Warner Moves Into Athletics Communications Leadership Role

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne announced on Friday that communications staff member Kevin Warner will be placed into the role of interim director of athletics communications effective July 1.

"Kevin has earned this opportunity with our communications operation," Bourne said. "After a thorough review process, this decision will better align resources within our communications operation with specific consideration given to the timing of preparation for the 2015 football season. By spring, we will be able to evaluate this restructuring in order to chart the long-term strategies for the unit."

As part of the restructuring, current communications staff member Chris Brooks will move into the primary role of handling football communications.

Warner has spent the last nine years in JMU's athletics communications office, most recently serving as director of athletics web operations and community relations. In that role he provided strategic oversight for JMUSports.com and any associated web presence while also driving JMU's push for community involvement and service by student-athletes and coaches. In his first four years at JMU, Warner managed the communications efforts of the baseball, field hockey, volleyball and swimming diving programs as assistant director before moving into a role handling men's basketball and baseball as associate director for four years.

Recently, Warner wrapped up a four-year stint as president of the Virginia Sports Information Directors, the organization comprising all athletics communications professionals representing every university in the state. He has also held memberships in the College Sports Information Directors of America, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, the United States Basketball Writers Association and the Association for Women in Sports Media, an organization for which he serves as faculty advisor to the student chapter at JMU.

Warner previously held communications or media relations positions at Eastern Mennonite University and the Colonial Athletic Association while also serving as media manager for the Valley Baseball League for four years. He has also taught classes in JMU's sport communication minor as an adjunct professor for the last seven years. He is a 2002 graduate of JMU's sport and recreation management program and a 2007 graduate of the VCU Center for Sport Leadership master's program.

Brooks is entering his second year as an assistant director on the communications staff. He previously served as the assistant athletic director for operations and media relations at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He also served in one-year roles with JMU and the CAA earlier in his career. Brooks is also a member of CoSIDA and is a 2009 graduate of George Mason.

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