Findlay, Ohio- The University of Findlay athletic department is excited to announce that Aiden Lao has been hired as the department's new Strategic Communications Assistant and will begin his role immediately. 

In this position, Lao will serve as the primary media and communications contact for assigned athletic programs, overseeing media relations, press releases, social media, and strategic communications. He will create and manage photo, video, graphic, and promotional content while supporting the department's 22 NCAA Division II programs. Lao will also manage statistical reporting, digital archives, livestreams, and media operations while assisting with home event management, promotions, scripting, and the overall fan experience.

For the past ten months, Lao was working at Capital University, an NCAA Division III institution in Columbus, Ohio, where he served as the Assistant Director of Athletic Communications & Marketing. In that position he served in various areas of the athletic department including covering the various home sporting events, statistics, athletic website and social media management, and internal and external communications.

"We are thrilled to welcome Aiden back to Findlay in our communications department", commented Associate Athletic Director, Kyle Niermann. "In his time as a graduate assistant, Aiden proved himself to be a quick learner with a commitment to the excellence our fans have come to expect. This era of college athletics demands an increase in the coverage of student-athletes and with Aiden's help, we plan to continue challenging ourselves to be the best in our league, shining a spotlight on all the wonderful things the our Oilers athletes accomplish."

A native of Dublin, Ohio, Lao spent five seasons as a member of the University of Findlay baseball team, where he holds program records for hits, runs scored, games played, and at-bats in a single season. He earned his degree in Sports Business Strategies and Marketing in May 2024 before continuing his education at Findlay, where he served as a graduate assistant in the athletic department. In that role, Lao was responsible for taking and reporting statistics for athletic events, creating and posting social media content, and assisting with the setup and teardown of home sporting events. He graduated with his Master's of Business Administration from UF in May 2026.