Matt Jones, Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Relations/Operations, is in his 15th year with the Delta State University Department of Athletics. Prior to moving into senior leadership, Jones directed the Office of Athletic Communications and Statesmen Sports Properties. He was promoted to Assistant AD for External Affairs in 2011 and in June of 2014 was promoted to the position of Senior Associate AD for Communications, Marketing & External Relations/Operations.
In his current role, Jones directs the operations of the Statesman Club, Statesmen Sports Properties, Office of Athletic Communications, and Statesmen Sports Network. This includes the coordination of outside sales, development, branding/marketing and media relations efforts for all 400-plus Statesmen and Lady Statesmen.
Since taking over External Relations, Jones has helped increase revenues from $33,000 to more than $600,000 annually through corporate advertising, broadcasting and event sponsorships.
In the summer of 2014, Jones overhauled the Green & White Fund, DSU Athletics’ fundraising arm, into the Statesman Club. The program features three distinct giving levels, including: Legends Society, Legacy Club and Statesmen 360. Since implementing the program, the Statesmen Club has grown by nearly 400%.
Jones has also served in key roles in several capital campaigns, including: Parker Field-McCool Stadium Artificial Turf ($875,000), Harvey Stadium at Ferriss Field baseball renovation ($1.3 million), and video/scoreboard additions at all major venues ($1.15 million).
The Tuscaloosa, Ala., native negotiated two apparel contracts for DSU Athletics, including the current contract, a department-wide initiative with Under Armour. The deal doubles the department’s comp dollars and goods.
As an administrator, Jones helps oversee Delta State University football, including game scheduling, contracts and event management. He has been a key member of hiring committees for the following positions: Head Football Coach, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Head Men’s Soccer Coach, Director of Game Day Operations, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, and numerous graduate assistant positions.
Jones was chosen to serve on the Campus Search Committee for the position of President at Delta State University by the Institutes of Higher Learning Mississippi, and he held a prominent position on search committees for the past two Directors of Athletics.
Since 2004, Jones has been responsible for the overall media presence of Delta State’s 13 intercollegiate sports, including media guide production, website development and maintenance, writing of press releases and coordinating multimedia needs for over 350 student-athletes each year.
Jones and the Office of External Relations have enjoyed great success during his tenure as director. Postseason awards and honors have improved each year and in 2007-2008 Jones received the “Scoop Hudgins” Outstanding SID of the Year Award from the American Football Foundation.
GoStatesmen.com, the official Internet home of DSU Athletics, has undergone two complete redesigns and in July the department launched a brand new website with new navigation and features.
He has received six College Sports Information Directors of America National Publication Awards, including four “Best In Nation” citations. The 2008-2009 Delta State Swimming and Diving Media and Recruiting Guide, 2010 Delta State Baseball Guide, and 2009-2010 Delta State Swimming and Diving Media Guides were all named “Best In Nation.”
The 2009-2010 Delta State Men’s Basketball Media Guide and 2007-2008 Delta State Swimming and Diving Media and Recruiting Guide both placed third in nation and his 2005 Delta State Swimming and Diving Media and Recruiting Guide was awarded “Best Cover in the Nation.”
An active member of CoSIDA, Jones has served on the Fred Stabley Writing Contest, Membership, and Radio/TV committees.
For the last 15 years, Jones has called over 1,000 athletic events for the Statesmen Sports Network as the “Voice of the Statesmen Nation.” Under his guidance, SSN expanded to five cities from 2002-2008 and currently broadcasts in Cleveland, Grenada and Jackson.
Jones expanded SSN’s coverage to offer over 150 broadcasts a year through Stretch Internet Radio in 2006. DSU now offers online broadcasts for softball and soccer with traditional radio offerings for football, basketball and baseball.
In 2006, Jones brokered a partnership with Penn Atlantic to web stream video of football, basketball and baseball. Now working with Stretch Internet, DSU continues to offer home video coverage of those four sports while exploring the opportunity to expand to soccer, softball and swimming and diving.
Jones also co-hosts “GoStatesmen TV,” a weekly half-hour magazine-style program features player and coach interviews and highlights. The program airs each Tuesday at 6 p.m. on WHCQ-TV.
Prior to taking the position of Director of Athletic Communications, Jones served as the Director of the Statesmen Sports Network and coordinated the marketing efforts for DSU athletics.
Before moving to Delta State, Jones spent two seasons as a student assistant to East Mississippi Community College CEO Dr. Ed Davis. At EMCC, Jones assisted with all facets of the Lions athletic program.
A veteran broadcaster, Jones got his start in collegiate announcing with the University of Alabama and the Alabama Radio Network. From 1997 to 1999, he served as the play-by-play voice of Crimson Tide baseball and women’s basketball while working pregame coverage of Crimson Tide football.
Prior to his time with UA, Jones served the Grant Radio Group and Clear Channel Broadcasting as Sports Director and on-air talent for WSPZ, WZBQ and WTXT in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Jones is a 2003 graduate of Delta State University with a bachelor’s degree in Social Science Education. He earned a master’s degree in Sociology from DSU in 2007. He also serves as an adjunct instructor in sociology for the Department of Social Sciences at Delta State.
He is married to the former Emily Erwin of Greenville, Miss., the Archivist for Delta State University and the curator of the Dave “Boo” Ferriss Museum.
An avid sports fan, Jones counts himself a diehard baseball and football fan with allegiances to the University of Alabama, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox.