FREDERICK, Md. – Matthew Gelhard has been named the new assistant director of athletics for communications, as announced by Associate Director of Athletics Jack Mehl.

"Hood is very excited to announce the hiring of Matthew Gelhard," said Mehl. "Matthew comes to Hood with a good knowledge of Hood athletics, and we are looking forward to him hitting the ground running."

Gelhard is a 2023 graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in broadcast journalism and a minor in sports studies, as well as a sports journalism certificate.

During his four years of undergraduate studies, Gelhard gained significant experience in athletic communications both at the Division I and USCAA levels. Most recently, he served as a strategic communications intern for The Pennsylvania State University. In particular, he worked with the Penn State football and softball teams, while also being responsible for weekly preparations for athletic events.

While attending the Mont Alto branch of Penn State, Gelhard was a student assistant in athletics communications from 2019-2021. He played on the varsity baseball team and was honored with the Freshman Award for Academic Excellence and USCAA All-Academic and PSUAC All-Academic Awards.

In addition to his Penn State roles, Gelhard has worked for a variety of sports organizations such as the Associated Press, Happy Valley United, United States Collegiate Athletic Association, and State College Spikes. He covered the 2022 Little League World Series and 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, and he was also a broadcaster for the 2022 Softball and 2023 Baseball USCAA Small College World Series.