1. Summary
Highlights
Accomplishments
Russ Blunck
2920 Claremont Drive
San Diego, California 92117
Cell: 503-930-1275
russblunck@gmail.com
A performance driven leader with 15+ years of experience in collegiate athletic administration. Proven results in driving
the NCAA membership candidacy process. Valued for strategic leadership in media relations, brand repositioning, fund
raising, competitive contracting and event planning. Includes a reputation for starting and completing projects on time
and under budget, with the ability to work with a variety of constituents.
Led successful NCAA application process, which
included coordinating a 1,200 page document.
Led vendor assessment evaluation, eventually
settling on consultants to partner with to re-brand
department logos and marks, apparel/shoe contract
and school color changes.
Negotiated the school's first-ever radio contract with
one of the top sports-talk stations in the city,
broadcasting men's basketball games.
Point person and event planner for Hall of Fame and
Season Kick-Off banquets.
Oversaw the areas of media relations/website
management, game management, corporate
sponsorships, special projects and fund raising.
Created student booster section called the Green
Sea. Collaborated with ASB to fund student leaders
to run the program.
Successfully maintained the budget for six different
areas within the athletic department.
Developed weekly television show that featured interviews, game highlights and special features. Created format, wrote
script and conducted interviews.
Involved in conference application process, researching league options available.
Served a two-year term as the president of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Sports Information
Directors, an organization with over 300 members.
Named the Ike Pearson Award winner, given to the nation's top sports information director (2001).
Two-time winner of the national Gary Spitler Memorial Award for Excellence in Publications.
38 specific national awards for publications.
Play-by-play broadcaster for the Wolves Radio Network in the sports of football, basketball, baseball, softball and
volleyball.
Worked with vice-presidents across campus to evaluate and restructure athletic department.
Worked with Sara Tucholsky to promote the story "Sportsmanship Scores"--the story of a softball player who had to be
carried around the bases by her opponents after hitting a home run and injuring her knee. The story was featured on
ESPN and earned an ESPY award.
Coordinated promotion efforts for Kevin Boss, a rookie from a small town and school who started in and won a Super
Bowl in his first NFL season.
Served on search committees for a variety of campus positions. Coordinated search committees for a half dozen athletic
department positions.
2. Experience
Education
References
09/2013 - 03/2015
San Diego, California
writer, career coach
Consultant
Freelance writing projects. Consultant to athletic department websites.
03/2014 - 10/2014
San Diego, California
ticket office representative
San Diego Padres
Represented the Padres in servicing season ticket and game-day ticket clients. Studied structural and organizational
workings of Major League Baseball organization.
09/2009 - 08/2013
San Diego, California
Associate Athletic Director
Point Loma Nazarene University
Oversaw four different areas in the athletic department. Responsible for marketing, corporate sponsorships,
broadcasting, media relations, athletic website, game management, NCAA application process, policies and
procedures, special events and fund raising. Representative from the athletic department to various committees across
campus.
08/1997 - 08/2009
Monmouth, Oregon
Associate Athletic Director
Western Oregon University
Oversaw broadcasting and sports information, community engagement, NCAA hosting bids, Hall of Fame banquet,
athletic sponsorships, weekly television show, publications, press releases, media guides, athletic website and
newsletters. Negotiated and fulfilled radio contracts. Coached and fulfilled public address announcer duties.
Bachelor of Arts: Pacific University - Communications
Forest Grove, Oregon, USA
Served as the school's sports information director while a student....Four-year letterman in football and
baseball....Two-time all-conference selection in football.
Jon Carey, former Western Oregon University athletic director
"Russ is a multi-talented professional who has a wide range of experiences. When we worked together at Western
Oregon, Russ managed all media relations, broadcast services, event management, promotions and was a key to our
development efforts. He updated our athletic website not only in design but also in content. He was able to utilize his
wide network of colleagues and connections to enhance everything that he touched. He is an innovative thinker and at
the same time a person that is willing to put in the work to bring his ideas to reality."
Danny Barnts, Point Loma assistant AD for communications
"Russ Blunck is the man that I truly refer to as my mentor. I had the opportunity to work with Russ during my very first full
year in the sports information field and he showed me the ropes of what it takes to be a professional in the industry. Russ
helped show me how to build relationships with student-athletes, media, coaches and on-campus personnel. He also
gave me the support to develop my own initiatives and follow through with them which was invaluable to my growth. Russ
has served as my boss on two occasions and I have also had the privilege of getting to know him as a person and have
valued that.
Alex Mallen, Sports Chalet team sales/marketing consultant
"Russ was a pleasure to work with during his time as my athletic marketing contact at Point Loma. We worked together
to develop a Nike partnership that is still in place today. Russ is great about seeing things from different perspectives to
come up with the best solution. He was always on top of things and was just a great person to work with."
Judson Richards, XTRA Sports 1360 Fox Sports San Diego
"Russ' resume speaks for itself, with years of public relations, event management and administration that transcends
athletics. His eager and positive approach to professional relationships is refreshing and appreciated. I've found Russ to
be a supportive associate who makes reaching goals and solutions easy."