Robert McKinney is in his 16th year at Willamette University in 2021-22. He was hired as the athletics communications director in 2006. He was promoted to assistant athletics director, communications in 2016.

He has been involved in sports information for more than 30 years. Prior to joining Willamette, McKinney served as the sports information director at Eastern New Mexico University for eight years. He also was the compliance coordinator for six of his eight years at ENMU.

In his position at Willamette, he handles media relations, statistics and publications for the Department of Athletics. He also oversees maintenance of the athletics website.

McKinney received a bachelor’s degree with a double major in Mass Communications and English Literature from Baker University (Kan.) in 1984 and earned a master’s degree in Communication from Pittsburg State University (Kan.) in 1989.

He started his sports information career as a student at Baker, where he later worked as a full-time SID, before serving as a graduate assistant at Pittsburg State. After completing his master’s degree, he was employed as the SID at Hartwick College (N.Y.), Barry University (Fla.), Grand Valley State University (Mich.) and Greensboro College (N.C.) before his eight-year stint at Eastern New Mexico.

McKinney is single and lives in Salem.