Zamora Joins Athletics Department

Posted August 31, 2006

The UTB/TSC Athletics Department has announced the hiring of Ronnie Zamora, former Director of Publications at UTB/TSC, as the Director of Sports Information, Athletics Development and Marketing.

Zamora, who has been at UTB/TSC for 16 years, first as the TSC Director of Public Information in 1990 and then as Director of Publications when the UTB/TSC partnership was formed in 1992.  His new position is a new one for the expanding Scorpion Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Since he was hired in August 2005, Dan Huntley, Director of Athletics has changed every aspect of the Athletics department, including making a move from the NJCAA to the NAIA. He has hired new volleyball and baseball coaches and gained additional financial support for its current and future sports.

UTB/TSC will sponsor men’s and women’s soccer in the fall of 2007.  Now that UTB/TSC is in its first season in the Red River Athletic Conference and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, Zamora will a key ingredient to completing the transformation of the Scorpion Athletics Department.

“I am very excited to have Ronnie spearheading the addition of sports information, development and marketing for our department,” Huntley said.  “I am confident the he will provide our campus, fans and surrounding community with accurate, up-to-date information and scores of our athletic teams and events as well as enhance the Scorpion branding in the Valley. Ronnie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our expanding department.” 

Zamora began his career in athletics when he became the sports editor of The Brownsville Herald in 1972. He received his associate degree from TSC in 1975, a Bachelor of Journalism degree from The University of Texas at Austin in 1978, and a Master of Education degree from UTB/TSC in 2004. He also worked at newspapers in Harlingen and San Antonio and worked as Public Information Officer for the Brownsville ISD from 1986-1990.

He has worked in many sports-related broadcasting and newspaper positions over the years as well, including as a special assignment writer for The Herald.  “I hope to be able to generate more interest in the Scorpion athletic department and continue the momentum it has gained over the past year,” Zamora said.  It is an exciting time in Scorpion Athletics with a great future ahead of us. I'm excited to be able to be part of it and promote our student-athletes and the athletics program.”

A lifetime resident of Brownsville, Zamora is also a member of the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors and was President from 2004-06.

"We are delighted that Ronnie has accepted this major new responsibility at UTB/TSC," said Dr. Ruth Ann Ragland, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. "Now that we are competing in NAIA sports and planning for soccer competition in 2007, it is imperative that we have a Sports Information Director and someone who also has excellent abilities and experience in marketing and fund-raising.  Ronnie is outstanding in all these areas.  He knows sports inside and out, and he is the perfect person for this position."

"Ronnie already has been active in working with our sports programs," said Dr. Hilda Silva, Vice President for Student Affairs. "He's been the announcer for our  volleyball and baseball games for years. In 2004, he traveled with us to Missouri when our volleyball team was in the national tournament and he did the webcasting so that the community  could listen to the games on the Internet.  He will take the lead in contacting media about the progress of our teams, and he's already been involved with our public relations.  His relationship with the community is invaluable to our athletic programs.  To me, this position is a natural progression for him."