Fresno State Athletics
Weakland Joins 49ers in Corporate Office
6/21/2011 12:00:00 AM | General
June 21, 2011
FRESNO, Calif. - After 12 years of guiding the Fresno State Athletics Communications office, Steve Weakland is leaving the Bulldogs to become the Director of Corporate Communications for the five-time Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers.
"Steve has given his last 12 years to Fresno State and has improved our student-athlete and fan experience on a daily basis," Associate Athletics Director Paul Ladwig said. "His new role for such a storied franchise is a tremendous opportunity for Steve and his wonderful family. We are pleased and happy for him as he starts this exciting new chapter in his life."
Weakland, a native of Riverton, Wyo., coordinated the media and Heisman Trophy campaigns for NFL No. 1 draft pick David Carr. Under his direction, Fresno State received unprecedented national media attention.
Throughout his time at Fresno State, Weakland elevated the communications office with compassion and strategic vision for the future.
Weakland fondly recalled some memorable moments from his time in Bulldog red when he reflected on joining Carr in New York for the 2002 NFL Draft and serving as the primary baseball media contact during the Dogs' 2008 National Championship at the College World Series.
He came to Fresno State from the University of Alaska Anchorage, where he was the Sports Information Director for three years. Weakland had served as the media coordinator for the Carrs Great Alaska Shootout, considered the premier holiday college basketball tournament in the nation. While at UAA, he was also the media coordinator for the 1999 NCAA Hockey Frozen Four and served on the NCAA Hockey Championship Tournament Executive Committee.
A graduate of the University of Wyoming, Weakland was an assistant in Wyoming's sports information office for six years while working with the nationally ranked Cowboy football program. He was also the contact person for women's basketball, men's and women's golf, and baseball.
Weakland wrote a book on the history of University of Wyoming football titled A Million Cheers: 100 Years of Wyoming Cowboy Football and served on the University of Wyoming Centennial Committee, the Laramie Jubilee Days Committee and the Milward Simpson Award committee.
