Valdosta State names Reed to sports information post

Valdosta State University Director of Athletics Herb Reinhard announced recently that Shawn Reed has been named Sports Information Director, replacing Steve Roberts who retired in May.

Reed brings a great deal of experience to the position, where he will oversee publication efforts for the Blazers 11 intercollegiate sports. From 1999 to 2004, he worked in the Athletic Media Relations Office at Georgia Southern University, as an assistant director. Reed served as the primary contact for men's and women's basketball, volleyball, women's soccer, golf and for three NCAA Regional baseball teams. Reed was also the editor of Georgia Southern's award-winning Soar Football Game Program and earned a Master of Science in Sports Management from the university. In August 2004, Reed assumed the title of Interim Director of the Media Relations and served as the primary contact for the school's nationally-ranked football program that advanced to the NCAA I-AA postseason tournament.

"We are truly excited to have Shawn join the VSU athletic staff," said Reinhard. "He has big shoes to fill in replacing Steve, who retired as one of the deans of the sports information profession. Shawn has a strong background in the SID field and has worked with some nationally respected programs. We look forward to the new ideas he will bring to our athletic department in general and to the sports information office in particular."

Upon leaving Georgia Southern, Reed served as Public Relations Manager for FitzBradshaw Racing's No. 14 Navy Dodge and driver David Stremme in the NASCAR Busch Series. Reed's experience, which began with a three-year stint as a student assistant at Wake Forest University while pursuing his degree in communications and political science, also includes spending a year as Media Relations Intern with the Atlantic Coast Conference and a season as an intern with media relations department of the NFL's Carolina Panthers.

"I'm looking forward to joining the Valdosta State athletic department as well as the VSU and Valdosta communities," stated Reed. "As witnessed by the football's national championship in 2004 and men's tennis national title this year, Valdosta has one of the top athletic programs in the nation, which makes it one of the prized jobs for a sports information professional. Steve has set a high level of expectation for the sports information director, and I look forward to the challenge of achieving that level in the coming years."

Reed will officially assume his duties on July 1.