Erich Bacher Named Assistant Athletics Director for Public Relations

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Oct. 15, 2012

Charlottesville, Va. – Erich Bacher, the director of media relations at the University of Denver since 2005, has been named assistant athletics director for public relations in the University of Virginia athletics department. Virginia Executive Associate Director of Athletics Jon Oliver announced Bacher’s appointment today, Oct. 15.

Bacher replaces Rich Murray, who retired last summer following 29 years of service at the University.

Bacher will manage and coordinate all departmental public relations activities. He will serve as the Department of Athletics’ public relations liaison with the University, local and regional communities and news media. He will also be the primary media relations contact for the Virginia men’s basketball program.

He will work with the department’s senior staff to develop strategies and tactics to disseminate news or respond to news about the Department of Athletics, including the enhancement and exposure of the Department’s programs, activities, administration, coaches, staff and student-athletes. He will represent the Department and the University as needed and serve as a spokesperson for important issues related to University, Atlantic Coast Conference and NCAA sports topics.

“I would like to thank Craig Littlepage, Jon Oliver and Tony Bennett for this tremendous opportunity,” Bacher said. “UVa is one of the top academic and athletic institutions in the country, and I couldn’t be more excited about joining the University of Virginia family.”

At Denver, Bacher managed the overall media relations operations for the Pioneers’ 17-sport Division-I program. He was the primary media contact for the men’s ice hockey team and the men’s and women’s tennis programs. The Denver ice hockey team won NCAA titles in 2004 and 2005 while he was with the school. Bacher managed the publicity campaign for 2006 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner Matt Carle.

Bacher has worked for the NCAA as a press operations volunteer since 2006. He was the media coordinator for the 2007 NCAA Ice Hockey West Regional and the 2008 NCAA Frozen Four. He worked for the National Hockey League as a press officer for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey in Finland and Germany.

Prior to working at Denver, where he was an associate media relations director from 2002 to 2005, Bacher was a venue press services supervisor for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. He managed and designed all press facilities and services for five ice venues hosting ice hockey, figure skating and short and long track speed skating. He recruited, trained and scheduled more than 250 volunteers for those areas. He served as the Venue Press Chief for Olympic Ice Hockey at the E Center.

Bacher served as an assistant to the associate director of athletics at the University of Illinois from 1999 to 2000. He assisted the senior women’s administrator with the operation of nine varsity sports and managed the 1999 NCAA District Five Cross Country Championship.

From 1997 to 1999 Bacher worked at Illinois as an assistant sports information director. He was an intern in the University of Minnesota media relations office from 1996 to 1997. Bacher served as a press officer at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games and was also a public relations intern that same year for the United States Association of Blind Athletes in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Bacher graduated from Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1992 with a degree in organizational communication. He earned his master’s degree in sport management from St. Cloud State in 1996.