Joe Danahey is a veteran athletics communications professional with more than 30 years of experience managing NCAA Division II sports information and media relations operations. He currently serves as Senior Communications Specialist at Stanislaus State University, where he is responsible for the promotion and publicizing of 14 intercollegiate athletic programs. His duties include writing game previews, recaps, and feature stories; developing digital and promotional content; coordinating media relations for coaches and student-athletes; and producing weekly athletics communications.
Throughout his career, Danahey has built a reputation for strong storytelling, relationship-building, and comprehensive game-day operations. His background spans public relations, writing, publishing, digital media, live event production, and statistics, with extensive experience working closely with athletic administrators, conference offices, media outlets, and opposing institutions.
Danahey has held leadership roles at multiple NCAA Division II institutions, including Saint Joseph’s College (Ind.), San Francisco State University, Concordia University of Portland, and Cal Poly Humboldt. He served as Sports Information Director at San Francisco State for nearly 15 years, overseeing media relations and communications for multiple sports while supervising full-time staff, student workers, and event personnel.
Across his career, Danahey’s responsibilities have included managing social media strategy and growth, producing live streaming and broadcast content, coordinating press conferences, designing media guides and promotional materials, overseeing game-day operations, and serving as chairman or co-chair of athletic department halls of fame. He has also instituted and managed weekly and monthly athletics newsletters at multiple institutions.
At the conference and national levels, Danahey has been deeply involved in championship administration, rankings, and awards processes. His service includes membership on the NCAA Division II Softball All-America Selection Committee, the NCBWA West Region Rankings Committee (2013–19), and the D2SIDA Board of Directors (2013–17, 2019–present), where he currently serves as West Region Chair. He also served as D2SIDA West Region Co-Chair for Women’s Basketball Rankings from 2014–2022 and has worked extensively in postseason press operations for NCAA Division II championships.
Danahey’s national event experience includes serving on the Press Operations staff for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, as well as working multiple NCAA Division II Elite Eight championships in Louisville, Ky., and Evansville, Ind., from 1995–2000.
He has played a significant role in academic recognition at the national level, serving as CSC Academic All-America® District Coordinator (2003–2013) and CSC Academic All-America® National Coordinator (2014–23).
Danahey earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Rockford College and has been an active member of College Sports Communicators since 1993. He resides in Turlock, California.
