Shawn Jones was elevated to Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Operations in 2011 after serving the previous six years as Associate Athletic Director for External Operations. From 2003 to 2005, he served as the Assistant A.D. for Marketing and Broadcasting. He was originally hired by his alma mater in 2000 as Manager of Athletic Marketing/Broadcasting.

Jones is responsible for overseeing the external and revenue generating functions of the department to include the Mule Train athletic annual fund, corporate sponsor program, athletic marketing and promotions, media and public relations, special events, ticket sales and broadcasting. He also now directs the university-wide licensing program for UCM.

As the Voice of UCM Athletics, he serves as the lead play-by-play announcer for Central Missouri Athletics on radio, and as the host and coordinating producer of UCM’s weekly one-hour television show, Sportspage. He also emcees special events and assists in football scheduling, in addition to other administrative duties. During his time at UCM, Jones has served on the committees that have brought six current head coaches and three full-time staff members to campus.

Under his watch, Sportspage has grown from a weekly 30 minute television show on UCM athletics to a Bronze Telly Award winning one-hour program that is produced by, and airs exclusively on, KMOS-TV Sedalia/Warrensburg. The Central Missouri Sports Radio Network has also expanded to include 1450 KOKO, KWKJ 98.5 FM, KTBG 90.9 FM and www.warrensburgradio.com.

A member of the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Directors, Jones oversees UCM’s highly successful corporate sponsor program and has played a major role in the success of UCM’s biggest fund raising event, the Celebrating Central Missouri Athletic Auction. That event has raised over $1.3 million in net profits for UCM Athletics in its 11 year history. His efforts in promotions have been recognized by the NCAA News and NACMA. Many UCM athletic promotions have been featured as Ideas that Work by the NCAA Division II Community Engagement Initiative.

Jones recently wrapped up a four year term on the NCAA Division II Football Committee, four years as the co-chair of Super Regional Four. He was twice elected to serve as National Chair, serving in that role from Sept. 1, 2009 to Sept. 1, 2011, the longest allowable tenure under NCAA regulations. Jones was one of the youngest chairs in NCAA Division II football history. In January of 2009, Jones served as a featured panelist at the NCAA Convention in Washington, D.C., speaking on the topic of Building Relationships and Telling Stories: Engaging the Local Media. In January of 2010, in Atlanta, Georgia, Jones once again served as a panelist at the NCAA Convention, speaking on the topic of Fans: How to Find and Keep Them.

Prior to his time at UCM, Jones worked for ESPN Regional in the University of Kansas Athletics Department. He served on the broadcast team for Jayhawk Baseball with the legendary Tom Hedrick and as the host of the Marian Washington Show on KLWN radio in Lawrence. As an Account Executive for ESPN Regional, he sold sponsorships for KU Athletics on the Jayhawk Radio and Television Networks. Jones also provided radio play-by-play for UMKC women’s basketball during the 1999 season.

In 1998, Jones was Business Development Manager for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, where he created new revenue streams for the 20,000 member organization.

While a student, the Moberly, Mo., native worked at KOKO Radio in Warrensburg as assistant sports director covering Warrensburg High School and UCM sports. He also worked as a student assistant in the sports information office. Jones holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UCM, earning his bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication from UCM in 1997. He also earned his master’s degree in Physical Education/Exercise and Sport Science with specialization in Athletic and Sport Business Administration from UCM.

He and his wife, Melissa, live in Warrensburg. Melissa, who holds an MBA from Central Missouri, is the Technology Development Manager in Information Services at UCM. They are the proud parents of a seven-year old daughter, Lauren, and a three-year old son, Hayden.
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