Temple University Athletics
Temple Announces Promotions/Digital Strategy Changes
9.19.19 | General
PHILADELPHIA – The Temple Owls digital area features a new look this fall, as the department announced a restructuring along with new hires and several promotions. Leading the charge is the promotion of Vinnie James to Senior Associate Athletic Director and Chief of Staff, who now oversees the department's digital efforts.
James will oversee both the video production and digital strategy areas, headed by new hires in Kevin Copp, Associate AD/Video Production, and Katie Gwinn Hewitt, Assistant AD/Branding & Digital Strategy.
"I'm really excited about this group," said James. "I think we have the potential to take our digital content to the next level. I'm looking forward to seeing what more we can accomplish this year."
The digital strategy and production area includes Temple's in-house creative team, also known as "Hoot Creative." The team, run by Hewitt, includes all social and digital media, and creative video production.
The design efforts have been bolstered by the promotion of Brian Gray to Director of Graphic Design and Caroline Bennett to Director of Motion Graphic Design. Both contribute to the Owls' nationally-recognized social media creatives. Temple will add another full-time graphic designer in the coming weeks.
Copp's video production area, which will be powered by ESPN+ beginning in the 2020-21 school year, will include two other new positions when fully staffed next fall. The department will handle live and on-demand event streaming of games, press conferences, and special events.
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Vinnie James, Senior Associate Athletic Director/Chief of Staff
Vinnie James, who joined the Temple Athletics staff in July, 2014, was promoted to the position of Senior Associate Athletics Director/Chief of Staff. He previously held the position of Assistant Athletics Director for Business Operations, before being promoted to Associate Athletics Director/Chief of Staff in 2017.
Adding to his responsibilities overseeing the video production and digital strategy areas, James provides high-level support to the Director of Athletics by handling special projects, conducting research and facilitating comparative analyses. James also serves as the sport administrator for the football program.
James came to Temple from La Salle University where he spent two years as Athletics Business Manager for the Explorers. He was solely responsible for executing the daily business operations for La Salle's athletics department. James distributed monthly budget reports for all sports and departments, and assisted in the overall budget planning for the department.
Prior to his time at La Salle, James spent a year at Villanova University as an intern in the Athletic Director's office. His responsibilities at Villanova were widely varied, and included working with the business office as well as providing administrative support and serving as event manager for women's soccer.
James is a 2007 graduate of Bloomsburg University with a bachelor's degree in political science. He was a four-year varsity starter and two-year team captain for Bloomsburg's baseball team, and he went on to earn a master's in business administration from Bloomsburg in 2009. While completing the MBA program, James served as a graduate assistant baseball coach.
Caroline Bennett, Director of Motion Graphic Design
Caroline Bennett, who joined Temple Athletics as the Motion Graphics Coordinator in September, 2017, was promoted to Director of Motion Graphic Design.
Bennett designs animated graphics and video content for Temple's social media platforms, as well as the video boards for all of Temple's home events.
Bennett came to Temple after two years as a Motion Designer for the Cubist Media Group in Philadelphia. While at Cubist, she collaborated with the art department to produce motion and still graphics for broadcast, online learning, print, and web use.
Prior to her time at Cubist, Bennett spent five years as an academic tutor for Adobe After Effects, contributing to improving students' academic standing by one letter grade.
Bennett graduated from The Art Institute of Philadelphia with a degree in VFX and Motion Graphics in 2015, and earned the Best Portfolio honor for her graduating class.
Brian Gray, Director of Graphic Design
Brian Gray, who joined Temple University athletics staff as a graphic designer in September, 2018, was promoted to Director of Graphic Design.
Gray is responsible for the conception and creation of graphic content for the Temple athletics teams, including extensive brand design work. He will also oversee the Owls' graphic design team.
Gray, who earned his Bachelors of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in Design from Rutgers in 2018, interned with the Scarlet Knights athletics department in 2017-18. He was also the recipient of the Giza Daniels-Endesha Award, which is presented at commencement to the outstanding undergraduate performance in visual arts.
