American University

Left AU in June, 2022

Samantha Rinkus joined the Athletics Communications staff at American University in September of 2016. She was promoted to associate director in August, 2021, and is primarily responsible for coverage of the women’s basketball, field hockey, women’s lacrosse, and cross country and track & field teams. 

During her time at AU, Rinkus rebooted and managed the department’s visual and graphics content for three years. She has overseen significant growth on all social media channels for her primary sports, and has managed postseason coverage for women's basketball (NCAA, WNIT) and field hockey (NCAA). Rinkus created and produces Beyond the Arc with Head Coach Megan Gebbia - a weekly, season-long show during basketball season. In the same vein, she helped to overhaul the quality of AU women's basketball home broadcasts, shifting from a student-run show to a high-quality broadcast featuring professional talent. In 2019, Rinkus aided in the redesign and launch of AUEagles.com after a move to SIDEARM Sports.

Rinkus came to American from the University of Missouri where she worked for almost four years as a strategic communications associate and was the primary contact for the cross country and track & field program. While there she developed and implemented internal and external communications plans for the program during its first season in the SEC, along with serving as the media coordinator for the 2013 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She more than tripled the program’s following on Twitter, along with starting up accounts on Facebook and Instagram.

Rinkus earned her bachelor’s degree in English & History with minors in creative writing and journalism at Aquinas College. She graduated cum laude and was a four-year varsity student-athlete in cross country and track & field. She was an Academic All-American, and in 2011 earned the Sister Helen Louise Brogger Award for Outstanding Female Senior Scholar-Athlete.