BOSTON, MA – Alan Wickström (Rochester, NH) has been named Director of Sports Information at Simmons College, it was announced today by Director of Athletics, Ali Kantor.
Wickström assumes the post after spending three years in the same position with Wheelock College.
He is in his 23rd year in sports media relations, including 17 as a Director of Sports Information.
Wickström was the Director of Sports Information at Wheelock, where he publicized and promoted all 11 of the college's athletics programs. In addition to his duties with Wheelock, the seasoned veteran also assisted media relations efforts with Boston College women's basketball, ice hockey, field hockey and women's lacrosse as well as Northeastern University men's and women's basketball. He also saw time helping the media relations effort at the Atlantic Coast Conference field hockey and women's lacrosse championship tournaments to go with a post with the NCAA Division I women's lacrosse regional championship staff.
Wickström spent 10 years as Director of Athletics Communications at University of Massachusetts Boston, where he oversaw publicity and promotion of all of the university’s 18 athletic programs. In addition to publicizing the university’s student-athletes and coaches, he also integrated the use of social media as well as web streaming athletics events. The New England native produced all of the Athletic Department’s 25 annual publications, including media guides for every sport and enhanced game programs for athletic and signature events. During his tenure at the Harbor Campus, Wickström publicized stories that garnered attention from The Today Show, Good Morning America, ESPN, CNN/SI andSports Illustrated in addition to all the local Boston digital and print media outlets. He earned university and department awards during his stay as well.
Wickström stepped away from college athletics for almost two years as Manager of Publications/Public Relations Assistant for the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Inc in Cooperstown, NY, where he oversaw all of the Hall of Fame’s publications, while also helping to create programming for the museum. Wickström helped with media relations for the 1999 and 2000 Induction Ceremonies and Hall of Fame Games. While at the Baseball Hall of Fame, Wickström was also a part of the media relations team for the 1999 American League Division Series Playoffs for the New York-Texas series in the Bronx as well as the Boston–Cleveland matchup at Fenway Park.
He was the youngest Director of Sports Information in the nation at age 22 when he assumed the position at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham in 1995 and spent nearly four years there promoting the University’s athletic programs. While in Madison, NJ, Wickström helped the media relations effort at the 1996 NCAA Division I Final Four Men’s Basketball Championship at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ.
Wickström graduated with a degree in Communications from Seton Hall University, where he was a member of the Office of Sports Information for four years and gained experience working many significant events, including the 1993 and 1995 NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional Tournament and various Big East Conference Championship venues. Following his graduation from the Hall in 1995, he was the Assistant Director of Sports Information at Wagner College in Staten Island, NY.
A recent Rhode Island resident, he has also served as an official scorekeeper for the former Worcester Tornadoes professional baseball team of the independent CanAm League and has played baseball himself in Boston’s historic Yawkey League. He recently completed his Masters degree in Education from Lesley University and is a graduate of the Shady Hill School Teacher Training Course.