ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Stronger. Together.
Missouri Western Athletics has announced the hiring of a new communications team, completing a revival of the award-winning "Griffon Sports Insider" brand.
Brandon Dugan (director of athletic communications), Connor Peters (director of creative content and marketing) and Cole Weiberg (creative content videographer/photographer) will join the department on July 1.
"We are excited to welcome three talented individuals who share a collective passion to serve," said senior associate director of athletics Ryan Menley. "Brandon, Connor and Cole are unique in their skill sets, but they are bonded by a common thread of high-character, blue-collar work ethic and humility. This is a young, but mature group, who will all play a key role in reclaiming our role as a leader in the digital media space by providing a fresh take and by telling the authentic and exciting story of Griffon Athletics."
Brandon Dugan - Director of Athletic Communications
Brandon will serve as the primary contact for all Griffon teams, coordinating coverage, generating statistical and historical data, while serving as the chief content editor for gogriffons.com.
Dugan earned his master's degree in business administration from Concordia University, St. Paul, in June of 2024 and was the department's sports information graduate assistant for two years. The Oklahoma native earned his bachelor's degree from Rogers State University in 2022, serving two years in an assistant sports information role. He also has three years of experience as an official scorer and statistician working with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins organizations.
Menley on Dugan: "Brandon is a mechanic and a problem solver with an incredible attention to detail and a passion for 'getting it right'. What impressed me the most during the interview process was the amount of co-workers, coaches and superiors who called on Brandon's behalf. The calls were unsolicited and went way beyond his list of references. They all said things that Brandon refused to say about himself, and that told us all we needed to know.
Brandon Dugan: "First and foremost, I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, because none of this is possible without him. Additionally, I want to thank Andy Carter, Ryan Menley and the entire athletics staff for this incredible opportunity. The second I stepped on campus, I knew MWSU was the perfect fit. I look forward to promoting and covering our university to the fullest for many years to come."
Connor Peters – Director of Creative Content and Marketing
Connor returns to Missouri Western in a first-time director role after serving as a student assistant and graduate assistant for creative content from 2019-2023. He will oversee production of live webstreams and video board production, and will manage social media content across all Griffon Athletics platforms.
A Kansas City area native, Peters holds a bachelor's degree and master's degree from MWSU. He also serves as a technical director for both the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals game day video board operations.
Menley on Peters: "Connor is a special talent with a unique skillset that mixes a creative mind with a technical side. He started working with the Chiefs and Royals before he even stepped foot as a freshman at MWSU and always made the Griffs his priority. I worked side-by-side with him for three years and during a global pandemic. High, high-level leadership skills as a student during some difficult times. Humble. Passionate. Perfectionist."
Connor Peters: "I am thrilled to rejoin the Griffon family in this new capacity. Missouri Western has been my home for several years, spanning my time as an undergraduate student, graduate student, staff member, and alumnus. During that time, I have come to know that this community is special. I look forward to working with our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, fans, and the people of St. Joseph to elevate the creative impact of Griffon Athletics."
Cole Weiberg – Creative Content Videographer/Photographer
Cole brings a diverse skill set that will capture the moments and tell the story of Griffon Athletics as the department's primary videographer and photographer.
A recent graduate of Oklahoma State University, Weiberg served as a creative media intern for the OSU athletic department, where he generated content for all athletic teams. Cole holds a bachelor's degree in sports media and has play-by-play experience along with a documentary-style storytelling chops vital to execute the tradition of Missouri Western's "GSI" brand.
Weiberg is a native of Tonkawa, Oklahoma but grew up in St. Joseph and on the Griffon sidelines. His father, Brett Weiberg served as the head basketball coach at MWSU from 2013-2018.
Menley on Weiberg: "I have high expectations for Cole. He will be the 'eyes' of our athletic department. He owns a high sports IQ which will serve as a major advantage in how he captures moments. As a coach's kid, he understands the grind. High-character human from a high-character family and he can connect with people, which is crucial in the ability to tell our stories.
Cole Weiberg: "I am super excited and grateful to be part of a special place like Missouri Western. This is a little bit of a 'full-circle' moment and its very humbling to have this opportunity. I look forward to working with our teams and our community. Go Griffs!"
