Communications Manager, College GameDay

Location: Bristol, CT or Charlotte, NC

Job Summary:
The Communications Manager, College GameDay, serves as the lead communications contact for ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot (football), managing all aspects of publicity, media relations and communications strategy for the iconic show. The role also supports broader ESPN college sports PR efforts across football, basketball, the NFL Draft on ABC, Olympic sports and select conferences and organizations. This position requires strong storytelling instincts, established media relationships and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-profile environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead all communications and publicity efforts for College GameDay, including strategy, media relations and managing on-site and behind-the-scenes access for media.
• Serve as a secondary communications contact for ESPN’s college football and basketball portfolios.
• Oversee PR efforts for additional college sports programming, including ABC’s NFL Draft coverage and select Olympic sports.
• Develop and execute strategic publicity campaigns to enhance visibility and brand reputation.
• Identify, craft and pitch compelling storylines to a wide range of national and regional media outlets.
• Manage relationships and coordinate interviews with key ESPN executives, on-air talent and production leaders.
• Write and edit press materials, including press releases, media kits, fact sheets and bios.
• Coordinate press events and manage logistics for media attending GameDay sites.
• Anticipate and manage issues, creating proactive communication strategies and messaging for external audiences.
• Serve as a 360 communicator – creating written and multimedia content for internal and external platforms, including ESPN Front Row and PR social channels.
• Support broader college sports PR initiatives, including championship coverage, ratings announcements and other major events.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with media across sports, business, television, entertainment and digital platforms.
• Leverage social media and digital tools to amplify ESPN messaging and reach diverse audiences.
• Monitor industry trends, media coverage and social conversations to inform strategy and advise key stakeholders.
• Collaborate with internal teams and business partners to align PR efforts with larger company goals.
• Identify and support executive visibility opportunities, including speaking engagements and awards.
• Maintain detailed press lists, reports and recaps of publicity results.
• Work evenings and weekends as required by live event and production schedules.
• Travel regularly for College GameDay and other ESPN events.
• This role participates in an on-call rotation to support media inquiries, issues management, and operational communications outside of regular business hours.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in public relations, media relations, or communications – preferably within sports or television.
• Proven track record of developing and executing successful PR strategies and media campaigns.
• Exceptional writing, communication and storytelling skills.
• Strong media contacts and experience pitching across a variety of platforms (TV, print, online, radio, trades).
• Deep understanding of sports, media and news value.
• Strategic and creative thinker with a proactive, solutions-oriented approach.
• Experience in public speaking and media training support.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in social media platforms including X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
• Knowledge of television ratings and the sports media landscape preferred.
• Team-oriented, flexible and able to thrive in a constantly evolving environment.