(June 13, 2011) The University of North Florida has announced the hiring of STAA client Robert Harper as the Director of Athletic Marketing and Promotions.
Along with his management duties in marketing and promotions, Harper will also serve as the “Voice of the Ospreys” handling play-by-play announcing duties for UNF basketball and baseball broadcasts and hosting the UNF Basketball Coaches Show.
Harper joins the UNF staff following a five-year stint at Campbell University where he served as the Assistant Athletic Director for Broadcasting. He was the “Voice of the Fighting Camels” for all football, basketball and baseball broadcasts and also assisted CU’s Marketing and Promotion department with advertising sales, advertising fulfillment and game promotions.
“We are fortunate to have a person with Robert’s experience in marketing and broadcasting joining the UNF staff,” said Moon. “He has demonstrated a strong work ethic and been a key part of some really successful marketing projects. The fact that he is also an outstanding broadcaster was an extra benefit for us. I look for Robert to have a very positive influence on our marketing, promotions and game atmosphere.”
In his role at UNF, Harper will oversee and manage all aspects of the marketing department with a responsibility to all 19 Division I programs. He will build on existing partnerships while looking to develop relationships with new partners. Harper and his staff will create and execute marketing agreements that best promote and brand partners as well as the athletic department. The marketing and promotions department is responsible for developing promotions for athletic contests that not only allow co-promoting with UNF Athletic partners but also assist in increasing attendance and create a fun exciting game atmosphere for Osprey home events. Increasing awareness of UNF Athletics within the Jacksonville community will also be a priority.
“I am excited and honored to be joining the UNF Athletic family,” said Harper. “Coach Moon has given me a tremendous opportunity to assist in the continuing development of the UNF brand and I am extremely grateful to him. The University, and especially the Athletic Department, has a great many things to share with the Jacksonville community and I look forward to hitting the streets and getting the word out. I have watched the positive changes at UNF over the past several years and I feel fortunate to now have a chance to be a part of the future improvements.”
Prior to his time at Campbell, Harper spent four years as Sports Director and Advertising Executive with Kindred Communications and International Sports Properties in Huntington, W.Va.
A 2001 graduate of Marshall University with a B.A. in journalism with an emphasis in radio-television, Harper has been involved in the broadcast industry for more than a decade. He spent five seasons as the football sideline reporter for the Thundering Herd/ISP Sports Network. In addition, Harper served as a play-by-play announcer for Marshall basketball and baseball broadcasts as well as Huntington area high school sports. He was the pre- and post-game show host for Thundering Herd football and basketball games.
A native of Hurricane, W.Va., Harper has won more than 30 national, regional and state awards for broadcasting excellence. He spent more than four years as a nightly sports call-in show co-host on WRVC-AM in Huntington.
(Visit Robert’s STAA Talent Page).