Tom Hastings Joins Spartan Athletic Department Staff

SAN JOSE, Calif. Tom Hastings has been named the associate athletic director for media services at San Jose State University, Director of Athletics Tom Bowen announced Wednesday.

Hastings will supervise the sports information staff that coordinates communication, media services, and public relations for San Jose State’s 16 Division I sports. His responsibilities will also include overseeing the official athletic department website (www.sjsuspartans.com) and serving as the media director for the upcoming 2007 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship hosted by San Jose State at HP Pavilion on March 22 and 24, 2007.

“Tom (Hastings) is a remarkable addition to this incredibly talented team we already have in place at San Jose State,” Bowen exclaimed. “During my time with Tom (Hastings) in the NFL, I was impressed with his work and his attitude. San Jose State Athletics is very fortunate to have Tom Hastings join our staff.”

Hastings most recently served as the director of marketing for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) in Colorado Springs, Colo. He coordinated all the marketing, public relations, merchandising, advertising, and internet operations for the 33,000 member association. While at the NSCA, Hastings also helped formalize the NSCA Sponsorship Program and created internal and external marketing communication plans focused on member retention, acquisition, and public relations for the association. His public relations efforts were realized with placement in the Seattle Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and msnbc.com. Hastings worked on the development of a TV pilot entitled “Building the Perfect Athlete” and was instrumental in showcasing the association on The Learning Channel (TLC) while at the NSCA.

Hastings began working at the NSCA in 2005, following a seven-year appointment as the communications manager and manager of internet services with the San Francisco 49ers. With the 49ers, Hastings authored and distributed collateral material, including Gameday Magazine, the official media guide, season ticket brochure, press releases, media packets, original features and other pertinent organizational communication. He also assisted in the creation and implementation of the 49ers public relations departmental policies, procedures, and operational guidelines, served as a liaison between local and national media, and 49ers players, coaches, management and staff, and supervised the public relations staff.

In 2002, Hastings was promoted within the 49ers organization to writer, editor, and publisher of original content and design for the official website of the San Francisco 49ers. As the manager of internet services, he ensured that all material published on the website was consistent with the mission, communication, and brand strategy of the organization.

Prior to his tenure with the 49ers, Hastings served as the assistant director of athletic media relations at his alma mater, University of California, Santa Barbara. At UCSB, Hastings developed and supervised public relations strategies for 21 intercollegiate athletic teams, created and launched the inaugural website for UCSB athletics, and supervised an event staff of 10 employees.

“I am honored to join the talented staff of San Jose State Athletics and thank Tom (Bowen) for this wonderful opportunity,” said Hastings. “There is a rich tradition of Spartan Athletics and I look forward to building upon the Culture of Champions’ Tom (Bowen) and his staff have worked so hard to create.”

Hastings earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from UCSB in 1993.

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