Kevin Warner - Associate A.D. for Communications and Strategic Initiatives - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Kevin Warner

Title:
Associate A.D. for Communications and Strategic Initiatives
Email:
Phone:
540-568-4263
Physical Address:
Room 2028 (380 University Blvd.) / MSC 0404

Kevin Warner joined James Madison Athletics in 2006 and on Sept. 26, 2023 was named associate athletics director for communications and strategic initiatives. That appointment came after first joining the administrative team as assistant AD for communications in 2016.

In his role, Warner oversees all aspects of communications, media relations, public relations, brand promotion and broadcasting. He serves as sport administrator for the men's and women's golf programs, and, additionally, he represents athletics on key initiatives and projects across campus and serves the director of athletics related to various analytical and strategic tasks, while also charing the Hall of Fame Selection Committee. The role also involves close collaboration with the assistant A.D. for creative services in the development of and strategy behind all content.

Warner also serves as the spokesperson for JMU Athletics. During the Falls of 2015, 2017 and 2023, he worked with ESPN to bring College GameDay to James Madison and served as the primary JMU Athletics point of contact for the show's operation during the entire week in Harrisonburg. Other major projects have included the department's logo rebrand in early 2016, involvement with the reclassification to FBS and the Sun Belt Conference and the building of a broadcast control operation in 2023.

In November of 2015, Warner received recognition as part of JMU Athletics being honored with the Youth in Philanthropy Award from the local Shenandoah chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals during the organization's annual National Philanthropy Day ceremony. In May of 2016, he was bestowed with the Customer Service Award presented annually by JMU's Division of Administration and Finance.

Prior to July of 2015, Warner spent the previous nine years in JMU's athletics communications office, most recently serving as director of athletics web operations and community relations. In his first four years at JMU, Warner managed the communications efforts of the baseball, field hockey, volleyball and swimming and diving programs as assistant director before moving into a role handling men's basketball and baseball as associate director for four years.

In 2015, Warner wrapped up a four-year stint as president of the Virginia Sports Information Directors, the organization comprising all athletics communications professionals representing every university in the state. He has also held memberships in the College Sports Information Directors of America, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, the United States Basketball Writers Association and the Association for Women in Sports Media, an organization for which he previously served as faculty advisor to the student chapter at JMU.

Warner previously held communications or media relations positions at Eastern Mennonite University and the Colonial Athletic Association while also serving as media manager for the Valley Baseball League for four years. While at the CAA, he worked on the media coordination team for the first and second rounds of the 2003 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship in Boston and represented the league at the NCAA’s leadership seminar in Indianapolis. He also taught classes in JMU's sport communication minor as an adjunct professor for 10 years from 2008 to 2017, using that platform to help students find career opportunities in the industry. He currently serves as advisor for the sport communication practicum program.

A 2002 graduate of JMU's sport and recreation management program (now the Hart School), Warner worked two years in the JMU sports media relations office as a student to earn his start in the profession. He was a founding member of the JMU Student Duke Club as the organization’s sports information director.

Warner is also a 2007 graduate of the VCU Center for Sport Leadership master's program and served on the school’s initial alumni board. He added a certificate of theology from Notre Dame in 2021 and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Theology from Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in Indiana.

Kevin and his wife, Mary Beth (JMU ’03), reside in Harrisonburg with their five children, Andrew, Katie Beth, Mark, Simeon and Karoline.