A Fairleigh Dickinson University junior is making waves during March Madness as a full-time employee of the school’s athletic department.
Jordan Sarnoff – a native of Fort Lee, NJ – is the director of sports information and sports media relations for the Knights.
Sarnoff, an athletic management major, serves as the primary sports media liaison for men’s basketball, women’s bowling, women’s lacrosse, men’s soccer and softball at FDU in Hackensack, according to the school’s website.
He is currently the youngest D1 men’s basketball sports information director (SID) in the country.
The college student stood out during March Madness on Sunday in FDU’s 78-70 loss to Florida Atlantic in the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Jamie Erdahl – host of NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” – served as CBS reporter, and shared more of Sarnoff’s story.
“He’s fulfilling a destiny right now,” Erdahl said, explaining that Sarnoff played sports because of his mother.
Jordan Sarnoff FDU director of athletic media relations The Knights lost to Florida Atlantic 78-70 in the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on March 19, 2023. Twitter/March Madness
“He went to (Bruce Beck Sports Broadcasting Camp) when he was 12 years old,” Erdahl said. “His mother went and figured out what television stations need to make great television.
“He met Jay Horwitz, the famous Mets PR guy, and he realized, ‘Wow, all the players love Jay Horwitz, and he gets free gum. I want to be a sports PR guy.’
“And so he joined FDU’s athletic department as a senior in high school and said, ‘I’m coming here next year. Can I be a student sports information director?’ — and he’s here as a full-time guy as a junior.”
Jordan Sarnoff FDU director of athletic media relations The Knights lost to Florida Atlantic 78-70 in the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on March 19, 2023. Twitter/March Madness
One of the CBS broadcasters called Sarnoff’s run “unbelievable” during the game.
“He’s got class tomorrow, but he’s still setting up interviews with (FCU men’s basketball coach) Tobin Anderson and all of his players, and he’s done an incredible job all week.”
Jordan Sarnoff in March Madness 2023. Twitter/@JonRothstein
Attention around the school rose after Fairleigh Dickinson stunned Purdue 1-16 in the NCAA Tournament game Friday night.
Prior to FDU, Sarnoff spent four years as the sports information director and announcer for the Fort Lee Public Schools Athletic Department in Northern New Jersey.
Sarnoff served as the Social Media Coordinator for the Super Football Conference (NJSFC) and held various volunteer positions with the New Jersey District 6 Little League.