Stanford x Zoom: Making it easy for student-athletes to connect and be their best off the field

Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, has a reputation for its student-athletes. Student-athletes at Stanford not only meet but often exceed the academic standards of the general student body, while simultaneously achieving unprecedented athletic success. A 49-year NCAA championship streak and record-breaking Olympic representation demonstrate that mediocre just isn’t in Stanford Athletics’ vocabulary.

To help Stanford’s student-athletes stay on top of their studies and hone their media skills with confidence, Stanford and Zoom have teamed up to create dedicated Zoom Rooms spaces within the Home of Champions sporting facility at Stanford. 

Zoom Rooms, Zoom’s video conferencing room system, can turn any space into an intimate conference room experience. Having Zoom Rooms enabled in the Home of Champions gives students and team staff more freedom to jump on a casual or professional video call at a moment’s notice. 

We spoke with Mike Amundson, Associate Athletics Director for Marketing & Brand Advancement at Stanford, about how Zoom Rooms is making it easier for student-athletes to balance college, athletics, and personal life, and feel comfortable as they build their media presence.

1. How did the idea for creating dedicated Zoom Rooms within the Home of Champions come about? What needs were you hoping to address for student-athletes?

Department staff members often used full conference rooms for routine Zoom calls, while student-athletes needed consistent, private spaces designed for media interviews, group projects, or remote academic commitments.

We aimed to address both problems simultaneously by designing small, purpose-built rooms that would provide student-athletes and staff with easy access to reliable, modern video conferencing technology, right in the heart of the athletics footprint. The goal was to offer an environment that’s convenient, quiet, and tailored to the unique demands of our athletes’ schedules.

2. What specific features or design elements make these Zoom Rooms stand out for your athletes and staff?

The rooms are outfitted with the latest Zoom Rooms technology, including high-quality screens, updated cameras and audio components, and intuitive scheduling software that helps make it simple to reserve the space on the fly.

Lighting was intentionally designed to support broadcast-quality interviews, and the spaces are branded to reflect both Stanford and Zoom’s collaboration, creating an elevated, professional backdrop for any interaction.

They’re also positioned in highly accessible areas within the Home of Champions, making it easy for teams and student-athletes to drop in between practice, lifts, or class.

3. How have student-athletes responded? Any standout stories or feedback so far?

Student-athletes have been quick to adopt the rooms for a wide range of needs—media interviews, virtual classes, academic group work, leadership meetings, and staying connected with family.

The consistent theme in their feedback is how valuable it is to have a private, quiet, tech-ready space that enables them to focus. For athletes with packed schedules, the rooms help reduce stress by providing a reliable place inside our main athletics building to handle commitments that don’t naturally fit into locker rooms or practice facilities.

One example that stands out is a men’s golf student-athlete who recently used the room for a live media interview during a tournament week and noted how calm and professional the setting felt. We’ve also seen athletes regularly step into the rooms between lifts or classes to join academic group meetings, something that was previously difficult due to the limited quiet space available within athletics facilities.

4. How does this collaboration with Zoom align with your broader mission of supporting athletes on and off the field?

At Stanford, we aim to provide our student-athletes with every resource they need to excel competitively, academically, and personally. Technology plays a huge role in this, especially as more academic and media responsibilities shift to virtual formats.

The Zoom Rooms are a tangible example of our commitment to supporting athletes holistically. They enable us to provide modern, professional tools that make it easier for them to manage communication, coursework, and exposure opportunities without added stress.

5. Looking ahead, how do you see technology like Zoom continuing to shape the student-athlete experience at Stanford?

Technology is becoming increasingly intertwined with how athletes learn, communicate, and represent their programs. As Zoom continues to introduce new features, such as Zoom AI Companion 3.0, and enhanced collaboration tools, we see even more opportunities for our athletes and staff to streamline their work, save time, and stay connected across demanding schedules.

Our hope is that this is just the start. We aim to continue integrating tools that enhance the Stanford student-athlete experience and maintain our position at the forefront of innovation.

6. Any fun anecdotes that demonstrate how Zoom Rooms are being used?

Rather than one big moment, what’s stood out is how seamlessly the rooms have blended into daily routines. We regularly see student-athletes pop in for short Zoom commitments between lifts, classes, or practice—sometimes for a quick academic meeting, sometimes for media or leadership calls. The fact that they’re being used in small, efficient windows speaks to how well they fit into the rhythm of an athlete’s day.

Reach out to us today to discover how Zoom Rooms, Zoom’s video conferencing room system, can transform your conference rooms and smaller meeting spaces into collaborative hubs.