STATESBORO - Georgia Southern Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein announced today the elevation of Associate Athletics Director for Public Relations and Communications Bryan Johnston to his Executive Staff.

Johnston, who has overseen Georgia Southern's Athletic Communications since August of 2015, will report directly to Kleinlein as he continues to direct not only the Athletic Communications but the Creative Services department, which he created in the Fall of 2017. He was named the Georgia Southern Athletics Staff Member of the Year in 2018 at the department's annual GUSPYs awards ceremony.

"Bryan has done a tremendous job in his time at Georgia Southern elevating the Athletic Communications office into one of the finest in the Sun Belt Conference, as well as the nation," Kleinlein said. "I'm confident that, under his leadership, the Communications department will continue to meet the high standards we have put in place here in Statesboro."

In his role as a member of the Athletic Director's Executive Staff, Johnston works with the external relations team in making sure communications and creative services are synced up with the athletics marketing and athletics ticketing departments to best tell the Georgia Southern story, drive revenue and ticket sales/attendance and ensure everything is on brand. He also heads up the media relations for the football squad, traveling with the team and taking care of all media requests, as well as rifle. Johnston plays a lead role in planning, developing and managing of complex and innovative projects, and implementing them across multiple digital platforms.