Communications Contact: Women's Soccer, Women's Basketball, Baseball
Mike DeVader was named the Assistant Director of Communications for the ASUN Conference on Oct. 18, 2021 after more than four years as the Director of Athletics Communications and Media for the Reinhardt Eagles in Waleska, Ga. He was promoted to Associate Director of Communications at the ASUN on July 1, 2022.
Before joining the ASUN Conference, DeVader oversaw all operations of the award-winning Reinhardt Athletics Communications Department, and he was the primary media contact for all Reinhardt sports programs as he assisted with the public and media relations planning strategies for 24 Eagle teams.
Additionally, DeVader supervised all facets of Eagle game management, including official stats, live streaming, game programs, public address, social media and website updates.
In his first season with Reinhardt in 2017-18, DeVader was the recipient of two (2) NAIA-SIDA Publications and Media Contest awards in the categories of feature stories and game recaps, respectively. In total, Reinhardt Athletics Communications won five (5) NAIA-SIDA Publications and Media Contest awards (Radio Calls and Feature Video) under his watch.
A member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), DeVader oversaw and managed the sports communications internship program at Calumet College of St. Joseph – which earned two (2) NAIA-SIDA video awards for publicity in 2016-17 – his first season with the Crimson Wave.
At CCSJ, DeVader was the primary media relations contact for 20 Calumet athletics teams. He played a major role in CCSJ Athletics’ game management, production of stats, on-air broadcasts, publications, game day materials and social media for all sports while serving as the public relations representative for Crimson Wave Athletics for local, regional and national media.
He joined the Wave after a stint with the University of Antelope Valley (Calif.), where he was the Director of Athletics Communications. During his time with the Pioneers, DeVader was the recipient of five (5) NAIA-SIDA awards for writing, video and website work in 2016. He coordinated the UAV media outreach program for nine (9) Pioneer sports for print, radio, television and other electronic media outlets.
DeVader also spent time at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national office in Kansas City, Mo., where he served as communications and sports information intern from 2014-15. With the NAIA, he was responsible for Top 25 poll releases and news stories for NAIA sports in cross country, women's soccer/basketball, swimming and diving, tennis and men's golf. Additionally, DeVader served as both off-site and on-site media coordinator at NAIA championship events across the United States.
Before working at the NAIA office, the Topeka, Kan., native was a communications intern for USA Football in Indianapolis, Ind., and primarily created news announcements such as media advisories, feature stories and alumni updates. DeVader also interned for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League in the public relations department during grad school. He produced news stories for the Buccaneers' team website, assisted in coordinating and publicizing community relations efforts for the Glazer Family Foundation and helped with interview facilitation and press support.
While pursuing his undergraduate degree in Electronic Journalism at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan., DeVader worked on the K-State Collegian and Wildcat 91.9 sports staff. He went on to earn his master's degree in Sport Management from Wichita State University in Wichita, Kan.
At Wichita State, he served as a media relations volunteer, where he created game recaps and feature stories for Shocker Athletics.