Nate Smith to Join Alfred University Athletics Department as Director of Athletic Communications
ALFRED, NY – Paul Vecchio, Alfred University Director of Athletics announced that
Nate Smith will join the Saxon family as the new Director of Athletic Communications.
"I am very excited to have Nate join our Saxon family and for the work he will do in sharing the many accomplishments of our student-athletes as well as interfacing with our alumni and friends," said Vecchio. "He brings great enthusiasm and experience to Alfred University and I know will be a great asset to our department."
Smith comes to Alfred University from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, where he was a part of the Liberty League-affiliated Thoroughbreds. He began working for Skidmore in June of 2016, serving as the primary contact for soccer, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, ice hockey, baseball, softball, lacrosse and tennis as well as all public relations efforts for Skidmore's 19 athletic programs.
"I would like to thank
Paul Vecchio and the rest of the search committee for their trust and faith in me as I look to join Alfred's already-sterling Athletic Communications Department. During the process, it was clear that the staff and I shared the same plan of showcasing the day-to-day successes of our student-athletes," Smith said. "I was also inspired by the vision laid out by everybody I met on campus. I can't wait to meet everyone and get started on continuing a strong Saxon tradition. I would also like to thank Skidmore College for three amazing years. Skidmore gave me the opportunity to grow and succeed as an athletic communications professional, and I will always look back fondly on the staff and student-athletes there."
Smith worked with social media, videography, photography and game-day operations to better deliver a memorable four-year experience to the Student-Athletes of Skidmore College as he oversaw an eight-person staff of student-workers.
Prior to working at Skidmore, Smith worked at Rochester Institute of Technology for one year with then Sports Information Director and now Associate Commissioner of the Empire 8,
Joe Venniro. While at RIT, Smith served as an associate contact for the Division I women's ice hockey program as well as continuing his duties with soccer, baseball, softball, basketball and lacrosse.
Smith earned his Bachelor of Arts in journalism through Buffalo State College in 2015 where he was a student assistant in their sports information department. He worked at 91.3FM WBNY as the Sports Director where he produced and co-hosted multiple music, news and sports talk programs at Buffalo's Original Alternative Station. He booked and conducted interviews with professional athletes, music artists and sports media members. Prior to being hired as a student assistant in the sports information department, Smith helped to provide play-by-play and sideline commentary for 10 of Buffalo State's 14 varsity sports.
Smith will begin work at Alfred University on September 30 where he joins Assistant Athletic Communications Director,
Chris Boswell and Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant,
John Ambroselli. "When I first met
Nate Smith, I quickly learned that we would work very well together and that he would be an excellent fit for Alfred University Athletics," Boswell said. "I could tell that he had a strong desire to continue to develop himself and the Athletic Communications office in order to further set ourselves apart from other institutions to better provide a great, four-year experience for our Saxons are Student-Athletes and to better stay connected to them once they graduate."