Monday, August 8, 2022
by Western Oregon Athletic Communications

MONMOUTH, Ore. - The Western Oregon University Athletic Department is pleased to announce the hiring of Clayton Jones as the Wolves' new assistant athletic director for communications.

Jones comes to Western Oregon after spending the previous year as a communications consultant for the New Mexico Highlands athletic department. Prior to that, Jones spent two years at Western Colorado University as its assistant athletic Director of dommunications where he guided the Mountaineers to consecutive top-three finishes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference J.W. Campbell/Con Marshall Sports Information Department of the Year voting – the first two top-three finishes for WCU in the award's history.

Overall, Jones brings nearly 20 years of combined experience in athletic communications, journalism and public relations – including at the NCAA Division-I, Division-II and junior college levels.

"We're delighted to have Clayton join the Western Oregon team to lead our communication efforts," Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Randi Lydum said. "He brings years of experience and a variety of skills that will play a key role in telling the story of our student-athletes and teams - increasing the exposure of the Wolves."

Prior to Western Colorado, Jones - a University of Oregon graduate born and raised in Portland, Oregon - spent the 2018-19 year at New Mexico Highlands as its assistant athletic director of communications and External Relations where he guided the department to its first-ever top-three finish in the RMAC SID of the Year voting. Jones also worked in athletic communications at the University of New Mexico (in charge of communications for baseball, women's basketball and women's soccer) and Dodge City Community College.

"I'd like to thank Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Randi Lydum and Western Oregon for this great opportunity," Jones said. "I'm grateful for the chance to return to my home state and continue doing what I love – promoting student-athletes and athletic departments at the Division-II level. I'm excited to grow the reach of Wolves Athletics."

Before transitioning to athletic communications, Jones spent more than a decade as a sports journalist - including nine-plus years at the Hobbs News-Sun in Hobbs, New Mexico. He led the News-Sun sports department to the New Mexico Press Association Best Sports Coverage award in each of his final three years at the newspaper while winning numerous writing and photography awards. Jones also spent eight years in the Army – two active duty and six in the National Guard, including the last several in public affairs as a sergeant at the Oregon National Guard Headquarters.