Aaron Gray - Staff Directory
- Title:
- Director of Athletic Communications
- Email:
- Phone:
- 831-400-8112
Aaron Gray joined UC Santa Cruz in August 2024 as the Director of Athletic Communications. He oversees all athletic communications operations, including media relations, publications, statistics, live streaming, marketing, graphic design, and public relations for the Banana Slugs’ 15 NCAA Division III varsity sports.
As a key member of the department's administrative team, Gray helps shape the student-athlete and fan experience through his day to day operations, live streaming, social media coverage, and committee work. He co-chairs the Community Engagement and Fundraising Committee, serves on the Run Like a Slug 5k planning committee, and is helping with the return of the Sammy the Slug Summer Camp. In 2026, Gray was selected to participate in the NCAA Division III Emerging Elite Program, recognizing promising administrative leaders across the division in Athletic Communications.
Since arriving at UC Santa Cruz, Gray has reshaped what live streaming looks like for NCAA Athletics competitions across campus, nearly doubled the main Athletics Instagram following, and streamlined daily communications operations. He played a pivotal role in establishing the UC Santa Cruz Athletics Hall of Fame, conducting archival research on inductees, designing the official Hall of Fame logo, producing all print and marketing material, and orchestrating the livestream production for the inaugural ceremony, which inducted 14 members in front of over 250 attendees.
Prior to UC Santa Cruz, Gray spent four years as the Assistant Director of Athletic Communications at Pomona-Pitzer, where he managed day-to-day operations and expanded live stream and social media coverage across 21 varsity sports. Notably, Gray covered the 2021 and 2023 NCAA Champion Pomona-Pitzer Men’s Cross Country teams and worked to highlight several deep NCAA Tournament runs across the department. He launched his athletic administration career at his alma mater, Messiah University, serving as a Graduate Assistant in Athletic Communications where he hosted several NCAA Tournaments for men’s soccer, women’s soccer, field hockey, and women’s basketball.
A former student-athlete at Messiah, Gray competed for four years as a decathlete/heptathlete, winning three conference championships, earning six runner-up finishes, and receiving USTFCCCA All-Academic honors. He holds a master's degree from Messiah University in Higher Education with a concentration in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration.
“We’re beyond excited to add Aaron to our team here at UCSC.” said Director of Athletics and Recreation, Chris Spells. “His passion for Division III Athletics and Recreation, desire to lead at the highest level, and continued attention to detail and push to elevate the student-athlete experience is evident in his past work, and is something we’re looking forward to seeing here for our Banana Slugs.”
