University of Richmond Athletics
Women's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Director of Athletics Public Relations (WBB, SOCCER, M/W TENNIS)
- Email:
- kharkey@richmond.edu
- Phone:
- 289-8365
Keelyn Harkey joined University of Richmond Athletics as an Assistant Director of Athletics Public Relations in January 2023 and serves as the primary communications contact for women’s basketball, women’s soccer and men’s and women’s tennis. In his role, Harkey oversees media relations, strategic communications, storytelling and digital content efforts for the Spiders’ nationally recognized women’s basketball program while also leading communications efforts for multiple postseasons and nationally ranked programs.
In 2026, Harkey was named a recipient of the College Sports Communicators 30 Under 30 Award, recognizing emerging leaders in athletic communications and creative services.
Since arriving at UR, Harkey has coordinated public relations efforts for multiple Atlantic 10 Conference championship teams and NCAA postseason appearances, including the women’s basketball program’s 2024 Atlantic 10 Championship title and NCAA Tournament appearance, followed by consecutive NCAA Tournament berths in 2025 and in 2026. He also served as the communications contact for Richmond men’s tennis during its 2026 Atlantic 10 Championship season and NCAA Tournament appearance. Harkey has overseen media operations for nationally televised broadcasts, postseason competition and coaching transition coverage while contributing to recruiting messaging, creative storytelling initiatives and digital content strategy across several programs.
Prior to Richmond, Harkey spent a year-and-a-half as an Athletics Communications Graduate Assistant at Valdosta State University Athletics, overseeing communications for volleyball, cross country, men’s basketball and softball while assisting with football, women’s basketball, women’s soccer and tennis. During his time with the Blazers, he aided communications efforts for the football program’s NCAA Division II National Championship runner-up season in 2021, the women’s basketball team’s Elite Eight appearance in 2022 and the softball program’s 2022 NCAA South Region Championship.
Harkey graduated from University of Oklahoma Athletics in 2021 after serving as an athletic communications intern with the Sooners. During his time at Oklahoma, he worked with the men’s and women’s basketball programs, the 2021 National Championship softball team and the track and field programs.
An Atoka, Okla. native, Harkey earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism with a minor in sports management from Oklahoma and completed his Master of Arts in communications at Valdosta State in 2023.
