Mitchell Wigness returned to UND in July 2012 as an assistant media relations director. Wigness was promoted to Senior Assistant Athletic Director for Communications in December 2018 and is the primary point person for all media relations and website efforts for the athletic department.
In his tenure at UND, he's worked with sevreal teams, including serving as the radio play-by-play voice for women's basketball for seven seasons. He and former Asssistant AD Jayson Hajdu were the creators and talent behind UND's successful podcast, "Sit Down and Cheer".
The Grand Forks, N.D., native returned to the area in 2012 for his second stint at UND. Since his return, Wigness has helped successfully nominate and promote a College Homerun Derby champion, help launch a new podcast and has been part of many broadcast endeavors. He has lent his efforts to UND Insider Extra videos for UNDsports.com, broadcasts of UND baseball and talent on televised UND basketball and volleyball games, in addition to his normal media relations duties.
Wigness came to UND after having served as the sports information director at the University of Detroit Mercy (2010-12) and assistant athletics director for sports information at the University of Indianapolis (2005-10). Wigness previously served as assistant media relations director at UND from 2002-05.
While at Detroit, Wigness directed media relations efforts in conjunction with the men's basketball team's 2012 Horizon League Championship and NCAA Division I Tournament appearance. He promoted and distributed a YouTube clip that went viral, garnering more than one million views, and appeared on several national websites. Wigness also helped provide content for Detroit Titan Court Report on Fox Sports Detroit, a monthly coach's television show that was twice nominated and won a 2012 Michigan Emmy. He also coordinated media efforts for "Dick Vitale Court Dedication Night" that featured national media covering the official naming of the Titans' basketball court.
During his stint at Indianapolis, Wigness coordinated the efforts for the Greyhounds' 19 varsity sports and hosted several NCAA Division II regional and national championships. He helped develop the UIndy Television Network, which airs all Greyhound football home games and select basketball doubleheaders. The broadcasts are available to 350,000 homes throughout the state of Indiana and football is aired live in the metro area. He also served on the media relations committee for the 2010 NCAA DI Men's Basketball Final Four that was held in Indianapolis.
While at UND from 2002 through 2005, Wigness was the primary media relations contact for football, basketball and volleyball, while also hosting "At the Desk With Mitch," a live pre-game show prior to every home men's hockey game.
Wigness earned his bachelor's degree in telecommunications and film from Eastern Michigan in 2000 and began his career as a sports information assistant at Saginaw Valley State during the 2001-02 season. He and his wife, Alyssa, live in East Grand Forks, Minn., and their family includes a son, McCoy, and daughter, Livian.
