Gerrit Van Genderen is the Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Communications at Elon University. He joined the Phoenix in August 2025, bringing a decade of experience in athletics communications.
Van Genderen oversees all external communications and storytelling for Elon’s 16-sport athletics department and serves as the primary communications contact for men’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, cross country, and outdoor track & field.
He previously served as Director of Athletics Communications and Managing Editor of CalBears.com at the University of California, Berkeley. At Cal, he helped lead an 11-person communications team, executed comprehensive PR strategies – most notably during the men’s basketball program’s transition to the ACC – and oversaw award-winning editorial content.
Before his six-year tenure in Berkeley, Van Genderen directed athletics communications at Mercer University, managing publicity for all 18 varsity teams and leading strategic media efforts for multiple NCAA Tournament programs.
He began his professional career as a news and sports writer at the Hickory Daily Record (Hickory, North Carolina), where he earned recognition from the North Carolina Press Association for his reporting.
Originally from Cary, North Carolina, Van Genderen holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Appalachian State and a master’s in higher education leadership from Mercer University.
Last updated: August 4, 2025
