Richard Kilwien spent more than five years on the Saint Mary's athletics staff from December, 2010 through August, 2016.
Kilwien joined the Saint Mary's athletic department as assistant athletic director for communications and, in the fall of 2011, was appointed to the position of associate athletic director for external affairs.
He supervised the department's areas of marketing, promotions, ticket sales and operations, student spirit groups, video operations and communications. He was directly responsible for managing the department's communications unit and implementing a media and public relations strategy for SMC athletics. He also oversaw the development of the school's official athletic website, social media and video initiatives, served as the department's primary spokesperson and was the media relations contact for the Gaels' men's basketball, men's soccer and men's golf programs.
From 2006-2010 Kilwien served as associate director of athletics for communications at the University of Washington. While in Seattle, he oversaw the athletic department's media relations, graphics design and Internet services areas and developed several initiatives to streamline efficiencies. He was invited to participate in a panel discussion at the 2010 College Sports Video Summit in Atlanta, Ga. and served on a senior advisory council for the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Prior to Washington, Kilwien spent six years at Santa Clara University and spearheaded the formation of the external services area to tie all media relations and marketing functions into one unit and reorganized all corporate sales efforts. He also expanded the department's official athletic website and publishing agreements, implemented live web event coverage of several sports and expanded the department's merchandise sales program. In addition, the department successfully rebranded and expanded its kids club and student spirit organization. In March of 2002, Kilwien served as the tournament manager for the NCAA Men's Basketball West Regional hosted by Santa Clara University at the Compaq Center at San Jose.
Kilwien arrived at Santa Clara in August, 2000 following a stint at the FANSonly Network (now CBS Interactive), the largest college sports network of official athletic websites on the Internet. While at FANSonly, Kilwien was responsible for assisting with the management of the company's public relations, business development and marketing efforts as well as working closely with the university development staffs to develop web marketing strategies for athletic departments.
Prior to FANSonly, Kilwien served as the assistant director of athletics for media relations at his alma mater, Texas Tech. While a member of the Red Raider athletic staff, he conducted a successful campaign to promote Byron Hanspard for the Dr Pepper Doak Walker Award and sixth-place finish in the voting for the prestigious Heisman Trophy. Kilwien also was responsible for serving as a liaison with the department's marketing group and was the primary spokesperson during a comprehensive NCAA investigation. He also was instrumental in launching the department's first Internet website in August, 1996, serving as media coordinator for several NCAA baseball and women's basketball regional events and designing the media operations areas in the $62 million United Spirit Arena.
Following his graduation from Texas Tech in 1988, Kilwien began his career in college athletics as an intern and media relations assistant under CoSIDA Hall of Famer Ted Nance at the University of Houston. While at Houston, Kilwien worked closely with Olympic track and field gold medalists and world-record holders Carl Lewis, Joe DeLoach and Leroy Burrell. He was also involved with the successful promotion of Andre Ware for the Heisman Trophy and handled the media relations duties for 11 of Houston's 17 sports.
From 1990-92, Kilwien served as an assistant director of sports information at Duke University, where he was involved with the promotion and media relations duties surrounding the back-to-back national champion men's basketball team. During that time, three Blue Devil basketball players received All-America and national Player of the Year recognition. He also handled the media relations for 12 sports, was responsible for implementing the department's desktop publishing system and served as the football media guide and game program editor.
Kilwien spent two years as an assistant director of media relations for the Southwest Conference. He was the primary media contact for men's basketball and served as the media coordinator for the annual SWC tournament and the 1994 NCAA Men's Basketball Midwest Regional held at Reunion Arena. Kilwien also served as a conference operational liaison with the league's television partners and assisted with championships and marketing operations.
Following the dissolution of the SWC, Kilwien spent two years as director of media relations and promotions at Raycom Sports in Charlotte, N.C. While at Raycom, he was responsible for media operations for the Carquest Bowl, the Diet Pepsi Tournament of Champions and the LPGA's Fieldcrest Cannon Classic. He also served as a primary promotional contact for the DirecTV Great Eight men's basketball event, held in conjunction with ESPN at the Palace of Auburn Hills, and coordinated publicity and promotions for the company's broadcasts of Atlantic Coast Conference basketball.
Kilwien married the former Karen Yee, a prep All-America and scholarship college basketball player at Houston, in December of 1990. The couple has a son, Preston, who attends Florida Gulf Coast University and is a member of the Eagles' soccer team.
