Associate/Director of Basketball Marketing and Fan Experience

Job Summary

UConn Athletics is seeking a dynamic, creative, and strategic leader to serve as the Associate Director or Director of Basketball Marketing and Fan Experience. This newly created position will be responsible for shaping and executing a best-in-class marketing plan and fan experience for UConn Men’s and Women’s Basketball.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Develop and coordinate marketing plans and promotional activities for UConn Men’s and Women’s Basketball programs, with emphasis on fan experience and revenue generation.
• Create and execute comprehensive game themes that enhance the overall fan experience, create memorable in-venue atmospheres, and drive engagement, attendance, and fan enjoyment across UConn Basketball events.
• Collaborate with digital marketing staff on email marketing strategy, including timelines, graphics preparation, and identification of targeted mailing lists from athletics database.
• Lead the overall strategy and execution of game presentation and fan experience initiatives for UConn Men’s and Women’s Basketball.
• Partner with coaches, administrators, and external strategy teams to align fan experience goals with departmental priorities.
• Continuously innovate and evolve in-game entertainment to ensure a fresh, engaging, and best-in-class atmosphere.
• Oversee planning, alignment, and execution of all in-venue entertainment elements, such as team introductions, national anthem performances, music programming, videoboard/LED content, in-game features, promotions, and entertainment.
• Serve as primary show-caller for games, ensuring seamless execution of all elements.
• Lead ideation and creative planning sessions focused on enhancing game atmosphere and fan engagement.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, communications, creative services, video production, and external partners to ensure alignment with brand messaging and storytelling.
• Work closely with Learfield (multimedia rights partner) to develop engaging, sponsor-aligned in-game content and activations.
• Partner with the UConn Band, cheer, dance, and mascot programs to deliver a uniquely collegiate and high-energy environment.
• Collaborate with other marketing department staff and student section leadership to enhance the experience and drive student attendance and participation.
• Develop and execute in-game elements that resonate with diverse fan segments, including students, families, and alumni.
• Identify and develop gameday revenue generation opportunities, including premium fan experiences and unique access initiatives, to enhance engagement while driving incremental revenue for UConn Athletics.
• Evaluate, implement, and manage fan experience technologies to enhance in-venue engagement.
• Utilize data, post-event surveys, and fan feedback to continuously refine and improve the experience.
• Stay current with industry trends and best practices in sports entertainment and live event production.
• Oversee and manage gameday staff and student interns responsible for executing in-game elements and promotions.
• Manage relationships with external vendors, production crews, and entertainment talent.
• Ensure all elements are executed at a high level while adhering to operational standards and budget expectations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 3 years of work experience in game presentation, live event production, sports marketing, or a related field.
• Proven experience producing live basketball events and managing in-game entertainment elements.
• Demonstrated leadership, organizational, and project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement creative concepts that enhance fan engagement and the game-day experience.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-energy environment.
• Experience communicating and collaborating across multiple stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3 years of experience in basketball game-presentation and show calling at the Division 1 or Professional Sports-level.