The man behind Lee Flames: Carman Lastoria
photo by Rhianna Barrow
No matter the sport, there is one common face all Lee Flames fans recognize. When watching a post-game interview, listening to “Fired Up Live,” catching a “Senior Story,” tuning in to soccer, lacrosse or softball play-by-play or just following @LeeUFlames on social media, fans are looking at the work of Director of Athletic Communications Carman Lastoria and his team.
“Carman and the athletic communications team do a terrific job of telling the story of Lee Athletics and telling it well,” said Vice President of Operations Cole Strong. “The content this team produces is above the rest. There is not a better athletic communications director in the GSC than Carman Lastoria. He makes us better every day.”
Sharing athletic news is a big part of building up a university’s brand, and @LeeUFlames is a distinct and well-known part of Lee’s image. When Carman joined the Lee Athletics team in 2012, social media business and branding were becoming a big deal.
Under the direction of George Starr, Lastoria was able to transition the name and social media branding of @LeeUFlames into what it is now.
“When I hired Carman, all I knew about him was he did PA for softball and was blessed with a great voice,” said Starr. “The sky’s the limit for this talented young man. It will be interesting to see where God leads him next.”
Not only is Lastoria excellent in the sports media field, but he also pursues his passion for the Lord through ministry with his wife and daughter. After serving as a youth pastor for many years at Sweetwater First Assembly, Lastoria took on the college pastor position for South Cleveland Church of God last month.
“When I was three or four, I used to pretend like I was preaching,” said Lastoria. “There are home videos of me just yelling because we grew up going to a Pentecostal church … but, from a very young age, sports and ministry have always been a very big part of my life.”
If there is one thing that Lastoria is adamant about, it is that he is incredibly thankful for the people surrounding him in his life and help him do his job well.
“I really count myself fortunate,” said Lastoria. “I’ve had a lot of people come into my life that have really just taken the time to speak into me. People who really reiterate the importance of working hard and working with excellence at the job but away from the job as well.”
Lastoria is now in his fourth year as director. He praises the role models in his life: people like George Starr, Larry Carpenter, Cole Strong, the pastors he has worked within ministry and his family have helped him become the successful man he is today. He also praises the Lee students who work with him, saying these students make his job so much better.
“I am extremely proud of the job Carman does promote to Lee University Athletics,” said Athletic Director Larry Carpenter. “He is a multi-talented individual whose love of the coaches and student-athletes is evident each and every day.”
