track record in producing live basketball events and managing in-game entertainment facets.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills with capability to manage projects effectively.
• Creativity in developing fan engagement initiatives for energetic game-day environments.
• Ability to excel in dynamic, fast-paced settings and collaborate across multiple stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three years of basketball game presentation and show-calling experience at NCAA Division I or professional sports levels.

Terms of Employment

This is a permanent, full-time position offering a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including tuition waivers for employees and dependents at UConn. The role requires flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check. The University fosters a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful environment valuing diversity and collaboration. The position adheres to the University’s collective bargaining agreement and applicable codes of ethics.

Equal Opportunity

The University of Connecticut is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusivity without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other protected categories as defined by law.