In the world of Kansas City Athletics, every day looks different. Employees have to learn to be flexible and adapt. From everyday meetings to the excitement of a game day, the day-to-day duties of Assistant Athletics Director of KC Athletics, Jerod Fox, spans a variety of responsibilities.
Fox’s duties can include anything surrounding communications and media relations. From maintaining the KC Roos website, writing recaps on game days, taking videos, doing interviews to posting on all the social media platforms, there is a lot that goes into a day, but he doesn’t work alone. Behind Fox is a team that assists him, including graduate assistants and student managers.
Francie Wilson is one of the graduate assistants in athletics communications, and she started in the department about a year ago. Wilson went to Butler University in Indianapolis sports photography and journalism.
“I think [Fox] does a really good job of keeping things organized when there are a lot of things that he has to juggle at the same time,” Wilson said.
Robert Edwards is the director of basketball operations for the men’s basketball team and has been working with Fox for two years now. They work together to gather stats, create draft picks and organize official visits.
“Jerod is a really hard worker, he’s someone who is ahead of the game. He does things without me having to ask, which makes my job a lot easier,” Edwards said. “He’s always thinking one step ahead of me, always has a positive attitude and is always willing to help.”
Fox has the support of his team which helps make his job easier, but at times the demand of his career can still be stressful.
“I try to keep some perspective that it’s a job and life has so much more to offer than what I do for work,” Fox said. “When things do get overwhelming I just sit back and take a deep breath and do the best that I can because that’s all that I can do.”
Fox also likes to stay active and spend time with family and friends to help him destress.
Edwards and Fox plan to work together to further the department as best they can. Edwards says the men’s basketball program hasn’t won a postseason game “in a very long time,” but is hopeful that Fox is helping them to reach that goal. Fox believes that making this goal a reality begins with UMKC students and staff.
“I think that the start to becoming something bigger is really increasing our value on campus and within our community,” Fox said.
