Tyson McHatten, who has served on staff at the University of Maine since Jan. 2011, was promoted to his role as Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Relations and Communications in July of 2018. In his current role, McHatten oversees all aspects of the athletic department's external relations duties for its 17 varsity programs including marketing and ticket strategies, fan experience, media relations, and digital, broadcast and social media. McHatten, the chief spokesperson and media relations director for UMaine Athletics, also serves as sport administrator for the men's and women's swimming & diving program, and serves as liaison with Van Wagner, UMaine Athletic's exclusive multimedia rights holder.
McHatten, who began his career with the Black Bears as an intern in the fall of 2009, was appointed to a full-time role as an assistant manager of media relations in January of 2011. In his first role, he served as the primary media contact for women's basketball, field hockey, softball and the swimming & diving program. While assisting in the day-to-day media operations for his four sport programs, McHatten also served as host media relations liaison for th 2012 America East Swimming & Diving Championships while assisting with the 2012 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Regional media obligations for the men's ice hockey program. McHatten took the lead role in a crisis communication situation as the on-site media contact for the women's basketball team's unfortunate bus accident in Georgetown, Mass. in February of 2013.
McHatten was promoted to associate manager of athletic media relations in May of 2013, a role he served until July of 2015. With his promotion, McHatten took on the responsibility of serving as the department's primary media contact for the football program along with continuing his role as contact for women's basketball and softball while assisting as a secondary contact for the men's ice hockey and men's basketball programs. In the fall of 2013, McHatten successfully promoted the football team's 2013 CAA Championship run and served as the host media contact for UMaine's first-ever NCAA home football playoff game. While also assisting the day-to-day media obligations for the women's basketball program, to include the promotion of two postseason appearances, McHatten played a key role in helping promote the women's basketball 'Play4Kay' initiative, one that went on to raise over $40,000 for breast cancer research. In 2015, McHatten accompanied the women's basketball team to a 10-day tour to Italy. During the trip, McHatten produced daily video blog segments to the athletics website and social media platforms to keep fans and local media engaged in the program throughout the excursion. McHatten also assists with the weekly 'Maine Football Coaches Show', assisting with lining up guests and the general production of the department's football coaches show.
McHatten was elevated to the assistant athletic director for media relations, overseeing all aspects of the department's media relations, in July 2015. During his three years in the role, McHatten developed a new social media strategy to help grow the UMaine brand across all platforms along with serving on a team which developed a new season membership ticket plan for football and men's ice hockey. This new plan helped double football ticket revenue while setting season, single game and single-game average attendance records. McHatten also helped lead the process of designing the new GoBlackBears.com.
In July of 2018, McHatten was promoted to Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs and Communications where he provides direct oversight of all UMaine external efforts.
McHatten is a 2009 graduate of the University of Maine, where he earned a degree in Communication with a double minor in Public Relations and English in 2009.
McHatten and his wife, Brittany, were married in May of 2019. They reside in Old Town with their son, Daniel.
