Colgate University Athletics

John Painter P'18 was named Colgate's Director of Athletic Communications in August 2012 and he manages the communications office for the university's 25 varsity athletics programs. He has immediate oversight of football, women's basketball, men's lacrosse, golf and rowing.

In the summer of 2014, Painter celebrated 25 years in the collegiate athletic communications profession. The favorite part of his job is attending games and the “we won/we lost” aspect, but his most rewarding role is helping his employees achieve great things.

In September 2020, Painter began serving as a member of the CoSIDA Division I Cabinet.

Painter arrived at Colgate after spending nearly 11 years at Tennessee as both a director-level staff member and chief feature writer for UTsports.com and UTladyvols.com. He also served as associate media relations director and was the primary contact for football head coach Phillip Fulmer.

Painter produced feature stories on former and current student-athletes, staff members and big events, while also doing game recaps in 2011-12. His writing won three 2012 CoSIDA Fred Stabley Sr. District 4 first-place writing awards, and one more was recognized in 2013. He also designed and directed “On the T,” a weekly golf instructional video series with members of the men's and women's golf teams.

During his time at Tennessee, he coordinated interviews, releases and award-winning publications for the nationally recognized SID operation. He also served as chair of the NCAA's Statistics and Records Advisory Board and was on the media relations team for the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Dinner in New York City.

Prior to UT, Painter worked for the NCAA in multiple capacities from 1989 to 2001. He was a statistics coordinator and then senior statistics coordinator with the NCAA Statistics Service for 11 years. During that time, he served as media coordinator for the Men's Frozen Four ice hockey and FCS football championships. Painter was responsible for all media accommodations, including press conference arrangements and compilation of record books, for a combined 11 NCAA championships. He also worked at the College World Series from 1995 to 2001, and the 1992 and 1993 Women's Final Fours.

Before joining the NCAA, he was an assistant sports information director of Auburn and worked with the football and women's basketball programs. Painter was the contact for the national runner-up women's basketball team in 1989 and coordinated weekly television and radio programs, while also working with media guides. His brochure for the Tigers' run to the national title game was voted No. 2 in the nation among all sports postseason guides.

A Columbia, Tenn., native, Painter is married to the former Mary Margaret Christian of Searcy, Ark., and they are the parents of sons Jackson '18 and David.