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RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Tuesday the promotion of Danny Elizondo to ­­associate athletic director for communications and Ryela Rodriguez to assistant athletic director for fan engagement and group sales.
 
Danny Elizondo
 
Elizondo has been with UTRGV Athletics since 2011 when he served part-time as the Sports Information Assistant. On Sep. 13, 2013, he was brought on full-time as the Athletic Media Relations manager and was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Communications on July 1, 2020.
 
“Danny is the ultimate team player and I am beyond proud to see him get this well-deserved promotion,” senior associate athletic director for communications and championships Jonah Goldberg said. “Danny is the most selfless person I know and not only embraces his own work but is quick to help anyone else who needs a hand. He always does whatever is necessary to elevate the student-athlete experience and cares deeply for everyone in the department as people. We are fortunate to have Danny Elizondo as a key part of our team.”
 

Currently, Elizondo is the primary media contact for men’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s and women’s soccer. He has also been the primary media contact for women’s basketball, track & field, cross country, and men’s and women’s tennis at various times in his career at UTRGV.
 
“It’s an exciting time to be part of the UTRGV Athletics family,” Elizondo said. “I would like to thank [UTRGV Vice President and Director of Athletics] Chasse Conque and Jonah Goldberg for the opportunity to be here and to grow alongside the department.”
Elizondo does not just put the pen to paper as he oversees the scorer’s table and stats crew for all applicable sports on gameday and can be heard on the broadcast during baseball games.
 
“It has been incredible to see how much the department has grown over the last 13 years and I am excited to see what is next for UTRGV Athletics,” Elizondo continued. “I am also grateful for those that I get to work with on a daily basis. It would be impossible to find success without them.”
 
In his free time, Elizondo does game day statistics for the four-time NBA G-League champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
 
From 2008-2013, Elizondo worked as the Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting for the Edinburg Roadrunners.
 
Elizondo graduated from UTPA in 2009 with his Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism.
 
Ryela Rodriguez 
 
Ryela Rodriguez joined UTRGV Athletics as the Ticket Sales and Operations Coordinator on May 16, 2022, and was promoted to Assistant Director for Tickets Sales and Operations in Sept. 2023.

Rodriguez is responsible for selling and renewing season tickets and played a role in game day logistics and ticket pricing for all ticketed UTRGV events. Last year, she helped UTRGV welcome nearly 120,000 fans to all athletic events leading to record ticket revenue and attendance records for multiple teams. Rodriguez assisted the ticketing team in generating revenue through group sales as approximately 30,000 of the 120,000 fans that attended UTRGV Athletics events visited as a part of a group.

 

“Ryela has done a tremendous job connecting with the community and building meaningful relationships with so many schools, organizations and clubs, which has been instrumental in helping us reach record numbers for attendance and ticket sales,” senior associate athletic director for advancement and administration Derek Schramm said. “This is a well-earned promotion, and we are excited to see Ryela step into this expanded role and help us craft our themes & promotions, enhance the gameday experience for our fans, and further community outreach throughout the Rio Grande Valley.”

She remains the point person for volleyball ticketing, facilitating a record 226 volleyball season ticket holders, program-record average attendance of 1,234 fans per match, a record-setting seven crowds of 1,000+ in 2023. UTRGV ranked second in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), fifth in Texas and 59^th nationally in average attendance at the end of the regular season.

 

“I am extremely excited to take on this new role and continue contributing to the success of the department,” Rodriguez said. “I would like to say thank you to Chasse Conque, Derek Schramm, and [Associate Athletic Director for Development and Premium Seating] Eddie Galvan for the trust and confidence they have placed in me. Their mentorship and guidance throughout my time with UTRGV Athletics has been instrumental in my personal and professional growth.”

 

UTRGV has hosted three School Day’s under Rodriguez’s direction. The first School Day, presented by Rio Bank, drew 2,786 fans to a women’s basketball game – the best crowd at the UTRGV Fieldhouse in nearly four years. On Sept. 12, 2023, the volleyball team defeated Incarnate Word in front of 2,167 fans on School Day, presented by Whataburger – the second-largest crowd in program history. The third School Day, presented by Whataburger, saw 2,593 fans enter the fieldhouse as the women’s basketball team faced Utah Tech.

 

“It is a special time for the Rio Grande Valley and I’m so proud to be a part of UTRGV Athletics,” Rodriguez continued. “I look forward to continuing to create relationships in the community and draw support that will leave a lasting impact.”

Prior to UTRGV, Rodriguez became familiar with the workings of collegiate athletics as an employee at the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) National Office and was involved with fan engagement and external operations while earning her degree at Baylor. She is a Rio Grande Valley native and graduate of McAllen Rowe High School.