Mobile Courant

 The University of South Alabama department of athletics announced Wednesday the addition of Travis Jarome, who will serve as Associate Athletic Director for Communications and Digital Media. Jarome brings with him 20 years of experience in the industry.

"After an exhaustive national search, there was no doubt that Travis Jarome was the right fit for this position," Deputy Athletic Director Daniel McCarthy said. "His professional background in the area of athletics communications speaks for itself, but beyond that, his demonstrated leadership experience, work ethic, and confident humility set him apart. We're certain that he will be a tremendous resource for our coaches, a staunch advocate for our student-athletes, and a dynamic new member of our leadership team.  We're excited to welcome Travis and his family to the University of South Alabama."

"I want to thank Daniel McCarthy and the search committee for the opportunity to work at a place like South Alabama," Jarome said. "This is a tremendous opportunity to work for one of the best institutions in the nation and to continue to build the brand of Jaguar athletics and the vision that is South Alabama. I can't wait to get started."

Jarome arrives in Mobile after spending the previous six seasons at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Ala., where he served as the Director for Strategic Communications. While with the Hornets, Jarome primarily worked as the media contact for football, men's basketball, baseball, men's tennis, women's tennis, along with oversight of other members in the office.

He joined the staff at ASU as the Assistant Director in the office in January 2017, before being promoted to Director in November. Jarome also served as the host of Live In The Hive, Unplugged and the Hornet Nation Unfiltered podcast, while also serving as the voice of the Hornets on the air of live athletic events.

Jarome was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference SID of the Year for 2020-21 after serving as the chairman of the conference Sports Information Committee. He was also one of four SIDs that season to be named SIDs of the Year by Black College Nines. In addition, he has served as a valued member of the official statistics crew at league-sponsored events over his final three seasons at Alabama State. Other notable accolades under Jarome's tenure included a full-scale redesign of the BamaStateSports.com website.

Being on the cutting edge of media field practices was a trademark for Jarome during his tenure at Alabama State. He and his staff conducted the first virtual press conference for a SWAC member institution with the hiring of men's basketball head coach Mo Williams, which saw over 100 media members globally participate in the event along with one-on-one interview sessions.

Jarome came to ASU after a stint at Tuskegee University as the Director of Athletic Communications, where he oversaw changes in the website as it become more user-friendly and continued to grow in information. The social media aspect in the athletic department also grew and saw a substantial increase in followers on both Facebook and Twitter. The department also began using several social media platforms, such as Snapchat and Instagram to get its message across to its fans.

In his first season with the Tigers, Jarome developed the Tuskegee Sports Network that allowed alumni and fans from all over the country a chance to see and hear the Golden Tigers football team play. He also oversaw the first nationally produced television broadcast at Cleve L. Abbott Memorial Alumni Stadium when ESPN3 visited the facility against Winston-Salem State. Jarome was instrumental in getting five football games broadcasts on HSRN (Sirius XM Radio) and one basketball game on the station during 2015-16 season. He was able to take that model and develop the Tuskegee Digital Network, allowing fans and alumni across the world to watch multiple sports via the web, and was instrumental in getting HSRN back on board for the football season.

Prior to his stint at Tuskegee, Jarome served as the athletic director at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School for three years. During his time, the school won a state championship and had several individual state champions. Several student-athletes were also honored for their work as all-metro, all-state and All-American selections during the three-year period. Montgomery Catholic received the AHSAA Sportsmanship Award – the first for the school – that is given annually to schools who are compliant with all the rules and regulations of the AHSAA and remain fine-free for the entire athletic year. Jarome, responsible for 34 sports during his time at Montgomery Catholic, presented at the 2013 NIAAA National Convention on Social Media in schools and athletics.

At Troy University, he served as the primary contact for all women's sports in the Trojans' athletic department. He also served as the primary contact for men's track and field, as well as cross country and tennis, while serving as a secondary contact for the football program. During his four-plus years at Troy, Jarome was responsible for the daily management of 10 sports with media guides and games notes. He was also responsible for all publications and a redesign of the school's athletic website. While at Troy, he was able to promote many student-athletes who went on to the professional ranks after their graduation, and was also able to cover O'Darien Bassett and Tawanna Meadows in their pursuit of a spot on the Team USA Track and Field squad. He also served on the media relation's staff that was honored as one of the FWAA Media Relations Staff of the Year winners.

Prior to Troy, Jarome spent a year with North Georgia of the Peach Belt Conference as they made the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. During that time, he had the privilege of covering three different coaches who hit milestones in victories – Buffie Burson (women's basketball), Tom Cantrell (baseball) and Mike Davenport (softball). While at North Georgia, Jarome was responsible for the day-to-day operations for each sport as the Sports Information Director while providing coverage for 10 intercollegiate sports.

Before his stint at North Georgia, Jarome served in various roles at Auburn University Montgomery from a student assistant to interim director to Sports Information Director. During that stint, he covered four national championship tennis teams, two national runner-up soccer teams and a Final Four women's basketball team. He also promoted several coaches who reached milestone victories, a Wimbledon doubles' champion, two NBA players, a WNBA player and four professional baseball players. He was also instrumental in helping create the AUM Athletic Hall and Fame, and started the AUM sports television show, which aired weekly on ABC in Montgomery.

He is an active member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), where he serves on the publications committee and the Diversity and Inclusion committee, and has also been a contributing writer for CoSIDA360 Magazine while being highlighted the initial "Thank Your SID Week" and in a feature story in the publication in Storytelling During a Pandemic by Rob Knox. Jarome is also a member of the Sports Video Group (SVG), while also serving as the Social Media Chair for the Black College Sports Information Directors of America (BC-SIDA).

Jarome received his bachelor's degree from Auburn University Montgomery in education. He is married to the former Courtney Hatfield, and the couple has one daughter – Riley.  

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Original source can be found here.