Jacob Pumphrey Named Assistant AD for Strategic Communications
6/9/2025 9:30:00 AM | General
NACOGDOCHES, Texas- The Stephen F. Austin Athletic Department announced the hiring of Jacob Pumphrey as Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communications, Monday morning.
Pumphrey spent the previous year at the University of North Dakota and served as the Fighting Hawks Director of Communications for the volleyball, men's basketball and softball teams.
"Brook and I are very excited to be back in the great state of Texas to begin this new adventure in the Piney Woods," said Pumphrey "I cannot express how grateful I am to SFA and Lumberjack Athletics for the opportunity to lead the communication efforts of the department! Upon hearing of the vision that has been set forth for the 'Jacks by Mr. McBroom and Ms. Dorsey, I immediately knew that this was a place that my family and I wanted to be a part of. I look forward to working alongside Amanda and Jason to promote our department's student-athletes, coaches and the great programs they represent. Axe 'Em Jacks!"
"Jacob Pumphrey brings a unique blend of experience, creativity, and leadership to SFA Athletics," said Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs, Jessica Dorsey "His work across multiple levels of college sports—combined with a clear passion for storytelling and a strong understanding of digital strategy—positions him perfectly to lead our communications efforts. Jacob not only understands the importance of promoting our programs and student-athletes, but he also values building meaningful connections with fans, alumni, and media. We're confident his presence will help elevate the SFA brand and enhance the way we share the Lumberjack story across all platforms."
Prior to coming to North Dakota, Pumphrey led the athletic communications office at NCAA Division II Southern Arkansas University (SAU) for six years serving as an assistant AD in his final three years in Magnolia. He transitioned into the director's role after working as a graduate assistant in the office from January of 2015 through May of 2017 and as an assistant from July 2017 through June of 2018.
In his time at SAU, Pumphrey served as the primary contact for all 16 of the department's intercollegiate athletic programs handling pre and post-game responsibilities such as game day/final score graphics, game notes, performance lists, game previews and recaps as well as hosting numerous weekly SAU Coaches Shows. He has assisted in statistical coverage of all sports and contributed to SAU's social media channels and live video operation; helping oversee the department's streaming transition from Livestream to YouTube.
Pumphrey helped host five NCAA postseason tournaments, three GAC M/W Track & Field Championships and assisted with press box duties at the GAC softball championship tournament each year dating back to his first year as a graduate assistant. He served as a regional voter on the NCBWA DII Central Region Poll Committee, the D2SIDA Central Region Men's & Women's Basketball Poll Committees and served as the Central Region Chair on the D2SIDA Men's Basketball National Poll Committee from 2021-22 to 2023-24.
In addition to his day-to-day duties, Pumphrey spearheaded the offices' archival efforts of past statistics, results, game recaps, rosters, and schedules among other documents with the goal of fully organizing and digitizing the department's athletic history. In June of 2021, he was recognized by former members of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) for his work in preserving old AIC records, as well as his work in digitizing said records for the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame (ASHOF).
In addition to his work at SAU, Pumphrey served as a media relations volunteer for the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl from 2019 to 2023. His work as an athletic communications professional has also been recognized by College Sports Communicators (CSC) which he has held a membership with since 2018. Most recently, Pumphrey was the CSC District 6 Event Coverage College Division runner-up (Birdie Putts & Making Cuts: Muleriders gear up for national title run in Northeast Ohio) in the 2023-24 Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest. The year prior, Pumphrey's coverage of Southern Arkansas' central region baseball championship was named the overall runner-up for District 6 (Hello Cary: Muleriders' furious rally earns program's first NCAA regional title). Additionally, he won first place in the 2021-22 CSC Creative and Digital Design Contest (spring infographic -athlete feature).
Prior to his time as a graduate assistant, Pumphrey was member of the SAU baseball and football teams playing baseball from 2011-2014 and football from the 2010 season to the 2014 campaign. In that time, Pumphrey was a part of 177 wins combined among the two programs as well as four Great American Conference Championships on the diamond and a bowl game appearance on the gridiron.
A native of Junction City, Arkansas, Pumphrey had a hand in the creation of the Dragon Sports Network, an internet-based broadcast of Junction City High School Football and Basketball. Pumphrey served in play-by-play and color commentary roles alongside his father, Wayne Pumphrey, for numerous DSN broadcasts from 2013 to 2021.
Academically, Pumphrey was a three-time member of the GAC All-Academic Team and he graduated from SAU with dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Mass Communications – Mass Media and History in December 2014. He earned his Master of Business Administration from SAU in May of 2017.
