Meet Daniel Elizondo, a UTRGV Unsung Hero
Text by Cinthia Monsivais, student staff writer
Photos by Silver Salas, student staff photographer:
https://utrgv.news/DanielElizondo
Looking over the baseball field from the press box, Daniel Elizondo’s eyes glimmer as he recalls his early days broadcasting for the athletics department during his time as a student.
His voice rises with excitement as he describes going to what was then the Jody Ramsey Memorial Stadium – legacy institution UTPA’s baseball stadium from 1974 through 2000 – with his father to see the baseball games when he was a child.
Now, as Athletics media relations manager for UTRGV, all those fond memories from growing up just down the street from the university and around its athletics program make talking about how much he loves his job easy. Coming full circle, he’s helping run that same athletics program he loved as a kid.
In his seventh year as a full-time employee with the UTRGV Athletics Department, he says he’s made incredible connections.
“Spending so many hours with my team really has created a bond,” he says. “They are like my second family.”
NAME: Daniel Elizondo
JOB TITLE: Athletics Media Relations Manager
CAMPUS: Edinburg
DEPARTMENT: Athletics
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT UTRGV?
I coordinate stories with local and on-campus media to help promote our athletics teams here at UTRGV. I also produce stories for our website and social media pages; we like to average at least one story per day. I am also part of our amazing game day staff that helps put together our volleyball, soccer, basketball and baseball games. You can find me on the table either next to the field or court at every home game, inputting stats. After games, I help coordinate our press conferences with players and coaches.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED HERE?
This is my seventh year as a full-time employee, but I have been a part of the Athletics Department since 2008, when I started broadcasting home games as a student.
WITH THE SOCIAL CHANGES DUE TO COVID-19, DESCRIBE YOUR AVERAGE DAY
These days are new for all of us, but in the athletics department we have tried to keep some consistency. So, we meet every morning to go over what we have planned for each day. I have a checklist of items that I update for each of the teams, and every day I work on completing that list. I remain in contact with local and university media for interview requests, so I spend time answering email and setting up interviews through Zoom. It’s all about being in communication with others each day.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
Being able to work directly with so many amazing people. There are a few of us in the department who have been working together more than five years, and being able to work alongside the likes of Sara Hernandez, Michael Aguilar, Kara Lara and Jonah Goldberg has been amazing. We spend so much time together at work, and throughout the years they have become my second family. I know they have my back when I need them, and I work every day to be able to show them the same. It’s amazing to know that when I come to work every day, they are there by my side.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE MAINTAINING YOUR ROLE DURING COVID-19?
The biggest challenge is working from home. The Zoom meetings and all the emails are not the same as meeting in person with coworkers and other members of the university, but we make the best of it. Being at home also requires me to put focus on things that are not related to work. With siblings and family members also at home, I am needed for other things throughout the day.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE MEMORY, OR STORY, ABOUT YOUR TIME HERE?
There have been so many memories over the years, but I would have to say that my favorite one was when I was able to travel with our women’s tennis team to the NCAA Tournament in California in 2016. It turned out to be more than just going out there to cover a tennis match. because I was tasked to lead the team to San Francisco to see the sites. For someone who was making his first trip to California, it was sure an adventure, and a memory that will last a lifetime.
TELL US SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU:
Something most people don’t know is that I grew up just down the street from the university. As a kid, my dad and uncles would bring me out to basketball and baseball games. I remember seeing games at Jody Ramsey Stadium and coming out to Midnight Madness at the Fieldhouse, so my connection to the athletics department began when I was a kid.
WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UTRGV COMMUNITY?
Like I mentioned, I grew up here. Born and raised. It has always been important for my family and me to give back to the community where we have grown up. Volunteering to coach Little League Baseball for over 10 years has allowed my family and me to help mold the youth of the community, and to be able to see that we have helped them become good young adults is amazing.
WHAT ARE SOME ENCOURAGING WORDS YOU COULD SHARE WITH YOUR PEERS?
These tough times will not last forever. Let’s use this time wisely so that we all come out this stronger and better than before. Let’s continue to check on each other and make sure that we get through this together.
