What Curt does for JMU athletics provides a unique component to the overall branding strategy for JMU sports. His role combines multimedia communications with the traditional responsibilities of a sports information director, focusing on developing radio programming, assisting with commercial broadcasts and ultimately employing creative ways of using new media as it evolves into multimedia.
When Curt started at JMU in 1988, social media was handled primarily by the U.S. Postal Service, and Mark Zuckerburg was a four-year old. Today, in addition to his regular duties, Curt manages a multimedia presence that includes more than 13,000 followers across multiple platforms.
In addition to serving as the “All-Sports Voice of the Dukes” for online (MadiZONE) and linear video productions, he uses direct multimedia methods to distribute information about the sports teams, including MadiZONE HD SportsNet, which has been among the collegiate leaders in live online video productions.
MadiZONE produces about 75 live events per year, which will continue to increase and features commentary, HD productions, multiple camera angles, graphics and replay. He is also an instructor in the sports communications minor at JMU, teaching a broadcasting techniques class each spring. Curt is a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America, the Virginia Sports Information Directors and the Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.