John Antonik is responsible for coordinating the web sites WVUsports.com, mobile.wvusports.com, MountaineerAthleticClub.com, WVUGAME.com, WVUVarsityClub.com and ShopWVU.com as the director of new media for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

He oversees the department's social media program through the development of Twitter and Facebook, serves on the school's all-time team committee for men's basketball and football, and is also a contributor on MSN radio's football pre-game show.

Antonik joined the WVU athletic staff in 1991 after working as a graduate assistant for one year and a student assistant for two years in the Sports Communications Office. From 1991-1998, Antonik served as associate sports information director, helping coordinate the publicity efforts for West Virginia University’s 19 varsity sports, as well as working with the Mountaineer football and men's basketball programs. Antonik earned several CoSIDA writing citations during his tenure as associate sports information director, including a "Best in the Nation" award for his work on the 1992 women's basketball media guide.

In addition to his publicity duties, Antonik also directed WVU’s community relations program.

In 1999, Antonik, a past member of CoSIDA, the West Virginia Sports Writers and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers associations, assumed his current role as director of new media with the responsibility of promoting West Virginia University’s 17 intercollegiate sports through the world wide web. Antonik is involved in all facets of the department’s web services program, including editorial oversight, site design and content development.

During his 20-year WVU tenure, Mountaineer football has made 16 bowl appearances, including trips to the 1994 and 2006 Sugar, 2008 Fiesta and 2012 Orange bowls; men's basketball has made nine NCAA tournament appearances, including three Sweet 16 trips, an Elite Eight appearance in 2005 and a Final Four trip in 2010, while the women's basketball program has made seven NCAA tournament appearances.

A native of New Martinsville, W.Va., Antonik received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from WVU in 1990 and a master’s degree in sport management from WVU in 1992. He received “The Lifetime Achievement Award” from Magnolia High School in August, 2008, and in 2010, was the recipient of the Paul B. “Buck” Martin Award, presented by the WVU Alumni Association to an individual who has helped to preserve and maintain West Virginia University's traditions.

Antonik has authored three books on Mountaineer athletics: West Virginia University Football Vault: The History of the Mountaineers, Roll Out the Carpet: 101 Seasons of West Virginia University Basketball, and his latest effort, The Backyard Brawl: Stories from One of the Weirdest, Wildest, Longest Running and Most Intense Rivalries in College Football History, now available in bookstores everywhere.

Antonik and his wife Melinda have two children: daughter Sydney and son Jack.

You can follow John on twitter @JohnAntonik.

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