Jim Heath, a former SID (sports information director) for Old Dominion University is now the new SID for Hampton University, rejoining the program after three years. Heath oversees sports like Women’s Soccer, Women’s Basketball, and Men’s and Women’s Tennis. As a sports information director Heath organizes, trains and supervises staff for scorer’s table/booth, statistical crews, write copy for and coordinate presentations and half- time/time-out entertainment, accommodates media and facilitates press conferences/ interviews. An excerpt of Heath’s bio at Hampton University states: 

“A lifetime Hampton resident, Jim Heath rejoined the Hampton University department in November of 2024 after working three years at Old Dominion University.

At Old Dominion, he served as the Associate Director of Athletic Communications for five teams from November 2021 to November 2024. Heath handled publicity for men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis and men’s basketball. The women’s tennis team won three conference titles, while the women’s soccer team and men’s tennis team won two championships during his tenure.

He joined the Old Dominion staff in November of 2021 after working for six years at Hampton University. While at Hampton, he served as Sports Information Secretary (2015-16), Assistant Sports Information Director (2016-17) and as the Director of Sports Information (2017-21). He helped promote the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to sponsor Division I Men’s Lacrosse, and a move to the Big South Conference from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.’

I personally have known Heath for a year while he was at Old Dominion University, working with him as an intern. I assisted with office work, game clock, and statistics work, amongst other tasks while completing my internship. Gaining a substantial relationship with him and upon hearing of his placement back to Hampton University, I believe it was an excellent way to keep in contact with him through this penpal assignment across the semester. Reaching out to Heath through his new work email at Hampton I congratulated him on his new placement and asked if he would be willing to be a contact for this semester. Stating he would be happy to be a contact I am both grateful and excited for what’s to come for this semester and this penpal assignment in the future.