SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference has hired Ralan Wardlaw as its assistant director of media relations, effective May 3.
 
Wardlaw comes to the Southern Conference from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where he has served as an assistant sports information director since January 2018. There, he served as the primary media relations contact for men’s basketball, volleyball, softball, women’s tennis and men’s and women’s golf.
 
“I am grateful and honored for the opportunity to join the Southern Conference,” Wardlaw said. “I look forward to working with the entire SoCon team and appreciate Commissioner Jim Schaus and (Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations) Phil Perry for believing in me. I am ready to work and be a part of a conference with such a rich tradition. Also, I am looking forward to connecting and working with all of the institutions that are in the SoCon.”
 
The Greenwood, South Carolina, native also worked as a marketing assistant at Wicomico County Parks & Recreation throughout his tenure at Eastern Shore and, since April 2021, has served as the official scorer for the Delmarva Shorebirds, the Single-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.
 
Prior to his tenure at Eastern Shore, Wardlaw held several positions in Indianapolis, Indiana, from 2015-17. Wardlaw was a sports clerk and freelance contributor for the Indianapolis Star, was a contributing writer and photographer for Play Ball Indiana, worked as a marketing and sales intern at D1 Sports, and was the social media manager for Advocate for Athletic Equity.
 
In his final semester as an undergraduate at South Carolina State University, Wardlaw was an intern in the Bulldogs’ athletic media relations office.
 
Wardlaw earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications/journalism from South Carolina State in 2015, graduating from the school’s Honors College and earning membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society. He completed work on a master’s in sports journalism at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis in 2016.
 
“I’m beyond excited to have Ralan join the SoCon staff,” Perry said. “He brings with him a wealth of experience from both sides of the media relations aisle, having worked in multiple university sports information offices and as a member of the media throughout his career. He’s absolutely going to be an asset to our department, and I look forward to working with him.”
 
TRANSACTION: The Southern Conference has hired Ralan Wardlaw as assistant director of media relations, effective May 3.