Jay Roberson begins his seventh year as Samford[apos]s associate director of
athletics. He is responsible for sports information, broadcasting, marketing and game operations.
In addition to his duties at Samford, Roberson also serves as a Birmingham City Councilor, representing District 7. He serves the constituents of District 7, with his term running from 2009 to 2013.
His goals for the department are to heighten awareness, build the branding program, create an exciting student-athlete experience and enhance the corporate partnership program.
In his first year, Roberson was instrumental in a deal with ESPN to broadcast the
first nationally televised Samford football game in school history. Roberson imple -
mented the first licensing program for Samford athletics with Strategic Marketing
Affiliates [SMA]. Through SMA, Samford athletics entered the retail industry, and
provides online merchandising for alumni, students and fans.
In 2007, Roberson implemented the Samford Radio Network, the first statewide
radio broadcasts for Samford football, distributed in eight markets throughout Alabama. He plans to continue the Samford Radio Network, and to add additional markets and broadcast opportunities for basketball and baseball.
In 2007, Roberson helped produce and host the Pat Sullivan Coach[apos]s Show. Roberson
was instrumental in getting the show on Comcast Sports Southeast and the Alabama
Cable Network, which reached more than seven million households regionally each week.
Under Roberson, the corporate partnership program has been enhanced and fundraising
has increased. Through external operations in 2007-08, Samford received more than $750,000 to support athletics.
Roberson came to Samford after having served as an assistant commissioner for the
Southwestern Athletic Conference [SWAC] since 2002. While with the SWAC, He served
as director for the conference[apos]s football championship game and basketball tournament. He also handled sponsorship packages, marketing and advertising campaigns for the SWAC.
Roberson was the event director for the Bruno Event Team/Alabama Sports Foundation
from 1999 to 2002. He served as the event coordinator for several champion ships and
other events for the Bruno Event Team. He also managed and developed sponsorship
packages, marketing and advertising campaigns, operations and logistics for those events.
From 1997 to 1999, Roberson was director of media for Ramsay/Classic Sports
Marketing, where he served as the producer/talent for the college football magazine show. He was also the host/color analyst for the Game Day College Football Broadcast on Fox Sports South and the Sunshine Network.
Roberson served as a teacher and coach at his alma mater, Homewood High School,
from 1996 to 1998. During 1995-96, he was an intern with Alabama Power, assisting in
various areas of corporate communication.
Roberson received his B.A. in telecommunications from Alabama A&M University in 1996 and was the starting quarter back for the Bulldogs during 1992-94. He and his wife, Niva, have three children, Lia, Tré and Ava.