Pumphrey is married to the former Brook Conley, a former All-Lone Star Conference setter, of Carmine, Texas. The couple have a doodle named Rawley and two cats, Rico and Jazz.
Pumphrey spent the previous year at the University of North Dakota and served as the Fighting Hawks Director of Communications for the volleyball, men's basketball and softball teams.
"Brook and I are very excited to be back in the great state of Texas to begin this new adventure in the Piney Woods," said Pumphrey "I cannot express how grateful I am to SFA and Lumberjack Athletics for the opportunity to lead the communication efforts of the department! Upon hearing of the vision that has been set forth for the 'Jacks by Mr. McBroom and Ms. Dorsey, I immediately knew that this was a place that my family and I wanted to be a part of. I look forward to working alongside Amanda and Jason to promote our department's student-athletes, coaches and the great programs they represent. Axe 'Em Jacks!"
"Jacob Pumphrey brings a unique blend of experience, creativity, and leadership to SFA Athletics," said Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs, Jessica Dorsey "His work across multiple levels of college sports—combined with a clear passion for storytelling and a strong understanding of digital strategy—positions him perfectly to lead our communications efforts. Jacob not only understands the importance of promoting our programs and student-athletes, but he also values building meaningful connections with fans, alumni, and media. We're confident his presence will help elevate the SFA brand and enhance the way we share the Lumberjack story across all platforms."
Prior to coming to North Dakota, Pumphrey led the athletic communications office at NCAA Division II Southern Arkansas University (SAU) for six years serving as an assistant AD in his final three years in Magnolia. He transitioned into the director's role after working as a graduate assistant in the office from January of 2015 through May of 2017 and as an assistant from July 2017 through June of 2018.
In his time at SAU, Pumphrey served as the primary contact for all 16 of the department's intercollegiate athletic programs handling pre and post-game responsibilities such as game day/final score graphics, game notes, performance lists, game previews and recaps as well as hosting numerous weekly SAU Coaches Shows. He has assisted in statistical coverage of all sports and contributed to SAU's social media channels and live video operation; helping oversee the department's streaming transition from Livestream to YouTube.
Pumphrey helped host five NCAA postseason tournaments, three GAC M/W Track & Field Championships and assisted with press box duties at the GAC softball championship tournament each year dating back to his first year as a graduate assistant. He served as a regional voter on the NCBWA DII Central Region Poll Committee, the D2SIDA Central Region Men's & Women's Basketball Poll Committees and served as the Central Region Chair on the D2SIDA Men's Basketball National Poll Committee from 2021-22 to 2023-24.
In addition to his day-to-day duties, Pumphrey spearheaded the offices' archival efforts of past statistics, results, game recaps, rosters, and schedules among other documents with the goal of fully organizing and digitizing the department's athletic history. In June of 2021, he was recognized by former members of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) for his work in preserving old AIC records, as well as his work in digitizing said records for the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame (ASHOF).
In addition to his work at SAU, Pumphrey served as a media relations volunteer for the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl from 2019 to 2023. His work as an athletic communications professional has also been recognized by College Sports Communicators (CSC) which he has held a membership with since 2018. Most recently, Pumphrey was the CSC District 6 Event Coverage College Division runner-up (Birdie Putts & Making Cuts: Muleriders gear up for national title run in Northeast Ohio) in the 2023-24 Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest. The year prior, Pumphrey's coverage of Southern Arkansas' central region baseball championship was named the overall runner-up for District 6 (Hello Cary: Muleriders' furious rally earns program's first NCAA regional title). Additionally, he won first place in the 2021-22 CSC Creative and Digital Design Contest (spring infographic -athlete feature).
Prior to his time as a graduate assistant, Pumphrey was member of the SAU baseball and football teams playing baseball from 2011-2014 and football from the 2010 season to the 2014 campaign. In that time, Pumphrey was a part of 177 wins combined among the two programs as well as four Great American Conference Championships on the diamond and a bowl game appearance on the gridiron.
A native of Junction City, Arkansas, Pumphrey had a hand in the creation of the Dragon Sports Network, an internet-based broadcast of Junction City High School Football and Basketball. Pumphrey served in play-by-play and color commentary roles alongside his father, Wayne Pumphrey, for numerous DSN broadcasts from 2013 to 2021.
Academically, Pumphrey was a three-time member of the GAC All-Academic Team and he graduated from SAU with dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Mass Communications – Mass Media and History in December 2014. He earned his Master of Business Administration from SAU in May of 2017.
Pumphrey is married to the former Brook Conley, a former All-Lone Star Conference setter, of Carmine, Texas. The couple have a doodle named Rawley and two cats, Rico and Jazz.
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