Tyler Costello joined the Marlins in March of 2023. He will support 25 varsity programs and a co-ed cheer program.
Since arriving at Virginia Wesleyan University on March 1, 2023, Tyler Costello has rapidly elevated the visibility, digital presence, and storytelling of Marlins athletics as the university’s Director of Athletic Communications. Now in his third year, Costello has helped transform the department’s brand through innovation, creativity, and a commitment to showcasing student-athlete success at the highest level.
Costello oversees communications, media relations, social media strategy, statistics, and live event coverage for Virginia Wesleyan’s athletic programs. His impact has been especially evident in the department’s digital growth. Since his arrival, the VWU Athletics Instagram account has expanded from approximately 2,000 followers to more than 5,000 (150% increase). At the same time, monthly views have surged from 70,000 to over 700,000, marking a staggering 900% increase in reach. Through dynamic content creation, strategic messaging, and consistent engagement, Costello has significantly broadened the Marlins’ audience.
In addition to social media growth, Costello has played a pivotal role in enhancing Virginia Wesleyan’s live video capabilities. He has overseen major improvements to the department’s streaming infrastructure and was instrumental in ushering in the transition to the FloSports platform beginning in the 2025–26 season, expanding the program’s visibility to a national audience. His role has also grown alongside the department, taking on communications coverage for three additional programs: men’s volleyball, cheer, and women’s flag football, ensuring comprehensive storytelling across all sports.
Costello’s leadership has extended to championship operations as well, as he has helped coordinate and execute communications for six NCAA Tournament events hosted by Virginia Wesleyan since 2023, further enhancing the university’s reputation as a premier host site.
Costello comes to VWU from Tiffin, an NCAA Division II member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, where he supported 23 intercollegiate programs through game day operations, statistics, press releases, and game programs. He also led the department’s social media, graphic design, and video efforts, helping drive significant growth in followers, impressions, and overall reach.
Costello joined Tiffin after earning his master’s degree from the University of New Haven, where he gained experience with both Sacred Heart and Yale. At Sacred Heart, he served as the primary contact for men’s volleyball and track and field, while assisting with basketball, swimming and diving, and record book updates. At Yale, he supported women’s basketball, baseball, and softball, contributing to social media content, game day operations, and archival projects.
Prior to New Haven, Costello earned his undergraduate degree in Sports Management from Southern Connecticut State University. He began as a student worker in sports communications before being promoted to part-time Assistant Sports Information Director, serving as the primary contact for multiple programs while helping coordinate external communications for all 19 teams.
