East Carolina Pirate Club

Ryan Robinson was appointed to the dual role of executive director of the ECU Educational Foundation (Pirate Club) and executive associate athletics director for revenue generation in July of 2021. Robinson, who joined the East Carolina Athletics staff in January 2019, had been serving as the Pirate Club interim executive director while also leading the external relations unit. In his new role, Robinson will be responsible for the Pirate Club and the ECU Athletics Ticket Office.

Robinson was named executive associate athletics director for external operations in December of 2018 and had oversight of the day-to-day operations of all external areas, which includes marketing and promotions, social media, ticket sales and operations, media relations and video services. He also served as the liaison to IMG College Sports Properties, the Pirates’ multi-media rights holder.

With more than two decades of experience in athletics administration, Robinson has worked in the National Football League, intercollegiate athletics, university administration and for the Emerald Youth Foundation, a non-profit Faith-based organization in Knoxville, Tenn.
 
Robinson spent the last four years at the University of Tennessee where he served on the athletics leadership team and the chancellor’s cabinet. He was named Vice Chancellor for Communications in May, 2017 where had direct oversight of the office of communications and marketing, while also serving as a liaison to the athletics department and chief of staff with a direct reporting line to the chancellor.
 
Robinson was initially hired at UT in 2015 as senior associate athletic director for communications. He had direct oversight of media relations, internet communications, broadcasting and creative services.

Before joining the UT staff, Robinson spent 10 years with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars where served as director of public relations. In that role, Robinson coordinated local, regional and national media opportunities and worked directly with the head football coach, coaching staff, front office and players.
 
Prior to his stint with the Jaguars communications team (2005-2015), Robinson served as executive director of Peyton Manning's PeyBack Foundation (2001-05) and assistant director of public relations for the Indianapolis Colts (1999-2001).
 
A native of Ashland, Kentucky, Robinson earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Kentucky in 1997.