Donaldson has been with the Rams since 2008, working in both the marketing and athletic departments. PHOTO CREDIT: gorhody.com
In his 12th year with the University of Rhode Island, assistant athletic director Shane Donaldson has completely changed the face of Rhody athletics.
As assistant athletic director, Donaldson serves as the communications liaison between the administration, coaches and players, as well as internal and external media sources.
He currently serves as the primary contact for football, men’s basketball, rowing, softball, swimming and diving and tennis teams.
“My first and foremost responsibility is coordinating the student-athletes and coaches with external media sources,” Donaldson said. “Press conferences, interviews, all the behind-the-scenes stuff that no one really knows about. Every day is something different.”
A University of Rhode Island graduate in 1999, Donaldson has experienced firsthand the potential of Rhode Island athletics. In his senior year, Donaldson watched as men’s basketball finished in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, in addition to the qualification of four various sports teams to the conference level.
“I think I was a bit naive as a student, you know,” Donaldson said. “I fell in love with everything about Rhode Island athletics, I thought we were always going to be that good. Turns out, I was here for the most successful run for most of the teams at this school.”
In his time at Rhode Island, Donaldson was involved in numerous organizations, from The Good Five Cent Cigar, WRIU and even a former URI-TV show. The various experiences drove Donaldson’s passion for sports across all platforms.
After a two-year stint at Salve Regina as assistant athletic director from 2006-2008, Donaldson transferred to his alma mater and worked as a writer under the assistant director of the Department of Communication and Marketing for three years. It was here when he found a new approach to the realm of college athletics.
“When I came back here, I knew I wanted to return Rhody athletics to the way it was when I was a student, in any way possible,” Donaldson said. “There was a lot of work to be done, but we’re making strides every day.”
Donaldson made the switch to URI athletics in 2011 and has remained on the front line ever since. You can often find Donaldson inputting live statistical information for student-athletes on gorhody.com while also coordinating interviews and press conferences.
In 2019, Donaldson joined forces with athletic director Thorr Bjorn and fellow assistant athletic director Jodi Pontbriand to create a partnership with the Harrington School of Communication and Media to allow students to gain experience working in collegiate athletics.
“Shane and I did the research, he wrote the entire thing, and I made the presentation,” Pontbriand said. “We gave it to [Thorr Bjorn,] who presented the opportunity for student learning through live broadcasting, film, and statistical input to the administration. There was no way they could turn the proposal down.”
It was only last year that the proposal was put into motion, as students are now presented with an opportunity to stream Rhode Island athletics on ESPN+.
In collaboration with Pontbriand and media relations coordinator Michaela Benford, the three work as a unit to ensure Rhode Island athletics runs effectively on a day-to-day basis.
“Shane has drastically changed the face of Rhody athletics,” Benford said. “He sets such a high standard, and everything he does comes from his love of this school from the alumni, staff, and fan perspective. He’s like a walking library full of information about Rhody.”
While the field of collegiate athletics is constantly evolving, without Donaldson pulling the strings, Rhode Island athletics would be left in the dust.