Bio

The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma is extremely excited to announce the hiring of Conner Darnell as the new Assistant Sports Information Director - Creative Content. Darnell’s primary focus will be to elevate the Athletic Department’s creative content (photo, graphic design, and video), as well as assist with other duties in the Sports Information Department. 

In July, the Sooner Athletic Conference awarded Tanner Shoemaker and the Sports Information Department staff with the SAC SID of the Year award, and the addition of Darnell will only continue to improve the performance of the USAO Athletic Department. Darnell has already helped the Drovers claim two of their six Oklahoma College Public Relations Association awards, with his assistance on designs during the spring of 2022. 

Darnell caught the attention of USAO with his impressive collaborative work with the wildly popular podcast, the NAIA Ball Podcast, in addition to his freelance work with Connor Darnell Designs. 

In 2021, Darnell graduated from Columbia College (MO.), where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, as well as a minor in Photography. From 2018 to 2021, he was also the closer on the Cougars baseball team, helping lead the squad to one American Midwest Conference championship, as well as a pair of NAIA Baseball National Championship tournament appearances. 

He has been the graphic designer for the NAIA Ball Podcast since 2020, and he will continue to produce some of the best content that the NAIA has to offer. 

Darnell is responsible for NAIA Ball's visual branding identity, which includes weekly social media graphics and maintaining branding guidelines to ensure the optimal value of NAIA Ball. He is in charge of designing social media content, digital ads, posters, and videos. Also responsible for NAIA Ball event branding such as the Cajun Collision, and two brand new events across the country coming in 2023. Involves contacting athletic departments across the country for information, photos, videos, and other various media.

In 2011, Darnell began freelancing with small design projects, prior to officially founding Conner Darnell Designs in the spring of 2021. He produces work with schools at all levels by providing high quality digital graphics, in addition to physical projects such as posters, bag tags, locker plates, and more.