FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (July 31, 2025) – Northern Arizona University Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics
Uri Farkas has announced the hiring of
Stayson Isobe as Associate Athletic Director for Communications & Brand Strategy. Isobe returns to the Dark Sky City after nearly three years with the Fiesta Sports Foundation, where he led social media and communications efforts for the Foundation and its signature events, including the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
"We're thrilled to welcome Stayson back to Flagstaff," Farkas said. "He is going to be an integral part of our athletic department's vision as we navigate a rapidly changing collegiate landscape. His experience and creative leadership will be vital as we grow our brand, support NIL opportunities, and continue to share the Lumberjack story on a broader stage."
Isobe originally joined NAU Athletics in 2011 as a Media Relations Graduate Assistant and steadily climbed the ranks, becoming Associate AD for Communications in 2020. He returned to NAU in July 2025 to lead communications, brand strategy, and creative services for the department's 15 intercollegiate programs. He will also serve as the primary media contact for football and men's basketball.
"It means so much to be back in Flagstaff and part of Lumberjack Athletics again," Isobe said. "I owe my career to NAU Athletics and this university as a whole, so I want to thank
Uri Farkas and
Alex Lais for the opportunity to return home. I have so many great memories from my first chapter here, and I'm excited to create even more with our incredible student-athletes and staff."
While at the Fiesta Sports Foundation, Isobe's public relations efforts as Communications & Social Media Manager helped generate statewide and national media coverage for the organization's philanthropic events. Additionally, his work was instrumental in managing media relations for national, regional, and local outlets covering Arizona's premier postseason college football games, the Fiesta Bowl and Rate Bowl.
During his first stint at NAU, Isobe handled publicity for nine conference championship teams, promoted five CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, including 2019-20 Academic All-American of the Year Tyler Day, and three athletic All-Americans. In 2022, he was selected to CoSIDA's inaugural Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship class and was a national winner of the AVCA Grant Burger Media Award in the Social Media category in 2018.
In addition to his work on collegiate and bowl games, Isobe brings valuable experience at major national events. He has contributed to the successful execution of both an NCAA Men's Basketball Regional and Final Four, and Super Bowl LVII hosted in the Phoenix Metropolitan, providing support in areas ranging from media coordination to on-site logistics and digital content strategy.
A native of Waipahu, Hawai'i, Isobe earned both his bachelor's (Secondary Education Mathematics, minor in Japanese) and master's (Educational Leadership) degrees from Northern Arizona University.
