MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas University Director of Athletics, Steve Browning has announced the promotion of Jacob Pumphrey to Director of Athletic Communications, effective September 6. Pumphrey succeeds Daniel Gallegos, who recently left SAU to pursue another opportunity after five and a half years of service in the athletic communications office.
 
"I would like to thank Daniel for his dedication, loyalty, and professionalism that he showed towards Mulerider Athletics over the past five years," remarked Browning. "He has definitely helped transform our entire department, and a lot of our growth and success can be attributed to Daniel and his staff."
 
"With that being said, I am ecstatic to get to promote Jacob to Director of Athletic Communications, added Browning. "Being able to see Jacob grow from being a student-athlete, to a graduate assistant, to the Assistant Director of Athletic Communications and now the Director is a testament to his work ethic and dedication to Mulerider Athletics. Daniel laid a tremendous foundation for the Athletic Communications Department, and I look forward to seeing how much farther Jacob can build upon those successes.  "
 
Pumphrey has been a mainstay in the department and in the athletic communications office first starting as a graduate assistant in 2014. After two years and a half years as a GA, Pumphrey was retained full-time in the fall of 2017 becoming the first full-time Assistant Director of Athletic Communications in SAU history.
 
In his time in athletic communications at SAU, Pumphrey has served as the primary contact for Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Softball, Men's and Women's Track and Field and Volleyball while serving as the secondary contact for SAU's remaining athletic programs.
 
As primary contact for those sports, Pumphrey was in charge of 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.
 
Additionally, Pumphrey has assisted in statistical coverage of all sports and contributed to SAU's social media channels and live video operation. In the spring of 2018, Pumphrey was instrumental in SAU hosting four championship events on campus with baseball regionals and softball super regionals taking place at the same time.
 
"I could not be more excited for Jacob and this opportunity," noted Gallegos. "He is one of the most talented writers I have ever been around and his passion and knowledge of sports shine through his writing. His dedication and love for Mulerider Athletics is unmistakable and will be the cornerstone for his new professional venture. I know that I am leaving SAU in the best hands possible and I could not be more grateful for that as well."
 
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, Ark., Pumphrey had a hand in the creation of the Dragon Sports Network, an internet-based broadcast of Junction City High School Football and Basketball. Since its inception in 2013, Pumphrey has served in play-by-play and color commentary roles alongside his father, Wayne Pumphrey, for numerous DSN broadcasts.
 
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. Most-recently, Pumphrey earned his Master's of Business Administration from SAU in May of 2017.