CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Patrick Pierson was named Director of Football Branding and Creative Media, head coach Bret Bielema announced. Pierson oversees all branding of the football team, recruiting content, and leads the Illini's efforts on name, image, and likeness reform. 

"With the ever-changing world of college football, we have added another position to the University of Illinois football family that Pat Pierson will be directly involved with," said Bielema. "He has always impressed me with his ability to relate to student-athletes and to coaches in helping them build the image they want to portray to the outside world. Pat will be heavily involved with the NIL and other things that will start with the recruitment of a student-athlete in high school, continue during his development here at the University of Illinois, and help prepare the young man for his life after the university. He has been a great asset for several programs in the world of college football as well as basketball and we are glad to have Pat here as a part of our family."

"I'm excited and grateful to be reunited with Coach Bielema and be part of the University of Illinois family," said Pierson. "The opportunity to work directly with our student-athletes in a position that is geared towards the future of college athletics is an exciting challenge and I can't wait to really get to know the players and staff. Coach Bielema has always thought ahead of the curve about how can we promote and improve the student-athlete experience. This position is proof of that and I can't wait to have an impact on the players in the football program from the recruiting process to their time beyond the University of Illinois."

Pierson comes to Champaign from Oregon, where he spent the last three years as Associate AD/Communications for the Ducks. Pierson was the main media contact for the Oregon football team that won back-to-back Pac-12 titles and the 2020 Rose Bowl while managing a communications staff of six that promoted Oregon's 20 athletic programs. 

Prior to Oregon, Pierson was the Assistant AD/Communications at Arkansas from 2015-18, where he worked with Bielema. Pierson started at Arkansas as the Director of Men's Basketball Communications from 2013-15 before transitioning to lead the football team's communications efforts and oversee the athletic department's communications office. 

Pierson moved to Arkansas from Florida Gulf Coast, where he was the primary communications contact for the 2012-13 FGCU men's basketball team that made a run to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen under the famous #DunkCity branding to become the first No. 15 seed in NCAA history to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. He was named the school's Director of Sports Information in 2010 before being promoted to Assistant AD for Communications in 2012. 

Pierson was the main basketball contact and Sports Information Director at St. Bonaventure University from 2007-10. He started his career in college athletics as Assistant Sports Information Director for the Bonnies from 2004-07. 

Pierson graduated from Robert Morris University in 2004 with a degree in sport management.