Sydney Mossman
Student Sports Media
Imagine having a job so unique and important the institution has to change the title of said job to make it more fitting. This is a title change given to a person so dedicated to Butler Athletics, he sought out a pilot’s license to attend more athletic events. This is the case with Butler’s very own Associate Athletic Director Matt Jacobs. He was hired on in 2007 as Assistant Athletic Director, but by 2014 he had claimed so many roles for the athletic department, the title was changed to Associate.
Jacobs is a familiar face to many athletes here at Butler because he immerses himself in any and all athletic programs whether it is through streaming the games or handling many other game duties.
“The thing I probably enjoy doing the most is the media relations aspect of the job,” Jacobs said.
This involves work with streaming the volleyball, soccer, baseball and softball games. He also oversees the Butler athletic website, keeping it up-to-date and informative along with Butler athletic’s social media accounts.
When Jacobs arrived at Butler, the athletic website was encapsulated in the overall school website, causing difficulty in keeping it constantly updated through sports seasons. Because he wanted a better website for the athletic program that could draw in new recruits and keep fans updated, he ventured on a process of creating a new website from scratch, solely for Butler athletics.
“My hope is that whatever we can do, whether it be through social media, the website or anything else, we can be used as a recruiting tool for the coaches,” Jacobs said about the importance of social media. “So I think it is important to get the Butler name out there. It is important that alumni can stay connected. Check up on us through Twitter or Facebook to see how the teams are doing. It’s good for alumni and fans as well as our students to stay connected with what’s going on.
Another large part of Jacob’s job is compliance. This time of year, he is busy helping athletes transfer from Butler to continue playing at four-year schools. He is dealing with lots of paperwork as he signs off on helping athletes go.
A lesser known fact about Jacobs is that he received his pilot’s license, so he would be able to attend more Butler athletic events and games.
“I flew with the son of one of our booster members to a soccer game in Oklahoma and when we got back I said, ‘I have to learn how to do this myself,’” he said. :Then I received my pilot’s license in March of 2015, and I just recently purchased a share of a plane.”
He mentioned that he has flown coaches to Iowa to scout opponents along with flying to attend several games. There was even a day he was able to broadcast a home volleyball game at 2 p.m. in its entirety and still make it to a football game in Garden City at 7 p.m.
Along with his pilot’s license, Jacobs also has his commercial driver’s license (CDL) and can be occasionally found driving the football team by bus to some away games.
In doing this, he also developed a bit of a superstitious pregame routine.
“Driving the bus for football, we usually arrive a couple hours early, so in that time I decided to go on a run,” Jacobs said. “I went for a run before the Dodge City game, and we won the road game. Then when we went to Highland, I decided I better do this again. Then after winning that game, I figured that since we had won on the road both times I had run before, I should probably keep it up. We went to Hutchinson, and I made sure to run, then before the game in Iowa Falls, Iowa, I got to go on a really cool run along the river. So basically, we went 4-0 in road games that I went on a run before. Now did it really have an effect on the game? Probably not, but it made me feel good.”
This kind of dedication is typical of Jacobs. He is so dedicated partly because of roots here being from the area and a Butler alumni. He enjoys getting to know coaches and talk to the students as they pass by in the hallways.
“I like that at Butler I get to know the student athletes a little bit better,” Jacobs said. “I think that is one of the benefits of being at Butler and not a big four-year university. I don’t think that administration really gets to know those students as well at those big schools. It’s nothing for me to go somewhere and see a former athlete and reconnect with them over what they’re up to now. It’s cool watching the kids move on to a four-year and begin their careers and keep up with their lives as adults.”
Personal dedication to the students just like this is what makes Matt Jacobs such an important asset to the Butler administrative team and the athletic program.
