St. John's University Athletics
St. John’s Athletics Promotes Ray Howell and Alexandra Sachs, Adds Dylan Smith as Director of Athletic Communications
12/9/2022 2:23:00 PM | General
Howell and Sachs are elevated within Student Development for Athletes while Smith rejoins the Athletic Communications staff
QUEENS, N.Y. (Dec. 9, 2022) – The St. John's Athletic Department has announced the promotions of Ray Howell and Alexandra Sachs along with the addition of Dylan Smith as Director of Athletic Communications. Howell will assume the role of Senior Director of Academic Support for Student-Athletes while Sachs will elevate to Director of Student-Athlete Leadership.
Howell receives increased responsibilities in overseeing the academic success and retention of student-athletes participating in St. John's University's intercollegiate athletics programs, specifically in women's basketball. He will also coordinate with university Deans and all academic departments to ensure student-athletes meet NCAA eligibility requirements for participation.
A double alumnus of St. John's, he is no stranger to the Queens, formerly serving as the head women's and assistant men's track coach from 1986-2003, earning three NCAA Regional Coach of the Year honors and serving as both ECAC and BIG EAST Conference President. The former Red Storm track & field athlete made his return to St. John's in 2008, stepping in as Associate Director of Academic Support for Student-Athletes.
Sachs will take on the director role with responsibilities in guiding student-athletes across five key areas: academic support, career development, personal development, leadership and community service. While still overseeing the academic process for her assigned student-athletes, she will also assist in the coordination of the department's 13-week student development program for first-year athletes and serve as an Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) Education Coordinator.
The former Holy Cross pole vaulter joined the Red Storm academic support staff in August 2018, serving as the primary advisor of six teams while working closely with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the #StormChat speaker series and Athletics Council on Community, Culture and Social Justice.
Smith makes his return to Queens after spending time as the assistant director of athletic communications with BIG EAST counterpart Georgetown and as a communications assistant with the Reno Aces, Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The newest director will help guide the communication strategies for all 17 Red Storm sports while serving as the primary media contact for men's soccer and baseball in addition to secondary responsibilities for men's basketball.
Smith is no stranger to the Queens, having spent two years as a graduate assistant in the St. John's athletic communications department while earning a master's degree in sports management. In his first go-around with the Johnnies, he worked with nearly all 17 sports, most notably men's and women's basketball, softball and track & field/cross country.
The Long Island, N.Y., native is a 2018 graduate of Susquehanna University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in communications with an emphasis in sports media and a minor in theatre. Smith jumpstarted his sports career as a student worker for the River Hawks before a brief stint as interim sports information director in November 2016 propelled him into the local, national and international soccer scenes with the New York Red Bulls, CONCACAF Gold Cup, International Champions Cup and Sky Blue FC (now known as NY/NJ Gotham FC).
