By Chrissy Segrest
Elm Staff Writer
After previous director of Athletic Communications Phil Ticknor left to become the new Coordinator of Pre-Health Professions Programs, a new face has arrived. in the athletic department David Gansell, a 1995 University of Maryland Baltimore County graduate, has taken his place as the Director of Athletic Communications and Academic Affairs in December of 2019. He will coordinate and lead the departments’ publicity efforts.
“Washington College is a historic institution and I had always heard very good things about it. One of my friends from my days working at UMBC, Geoff Rupert, was a 1,000-point scorer for the Shoremen so I already had some background on the program. The whole NCAA Division I versus Division III thing didn’t make a difference for me. I just wanted to work in a warm environment where I knew that I could make a difference.” Gansell said.
Gansell spent the previous year at Radford University, a public doctorate-granting university in Radford Va. The Division I institution has 16 sports, and he was the primary contact person for women’s basketball, volleyball, men’s and women’s golf, and baseball.
Additionally, he oversaw all of the content for their social media accounts, compiled the sport’s statistics, produced department productions, and was in charge of the athletics website.
Jason Bryden, the coordinator of athletic statistics & media services, believes he has already made an impact with the relationships he has managed to form in such a short time.
“He has, in a short amount of time here at the College established a strong working relationship within the department. And in the athletic communications business, relationships are everything. You need to have solid ones and he has worked diligently in his time here to establish them with everybody in the department.” Brayden said.
Before RU, Gansell spent eleven years at St. Francis Brooklyn College in NYC from 2007-2018. He was able to oversee and promote all 19 sports.
Additionally, he established the Terrier Sports Network which allowed parents, students, and fans to watch games, highlights, interviews, and video features.
Conner Fleegle, the head Athletics Broadcasting Coordinator, thinks he is a great addition to the program.
“He has some different ideas to help promote our student-athletes, and our brand. I’m excited to see those take shape in the near future.” Fleegle said.
From 2000-2001, he served as a game day Guest Services Ambassador for the Baltimore Ravens where he would assist in game day functions during their home contests.
Ganell also shared his thoughts on his new position.
“The one thing that I am very excited about is that I have been given a great amount of freedom in this position to make our brand stronger. My goal is to deliver a strategic athletic communications plan that the College can be proud of. My predecessor, Phil Ticknor, and my current assistant, Jason Bryden, have done a great job of setting me up for success. It’s now my responsibility to build on what they have been doing and tell our story a little bit differently,” Gansell said. “Certainly, we want to highlight the outstanding accomplishments of our student-athletes and coaches in their respective sport. But we also want to let the general public, fans, alumni, recruits, and campus know about many of the remarkable feats that they are achieving in the classroom and in the community.”