from ASU Sports Information
Sean Johnson, an athletics administrator with 28 years of experience at several institutions, including a two-year stint at Angelo State University as sports information director, has been named ASU's director of athletics, effective July 23.
ASU President Joseph C. Rallo announced the appointment. As athletic director, Johnson will oversee ASU's NCAA Division II athletics programs in five men's and eight women's sports. He succeeds Kathleen Brasfield, who retired at the end of May.
“We look forward to welcoming Sean Johnson back to Angelo State as our athletic director,” Rallo said. “His work at multiple institutions provides him a breadth of experience that will benefit ASU athletics as we build upon our successes in multiple sports and as we strive to be a model NCAA program in Division II and in the Lone Star Conference. Additionally, he returns to ASU with a strong marketing and communications background that will benefit all sports as we work to strengthen the promotion of our athletic successes and create a game environment that will enhance our competitive reputation in the LSC and beyond,” Rallo said.
Johnson comes to ASU from the University of North Dakota where he was senior associate athletic director for external affairs. In that capacity, he managed external relations for the NCAA Division I FCS school. His primary responsibilities included corporate sales, ticket sales, marketing, public relations, broadcasting, courtesy car program, trade agreements and football scheduling/game management. He served as lead administrator for baseball and secondary administrator for football, men's basketball and men's ice hockey, one of the nation's premier programs.
Rallo said the selection of the new athletic director was an extended process that spoke to the quality of the four finalists identified by the consultant and the advisory committee.
“This was a strong field of candidates and a difficult decision for all involved,” Rallo said, “but one that will benefit Ram and Rambelle athletics for the foreseeable future. With Sean Johnson at the helm, ASU will continue to produce winners in the classroom, on the field and in life.”
Before his stint at North Dakota, Johnson worked as associate athletic director and sports information director at Texas A&M Kingsville from 2006-08. He served from 2004-06 as associate athletic director at New Mexico State University after three years as the institution's assistant athletics director. From 1997-2001 he was assistant athletic director over media relations at the University of North Texas.
Johnson held posts as sports information director at the University of Idaho, 1995-97; Angelo State, 1993-95; University of Arkansas-Little Rock, 1988-93; University of Missouri-St. Louis, 1985-88; and Lincoln University, 1984-85. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
