Mike Basford serves as associate vice president of athletics communications at the University of South Florida, a role he began in April 2026. Basford leads all internal and external communications efforts for the department and serves as the primary sports information and media relations contact for the football program.
Prior to joining USF, Basford spent more than a decade at Ohio State University, where he served as director of athletics communications from 2013 to 2026. During his tenure, he worked extensively with the football program and served as the primary communications and media relations contact for softball, field hockey, men’s lacrosse and wrestling. He helped publicize two national championship teams, including wrestling in 2015 and football in 2024, and supported the promotion of Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder following the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. With the Ohio State football program, he worked with five Heisman Trophy finalists, 15 first round NFL Draft choices and four national individual award winners.
Basford began his career in athletics communications at Rutgers University, where he worked from 2003 to 2006 as an athletics communications assistant. In that role, he served as the primary contact for field hockey, men’s soccer, swimming and diving and men’s lacrosse. He also spent seven years in alumni relations and development communications roles at Rutgers and Ohio State, further expanding his experience in strategic communications and engagement.
Basford earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Rider University in 2002.
He and his wife, Melissa, reside in the Tampa Bay area.
