Southern Arkansas University Athletics

Entering his fourth year in the athletic communications office and his second as the Associate Director of Athletic Communications for Mulerider Athletics, Jonathan Briggs continues his stay at Southern Arkansas as the Muleriders' Women's Volleyball, Cross Country, Women's Basketball, Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field, Women's Tennis, and Softball contact.

Along with writing for the various sports above, Briggs has also expanded his range of skills in statistical software, as he has input and spotted with NCAA Live Stats for Women's Volleyball, Football, and Men's and Women's Basketball. Briggs is also knowledgeable with PrestoSports software for Baseball and Softball. The 24-year-old still holds a few duties from his undergrad days, as he works the public address for Mulerider Softball and Baseball and handles music for all Mulerider Athletics home events. Other responsibilities that Briggs has taken on during his time in Mulerider Athletics includes graphic design (Photoshop, Gipper, Sideline Design), photography, videography, video board operations, record book updates, touchscreen updates (TouchPros), gameday scripts for all sports, overseeing the operations for the SAU Sports Hall of Fame process/banquets, overseeing the operations for the annual Mulespy Awards show, and managing the backend of the Mulerider Athletics website (Sidearm). 

The Southern Arkansas University graduate was named the title of Assistant Director of Athletic Communications on June 1, 2023, and after the Fall 2024 semester, in which he was the acting Director of Athletic Communications, Jonathan was promoted to his current title of Associate Director of Athletic Communications. Ever since then, he has worked alongside Jackson Pickard, the current Director of Athletic Communications at Southern Arkansas University. The hiring of Briggs filled a two-month-long vacancy in the position after former assistant Kayte Ledbetter stepped away to pursue opportunities with the WNBA's Dallas Wings. Before working with Pickard, Briggs worked under the leadership of Jacob Pumphrey, who held the role of Assistant Athletic Director of Athletic Communications. 
 
"Kayte did an outstanding job in her time back in Magnolia and when the position opened up, it was a no-brainer on who I wanted to fill the void," noted Jacob Pumphrey. "It is a blessing to have the opportunity to bring someone in who not only is familiar with the office, but someone who has greatly impacted the office during the past several years. I have had the pleasure of seeing Jonathan grow in this business and I am excited for what the future holds for him as a member of this department."
 
A native of Hooks, Texas, Briggs brought three years of experience into the same office that first saw him venture into athletic communications in August of 2020. His experience in SAU's Athletic Communications Office is vast and far beyond what a traditional student worker in the office would've gain over the same period of time.
 
Since stepping foot on campus as an undergraduate student, Briggs gained experience in multiple facets of gameday operations including statistical software usage as an inputter and spotter with NCAA Live Stats for football and men's and women's basketball, press row replay operation for men's and women's basketball, public address announcing for volleyball and softball and camera operations for multiple sports, while also producing previews and recaps for the Mulerider Men's and Women's Track & Field teams across both the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
 
"Jonathan's growth in this line of work would not have been possible without the help and guidance from my assistants over the years," added Pumphrey. "Nick Rackley, Stephen Featherston and Kayte Ledbetter all played a hands-on approach when it came to directing our student workers and I know Jonathan's knowledge stems directly from his interactions with them and the leadership that each of them brought to the department."
 
Briggs graduated from Southern Arkansas University in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications: Mass Media. Jonathan has been married to his wife Riley Briggs since April 27, 2025.