Michael Bonnette enters his 20th year as LSU’s Communications Director and 13th as Associate Athletics Director. Bonnette was originally elevated to Sports Information Director in August of 2000 and the promoted to Assistant Athletic Director in July of 2004.
As lead communications director for the department, Bonnette serves as the chief contact for LSU’s nationally-ranked football team as well as overseeing all publicity and creative activities for the 21 sports sponsored by the athletics department.
Bonnette, who served as an associate sports information director for seven years, is in his 26th year overall with LSU Athletics.
His 2012 LSU Football media guide as named “Best in the Nation” by CoSIDA, one of several awards he has received from the organization and in the Louisiana Sports Writers Association annual writing contests. His 2014 football media guide was ranked second in the nation.
The Lake Charles, La., native has been around the sports media profession his entire life as he is the son of retired McNeese State Sports Information Director Louis Bonnette, a member of the CoSIDA Hall of Fame. The field at Cowboy Stadium in Lake Charles is named “Louis Bonnette Field”. His brother, Matthew, continued the family tradition at McNeese by being named Sports Information Director in July 2012, following his Dad, who held that position for 46 years.
Bonnette, who is a 1993 graduate of LSU, is currently serving as president of SIDs for the Southeastern Conference. He is married to the former Robin Arnaud of Opelousas, La., and the couple has three sons: Peyton, Grant and Max.