GREENVILLE, S.C. – Belmont Abbey College has been chosen by its peers as the Athletic Communications Staff of the Year in Conference Carolinas for the 2025-26 academic year.

The 2025-26 Belmont Abbey athletic communications staff was composed of directors of athletic communications Jim Stephan and Tony Venegas, director of digital and social media Ben Knust and director of broadcasting Geoff Chiles.

"We are honored to be recognized by our peers as Athletics Communications Staff of the Year," Director of Athletic Communications Jim Stephan said. "As public relations professionals, we often think first of promoting others before ourselves and try to do our best everevery dayyday to highlight the student-athletes and stories from Belmont Abbey Athletics. That features a coordinated effort between traditional sports information, digital media and broadcasting. We have a tremendous group of communicators within Conference Carolinas and all are deserving of this award."

"It is great to see Jim, Tony, Ben and Geoff recognized for their great work at Belmont Abbey," Conference Carolinas Commissioner Chris Colvin said. "Their dedication to Belmont Abbey and willingness to help Conference Carolinas at conference championships throughout the season hasn't gone unnoticed."

The Athletic Communications Staff of the Year award is voted on by each member athletic communications department.

Conference Carolinas Athletic Communications Staff of the Year (First Year of Award in 2021-22)
2025-26: Belmont Abbey
2024-25: Mount Olive
2023-24: UNC Pembroke
2022-23: King
2021-22: UNC Pembroke