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Nov. 16, 2005

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Jim Daves, an athletics administrator in media relations at the University of Washington for the last 13 years, has been named assistant athletics director for media relations at the University of Virginia. Daves’ responsibilities will include managing the athletics media relations and publications unit at UVa, and directing and assigning media relations responsibilities for all intercollegiate sports.

Rich Murray, who has overseen Virginia’s athletics media relations unit for more than 22 years, is assuming new responsibilities as associate athletics director for public relations. Murray’s responsibilities include serving as a public relations liaison with various constituencies, developing and maintaining effective lines of communication with offices around the University, working with the department’s senior staff on the dissemination of news about the department of athletics, and continuing to perform all media relations responsibilities related to the men’s basketball program.

“We are fortunate to have Jim Daves join our department staff,” said UVa Athletics Director Craig Littlepage. “He is an experienced professional in the area of athletics media relations. Jim is enthusiastic about his profession and will bring energy to his management of the athletics media relations and publications unit.

Rich Murray will work closely with the department’s senior staff and continue his responsibilities in the area of men’s basketball. I believe Jim, Rich and our experienced athletics media relations and publications staff will enable us to develop an information program that effectively services the athletics department, the University and the local, regional and national media.”

In his current position as the assistant athletics director for media relations at the University of Washington, Daves coordinates all phases of communications for the athletics department’s 23 sports. He serves as the primary contact for the football and men’s and women’s golf programs, and the secondary contact for men’s basketball. He was a member of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four Communications Committee from 1997 to 2004 and served as the media coordinator for the 1995 Final Four in Seattle.

“I am privileged to join the fine UVa media relations staff and work with Craig Littlepage, the coaches and other staff members in the Cavaliers’ athletics department,” Daves said. “This is a great opportunity for me professionally and Charlottesville will be a wonderful place to raise our family. I am also very happy for Rich Murray and his new role at UVa. He is a true professional in this field and will be a great resource for me personally and an outstanding asset for the athletics department.”

Prior to joining the athletics department staff at Washington, Daves served seven years as an assistant and associate sports information director at the University of Notre Dame. He also worked for one year as the director of communications for the Midwestern Collegiate Conference and for one year as an intern in the Notre Dame sports information office.

A native of Greensboro, N.C., Daves graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He and his wife, Patti, have an infant daughter. Patti serves as the director of special events in the Husky athletics department.

Daves assumes his responsibilities at Virginia on December 20.

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