Linfield's Bird Named Northwest Conference Jack Sareault Award Winner
SPOKANE, Wash. — Linfield College's Kelly Bird has been selected by his peers within the Northwest Conference as the recipient of the 2007-08 Jack Sareault Award as the conference's Sports Information Director of the Year.
Bird, who has served as the Wildcats' SID since 1989, is third individual to win the award, which began in 2005-06.
The NWC SID of the Year award is now named in honor of Jack Sareault, who served as the conference's SID for 19 years (1978 - 1997). Since his retirement, Sareault has spent countless hours building detailed histories of NWC sports.
"Every year the goal of the Linfield sports information office is to provide consistent all-around service to our fans, the rest of the conference, the media, and interested others," said Bird. "To be recognized by your peers with an honor such as this is real thrill."
Bird's service to his institution and his colleagues around the conference has been widely recognized. He has produced several award-winning media guides, including his 2007 football guide which finished in second place in Division C of the annual College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) publications contest. In August of 2007 Bird was named Linfield's Administrator of the Year.
Bird has served as the primary media contact for Linfield's 21 varsity sports on a full time basis since 1998. This past spring he promoted softball and baseball teams that competed in NCAA Division III national tournaments.
"This award is a testimony to the quality of work of our student workers, graduate assistant, and our community volunteers. My wife and two daughters deserve some of the credit, too, for the countless sacrifices they have made in the name of Linfield athletics," said Bird.
Outside of the conference Bird serves on the CoSIDA membership committee. Bird is a 1983 graduate of Portland Community College. He and his wife Joleen have two daughters, Karlee and Jillian.
NWC Sports Information Director of the Year
2006-07 - Blake Timm, Pacific University
2005-06 - Steve Flegel, Whitworth College/Northwest Conference