GRAMBLING, La. – Grambling State University director of athletics Paul Bryant announced Monday the hiring of Brian Howard who will serve as the sports information director for the Tigers.
“I am truly excited to welcome Brian Howard to Grambling State University,” said Bryant. “He is recognized as a leader in his field and we are fortunate to have him at GSU. His ability to connect with the national media will be a valuable asset to the athletics department.”
“I am extremely excited to join the athletics department at Grambling State University,” Howard said. “I am very thankful to director of athletics Paul Bryant, as well as assistant athletics director of marketing and communications Karen Carty for this opportunity. From the moment I stepped onto campus, I felt right at home. I am honored to join the Grambling family and can’t wait to get started.”
Prior to coming to Grambling State, Howard spent eight months at Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) member institution, Alabama State University, as the director of athletic strategic communications. He was the primary sports contact for football, men’s basketball, bowling, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s golf and baseball.
Before his time at ASU, Howard spent three and a half years as the assistant director of media relations at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). During his time at the conference office, Howard served as the main contact for 14 of the MEAC’s sponsored 16 sports and as the primary media contact of the 2016 MEAC Basketball Tournament. Also, he fostered working relationships with ESPN, MEAC sports information directors, and local media members.
Prior to taking the position at the MEAC, Howard spent two years as the sports information and media specialist at The Lincoln University. During his time at Lincoln, Howard served as the sole media liaison for 16 intercollegiate Division II sports and coordinated the University’s first internet streaming broadcast of an athletic contest.
Before taking the position at Lincoln, Howard spent a year as sports information director at Young Harris College in Young Harris, Ga., and a year at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas.
Prior to taking over duties at LeTourneau University, Howard spent nearly two years covering Gulf South Conference action at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark. As sports information director, he was in charge of 14 varsity sports. In his first season at Ouachita Baptist, Howard covered three NCAA Division II regional tournaments, including women’s soccer and men’s basketball in Tampa, Fla.
One of the biggest highlights came in the spring of 2008 when he was a part of the Ouachita Baptist baseball program, which won the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championship and finished runner-up in the National Championships.
Before taking the job at Ouachita Baptist, Howard spent a year and a half covering Gulf South Conference action at the University of West Alabama. While in Livingston, Ala., and covering West Alabama, his duties included being a contact for various sports, primarily volleyball, women’s basketball and softball. Other duties included producing media guides, writing press releases, maintaining the athletic web site and being the public address announcer for home baseball and softball games.
Howard has been around sports his entire life, spending 15 years as a soccer player. After graduating in 1995 from Firestone High School in Akron, Ohio, Howard attended NCAA Division II Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio. During his time at Ashland, Howard was named Outstanding Sophomore of the Year in Radio. He remained very active in the radio and television department, where he served as a sports anchor for the campus television station, campus disc jockey, sports play-by-play and color commentator and sports producer. He worked in sports information during his senior year and was a sports writer for the collegiate newspaper. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sports Communications in the Spring of 2000.
While also in college, Howard became a member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. Prior to graduation, Howard had internships at WEWS News Channel 5 in Cleveland, Ohio; 97.5 WONE Radio in Akron and the Akron Beacon Journal Newspaper.
Howard and the former Ms. Rossanna Taal Punzalan are married and reside in Ruston, La.
Courtesy: GSU Athletics
