By Brian Hoffman
Travis Wells, a two-time Virginia Sportscaster of the Year, has been named assistant athletics director for strategic communications at Virginia Tech, director of athletics Whit Babcock announced Monday. In his new role, which he will begin on August 22, Wells will serve as the primary communications contact for Virginia Tech Football, among other duties.
“Travis will be a great addition to our team,” Babcock said. “He has a wealth of knowledge and experiences from nearly three decades in local media that will serve our department well. Travis has an array of skills that will make him a valuable asset to Virginia Tech. I’m extremely grateful for the time and effort our search committee devoted to identifying Travis. I look forward to welcoming him and his family to Blacksburg.”
Wells arrives in Blacksburg following a lengthy career in local sports television that spans parts of three decades. His career includes stops at TV stations in Charlottesville, Bristol, and for the last 20 years at WDBJ in Roanoke, where he has served as the sports director since 2008.
During his time at WDBJ, Wells helped produce Virginia Tech Sports Today for 10 years, in conjunction with LEARFIELD, the university’s media rights partner.
Wells spearheaded the station’s multi-faceted coverage of ACC football and basketball, and anchored WDBJ’s popular high school football program – Friday Football Extra – for nearly 15 years. He was named Virginia Sportscaster of the Year in 2015 and 2016 by the National Sports Media Association.
In addition to his on-air duties, Wells filmed and edited video for broadcasts and posted content to wdbj7.com, as well as the station’s social media platforms. Wells has emceed numerous events over his tenure and has fully embedded himself within the greater Roanoke and New River Valley areas.
“I’m honored to join the Virginia Tech athletics department, and I am looking forward to being a part of the Virginia Tech community,” Wells said. “I have a deep understanding of and appreciation for the rich history and tradition of Virginia Tech Athletics. The university’s strong academic reputation, along with its record of sustained athletic success, were among the many factors that made this opportunity appealing to me.”
Wells played basketball for his father, Troy, at Martinsville High School and he’s a 1995 graduate of Radford University, where he played basketball and earned a degree in communications and media studies.
“There is no one better equipped to tell the Virginia Tech story than Travis,” Babcock pointed out. “He has built and maintained relationships with student-athletes, coaches and administrators throughout his media career. His track record of service and leadership will serve him well in this role.”
Wells, and his wife, Chandra, are Daleville residents and the parents of Meredith and Brayden. Meredith is a former pitching standout and basketball player for Lord Botetourt High School who is now a member of the Elon University softball team. Brayden is a rising junior at LB who plays basketball and baseball.