MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Eric Sebastian, a 15-year veteran in the NBA’s Denver Nuggets media relations department, has been named Director of Operations for the University of Memphis Tiger basketball program, head coach Josh Pastner announced Wednesday.
“Eric is a great addition to our staff, and we are fortunate to have him,” said Pastner. “For this position, I wanted an individual who could manage all the internal and external operations of the program so the coaching staff could focus on academics, developing players, recruiting, scouting opponents and running practices. Eric fits that role perfectly on our staff.
“Eric also brings his experience from the highest level of basketball in the NBA. He has worked with some of the top coaches and best players in the game, and that will prove beneficial for the program.”
Sebastian comes to Memphis after working in the Denver Nuggets media relations department since 1994, including the last six seasons (2003-09) as the department’s director. In his tenure as the media relations director in Denver, he worked with Nuggets head coach George Karl and NBA All-Stars Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson.
Sebastian directed several successful campaigns for players receiving NBA All-Star and All-NBA honors, including Marcus Camby who earned the 2006-07 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. He also worked on statistical projects for the Nuggets coaches and management and assisted in the process of free agent recruiting.
“I’m excited to be joining the University of Memphis Tiger family,” said Sebastian. “I’m positive that Coach Pastner is going to do great things here. From what I’m quickly learning, the support for Tiger basketball from the community is unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and I want to help bring them what they deserve – a basketball program they can be proud of on and off the court.”
Sebastian began his time in the Denver Nuggets media relations department as an intern in 1994. In the summer prior to his start in Denver, he worked as an intern in the Dallas Cowboys media relations office and the men’s World Cup, which took place in several cities in the United States.
A 1994 graduate of SMU with a degree in public relations, Sebastian worked in the Mustangs’ sports information department and assisted in the publicity for the men’s basketball squad.
