COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri Department of Athletics announced Wednesday the addition of Ryan Bradley to its leadership team, serving in the role of Senior Associate Athletics Director of Strategic Communications.

Bradley, 33, joins the Mizzou Family from the University of Memphis, where he teamed with current Mizzou Deputy Director of Athletics Wren Baker and oversaw Memphis Athletics' external units, including public relations, branding, marketing, ticketing and digital media.

"Ryan Bradley is a rising star in intercollegiate athletics," said Mizzou Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades. "I've been able to follow his work and have been impressed with some of the aggressive, strategic initiatives he led at Memphis. We are in the process of outlining several key initiatives in our external areas, and Ryan will be a tremendous asset in helping plan and implement them."

"I've had the opportunity to work with Ryan Bradley previously and have watched his growth over the years," Baker said. "He is hard-working, analytical and innovative and will be a great addition to our team. We are excited to have him join the Mizzou family."

At Mizzou, Bradley will coordinate all strategic communications, media relations and publications, as well as digital and social media. He will also help develop short-term and long-term plans for Mizzou's messaging and branding.

Bradley will serve as the department's chief communications officer and spokesperson, and also oversee Mizzou's strategic communications department.

"I would like to thank Mack Rhoades and Wren Baker for this tremendous opportunity," Bradley said. "I am honored to be joining the Mizzou Family, and I am absolutely thrilled to be coming to a university and an athletics department that are both held in such high regard. My family and I cannot wait to get to Columbia, which as a community offers so much and already felt like home when we first visited."

Bradley was promoted to Memphis' Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Relations in January 2015 after serving two years as Associate Athletics Director for Marketing and Strategic Communications. Bradley spearheaded Memphis Football's highly acclaimed "Wait 'Til This Year" marketing campaign that preceded the program's best season in school history, a campaign that ended in a conference championship and bowl victory.

Also under his watch at Memphis, Bradley developed the "Tailgate Concert Series" to enhance pregame festivities at home football games, highlighted by several national touring acts. He additionally created the "901 Club", a season ticket holder rewards program that helped season ticket sales increase by more than 30 percent.

A former director of athletics himself, Bradley led Rogers State University's athletics department from 2011-13, stepping into the role after Baker left RSU for Northwest Missouri State. Bradley oversaw an impressive two-year initiative to prepare Rogers State for acceptance to the NCAA Division II level, a major component of the plan involving a more than $4 million facility improvements project. He also secured RSU's new affiliation with the Heartland Conference during that time.

Prior to his stint as Director of Athletics at Rogers State, Bradley served as the school's Associate Athletic Director for External Relations, beginning in August 2010. He played a vital role in developing the athletic department's fundraising, marketing and communications initiatives. In addition, Bradley oversaw promotions, game management and media relations while serving as an administrator for several of RSU's sport programs.

Bradley first arrived at Rogers State as the school's sports information director in 2006 before ascending into the role of Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations in 2009.

Bradley received his Bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Arkansas in 2005. He served as a media relations assistant for the athletic department as an undergraduate. Bradley also earned a Master's in sports administration from East Central University in 2011.

Bradley is married to the former Heather Whitney, and the couple has four children, Madison, Baron, Cannon and Sutton.