Throughout his career, Savannah State Director of Athletics Opio Mashariki, a 20-year veteran of athletics, has helped guide multiple college sports programs through the faithful execution of a range of administrative duties.
Beginning at his alma mater, Bethune-Cookman College, Mr. Mashariki worked in Sports Information for a total of 18 years. During his six years at Bethune-Cookman, he furthered the mission of the athletics’ department by coordinating press conferences and developing external and internal communications as an intern, then as the Assistant Sports Information Director and ultimately as the Interim Sports Information Director.
In March of 2005, he was named the Assistant Athletics Director for Media Relations at Savannah State University. During his 15 years in that position, Mr. Mashariki oversaw media relations for 15 sports, developed several social media platforms, produced the first ever media guides and publications for SSU Athletics and coordinated all athletic home contests.
Mr. Mashariki was promoted to Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations in 2017 and while maintaining his work in sports information, took over supervision of men’s and women’s basketball, softball and volleyball. He also directed SSU Athletics training, strength and conditions and equipment management.
As the licensing and branding strategist for the Savannah State athletics department, he oversaw a growth in the revue stream via branding of the Savannah State Athletics’ logo and name. In August of 2018, he was selected as the Interim Athletics Director.
He accepted the position of Director of Athletics in January of 2019 and is currently overseeing the transition from NCAA Division I to Division II. He’s worked closely with the NCAA and Savannah State’s new conference, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), in implementing a new era for the Tigers.
During his first year as the Director of Athletics, he’s decreased SSU’s Athletics Department deficit by $1.5 million and hired a new head football coach, Shawn Quinn—who finished the 2019 season with a 7-3 overall record and a 5-0 SIAC record. Mr. Mashariki also was the lead writer of an NCAA Grant, which allowed SSU to purchase new computers for athletics.
He is a native of Brooklyn, N.Y. and earned his bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and Public Relations from Bethune-Cookman College in 2001.
