By Brian Ramsey
OBU Sports Information

ARKADELPHIA — After playing an instrumental part in the operation and ongoing improvements of the Ouachita Sports Digital Network over the past three years, Matthew Branch has been hired as Ouachita’s new assistant director of athletic communications.

Following his graduation from Ouachita this past May with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications with an emphasis in sports media, Branch was hired by the Ouachita football team as its graduate assistant for content coordination. After a nationwide search for the newly-created assistant communications director position in the athletics department, Ouachita Assistant Athletic Director Brian Ramsey said all roads kept leading back to Branch.

“In my short time at Ouachita, I’ve enjoyed getting to know Matt, and I’ve been impressed with his skills and abilities in the communications field,” said Ramsey. “I’m grateful to Coach (Todd) Knight for allowing me to steal Matt away from his staff and for understanding the value that he can bring to all 18 of our athletic teams in addition to his work with the football program.”

Branch was an award-winning producer for the OSDN during his undergraduate studies. He was named the 2022 Arkansas College Media Association TV Producer of the Year and also earned first place honors for TV computer graphics. In addition to his production efforts, he was also the primary play-by-play voice for Ouachita volleyball and softball.

“Matthew served as the student director for OSDN and was responsible for many of the improvements we made over the last two years in our program,” said Ouachita Director of Sports Media Production Chris Babb. “He is a hard-worker and will do all he can to promote Ouachita student-athletes like he has done over the last three years as a student, although in a different way.”

“I’m excited about joining the athletics staff as the next step in my career,” said Branch. “I’m grateful to get to stay at Ouachita after spending the last four years here getting my degree. I can’t wait to get to work!”