The Camden, N.J. native has also freelanced for numerous organizations, including the Philadelphia 76ers. In his spare time, he focuses on developing community-based design initiatives.
James will oversee both the video production and digital strategy areas, headed by new hires in Kevin Copp, Associate AD/Video Production, and Katie Gwinn Hewitt, Assistant AD/Branding & Digital Strategy.
"I'm really excited about this group," said James. "I think we have the potential to take our digital content to the next level. I'm looking forward to seeing what more we can accomplish this year."
The digital strategy and production area includes Temple's in-house creative team, also known as "Hoot Creative." The team, run by Hewitt, includes all social and digital media, and creative video production.
The design efforts have been bolstered by the promotion of Brian Gray to Director of Graphic Design and Caroline Bennett to Director of Motion Graphic Design. Both contribute to the Owls' nationally-recognized social media creatives. Temple will add another full-time graphic designer in the coming weeks.
Copp's video production area, which will be powered by ESPN+ beginning in the 2020-21 school year, will include two other new positions when fully staffed next fall. The department will handle live and on-demand event streaming of games, press conferences, and special events.
______________________
Vinnie James, Senior Associate Athletic Director/Chief of StaffVinnie James, who joined the Temple Athletics staff in July, 2014, was promoted to the position of Senior Associate Athletics Director/Chief of Staff. He previously held the position of Assistant Athletics Director for Business Operations, before being promoted to Associate Athletics Director/Chief of Staff in 2017.
Adding to his responsibilities overseeing the video production and digital strategy areas, James provides high-level support to the Director of Athletics by handling special projects, conducting research and facilitating comparative analyses. James also serves as the sport administrator for the football program.
James came to Temple from La Salle University where he spent two years as Athletics Business Manager for the Explorers. He was solely responsible for executing the daily business operations for La Salle's athletics department. James distributed monthly budget reports for all sports and departments, and assisted in the overall budget planning for the department.
Prior to his time at La Salle, James spent a year at Villanova University as an intern in the Athletic Director's office. His responsibilities at Villanova were widely varied, and included working with the business office as well as providing administrative support and serving as event manager for women's soccer.
James is a 2007 graduate of Bloomsburg University with a bachelor's degree in political science. He was a four-year varsity starter and two-year team captain for Bloomsburg's baseball team, and he went on to earn a master's in business administration from Bloomsburg in 2009. While completing the MBA program, James served as a graduate assistant baseball coach.
Caroline Bennett, Director of Motion Graphic DesignCaroline Bennett, who joined Temple Athletics as the Motion Graphics Coordinator in September, 2017, was promoted to Director of Motion Graphic Design.
Bennett designs animated graphics and video content for Temple's social media platforms, as well as the video boards for all of Temple's home events.
Bennett came to Temple after two years as a Motion Designer for the Cubist Media Group in Philadelphia. While at Cubist, she collaborated with the art department to produce motion and still graphics for broadcast, online learning, print, and web use.
Prior to her time at Cubist, Bennett spent five years as an academic tutor for Adobe After Effects, contributing to improving students' academic standing by one letter grade.
Bennett graduated from The Art Institute of Philadelphia with a degree in VFX and Motion Graphics in 2015, and earned the Best Portfolio honor for her graduating class.
Brian Gray, Director of Graphic DesignBrian Gray, who joined Temple University athletics staff as a graphic designer in September, 2018, was promoted to Director of Graphic Design.
Gray is responsible for the conception and creation of graphic content for the Temple athletics teams, including extensive brand design work. He will also oversee the Owls' graphic design team.
Gray, who earned his Bachelors of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in Design from Rutgers in 2018, interned with the Scarlet Knights athletics department in 2017-18. He was also the recipient of the Giza Daniels-Endesha Award, which is presented at commencement to the outstanding undergraduate performance in visual arts.
The Camden, N.J. native has also freelanced for numerous organizations, including the Philadelphia 76ers. In his spare time, he focuses on developing community-based design initiatives.
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