Tornado Athletics Communications Team Transforms Media Coverage

Brevard College students walking past bell tower

Phil de Montmollin, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications and Joseph Marvin, Digital Media Director/Assistant Sports Information Director, make a dynamic team.  Both hired by Director of Athletics Myranda Nash in 2018, de Montmollin and Marvin are responsible for all sports media at Brevard College. The BC Tornados website and social media accounts are just part of a constant cycle of communication showcasing Brevard College students-athlete stories, scores, statistics and information as well as the game-day experience. It is a cycle that de Montmillin and Marvin have transformed through traditional media placements, game broadcasts, a weekly talk showTornado Talk, and acting as official historians and statisticians for the games.

De Montmollin holds a Master’s of Science in Sports Administration from St. Thomas University (Fla.). An internship turned into a full-time job at the University of Miami in the Sports Information department, working with a variety of sports including a national championship baseball and football program. Next, he worked in motorsports  for ten years, promoting NASCAR and IndyCar as the PR Director at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, and then working on the sponsorship side before his career brought him back to college athletics. He also has worked as a freelance statistician for television and radio broadcasts for the Miami Heat, ESPN, FOX Sports and Major League Baseball.

Marvin earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from Western Carolina University (WCU) and is applying to graduate schools for Business Administration. Before coming to Brevard, he served as a Media Relations Game Day Assistant at WCU. In addition to  his role with the College, Marvin has served as the Official Scorekeeper and MiLB Stringer with the Asheville Tourists, regularly works on the Stats Crew with WCU, and works with area colleges and universities stat-keeping through The Scorer’s Table.

A sports junkie from a young age, de Montmollin has spent his entire career in sports public relations and media.

“If you were to ask my parents, they would tell you I was watching games, studying box scores and reading newspaper stories about sports, from a very, very young age. I eventually realized that one could make a career out of covering sports.”

Marvin enjoys traveling and his role at the college has taken him to various places the last few years, including Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the Scotty Whitelaw Bowl. Last year, he traveled to the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina to serve on the stats crew for the Naismith Shootout (NCAA Division I Men’s College Basketball).

“Experiencing other gameday atmospheres brings a new perspective,” said Marvin. “We are always looking to improve what we do – whether it be our broadcasts or enhancing the gameday experience for our student-athletes. That is a big part of what we do, and constantly evolving in those areas is a priority.”

De Montmillon and Marvin attribute fulfillment in their careers to the community on campus and working closely with student-athletes.

“The people that I have met while working at Brevard College are some of the most influential in my life,” said Marvin. “Our staff is a close group and more like a family than just coworkers.”

“Getting to know student-athletes on a personal level beyond their play on the field at Brevard College is extremely fulfilling,” said de Montmollin. “Seeing them start as first-year students and then ultimately announcing their names on Senior Day, we are able to witness the growth of the student-athletes come full circle.”