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Get to Know Braden Snyder

Drew University | Director of Athletic Communications

TOWSON, Md. – The Landmark Conference is proud to spotlight the campus leaders who support and elevate the student-athlete experience. In this edition of the Admin Q&A series, we feature Braden Snyder, Director of Athletic Communications at Drew University. From discovering his passion for sports information to capturing memorable championship moments and showcasing the achievements of student-athletes, Snyder shares the experiences and perspectives that have shaped his career in collegiate athletics.

How did you get started in athletic communications, and what made you want to pursue it as a career?
Prior to my junior year in college, I was looking to fulfill my internship obligation as an English major, and my advisor recommended I contact the Sports Information Director. And as it turned out, Sports Information (as it was known then) really combined my love for sports and writing. Additionally, the opportunity to work for some great mentors in my younger days really helped shape the trajectory of my career – I will always be grateful for the invaluable guidance of Tom Hanrahan, my first boss at my alma mater, Lebanon Valley College, as well as Pete Schlehr and the late Dan O’Connell at Towson University and Jon Terry, Kelli Sheesley, and Todd Newcomb at Bucknell University.

What story, student-athlete, or moment has had the greatest impact on you during your time working in college athletics?
There have been many, but a few stand out. One is the story of Cory Weissman, a basketball player at Gettysburg College who came back from suffering a stroke as a freshman to score his first collegiate point on Senior Day, which also included an incredible display of sportsmanship from the opponent, Washington College. Here at Drew, the Men’s Basketball Senior Day in 2020 was particularly memorable when Brian Oehme received a lengthy ovation after overcoming a bout with cancer early in his career. Both were really amazing moments that illustrated just how powerful, uplifting, and uniting sports can be.

What is something people may not realize about the work that goes into telling the stories of student-athletes and athletic programs?
There is a substantial amount of coordinating multiple tasks behind the scenes. We could be handling a wide array of varying types of duties on any given day (media relations, website maintenance, photography, to name a few). But no two days are ever the same, even within the same sports season.

How has the landscape of athletic communications changed since you entered the profession?
I will date myself here, but when I first started, we still used fax machines on a regular basis. Certainly, the advancement of technology has transformed much of what we do in a pretty drastic way, but largely to the benefit of our constituents. Being able to provide a way for families, friends, and alumni to follow their favorite teams in real time through things such as livestreaming and live stats has been especially rewarding.

What do you enjoy most about helping showcase the accomplishments of student-athletes?
There are a lot of great aspects of the job, but I’ve always enjoyed the excitement of a gameday atmosphere and all that it entails. I’ve also enjoyed the opportunity I’ve had to help showcase the academic achievements of our student-athletes and helping to shine a light on the great things they are doing on and off the field.

Favorite sport to cover?
All of them! However, I would say that as a former cross country/track & field athlete, I have enjoyed the opportunity to stay connected to those sports.

Favorite championship memory?
That’s a tough one…there have been so many special memories just during my time here at Drew. The first I covered was our women’s golf team’s 2019 Landmark Conference title in just their second year as a program. Two years later, I was lucky enough to be in the gym (there were no fans due to the pandemic) when LJ Robinson banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime against Scranton in the Landmark Conference final that the Rangers would go on to win for the men’s basketball team’s first conference title. A few months later, our current tennis coach, Geoffrey Diehl, upset the Landmark Conference Player of the Year at No. 1 singles to clinch the conference title in the Simon Forum.

The men’s basketball team’s 2025 Landmark Conference title in Baldwin Gym will always be memorable, not just because it was played in front of an absolutely packed house that was maybe the loudest I’ve ever heard a gym, but also because it capped the first-ever perfect season in Landmark men’s basketball history. Additionally, women’s swimming & diving captured the first conference title (women’s or men’s) in program history in 2022. Equally impressive were the women’s tennis team’s three-peat from 2022-24 and the men’s golf team’s record-breaking repeat title last spring.

Most-used app on your phone?
Social media apps and ESPN.

If you could instantly learn one new skill, what would it be?
To be fluent in another language.

Favorite road-trip snack?
Chips, and it's not close!