CoSIDA Corner: The value of in-person relationship building and the influence and outreach of CoSIDA's management teams
Beginning with the 2009-10 academic year and with its new partnership with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) at that time, the CoSIDA leadership was invited to contribute to each issue of the NACDA Athletics Administration Magazine. In October of 2009, CoSIDA President Justin Doherty penned the first "CoSIDA Column." The first "CoSIDA Corner” column of 2010-11, penned by President Larry Dougherty, appeared in the October issue of NACDA's Athletics Administration Magazine.
Each Athletics Administration issue is sent to over 10,000 university and athletics administrators, with CoSIDA's voice, thoughts and expertise shared with these key constituents.
Athletics Administration Magazine is published each October, November, December, February, March, April, June and August.
This year, President Dougherty is moving forward with a plan that will rotate authors for the monthly column. The second “CoSIDA Corner” of 2010-11 was authored by Eric McDowell (Union College NY), Chair of the CoSIDA College Division Management Advisory Committee (CMAC). McDowell’s column is on the value of in-person relationship building and the importance, outreach and influence of CoSIDA’s management structure to both athletic communicators and student-athletes.
by Eric McDowell
During the last 53 years, technology has evolved in so many ways. In the sports information profession, it began with a clipboard and a pencil. Through the years we went from a pay phone to cell phone, from dictating to dittos, from copiers and snail mail to the World Wide Web and e-mail. Today, you can get a score sent to your cell phone, watch video and listen to a game live, following your teams from Frankfurt to Fiji and everywhere in between.
Indeed, we’ve come a long way from the clipboard.
Yes, technology has evolved and the sports information profession has benefited tremendously. CoSIDA was founded 53 years ago by people coming together, discussing topics and thoughts IN PERSON. Today, the organization’s founders would be proud of the accomplishments of the organization and the relationships developed in the collegiate athletics world.
We’ll take a look at the past year, and the many relationships that have developed due to people coming together, discussing new topics and thoughts IN PERSON. This column will give you an idea of the accomplishments of these special individuals and the service they are providing to student athletes throughout North America.
When John Humenik was hired as the organization’s first full-time Executive Director, he had a vision for councils that would address issues for a variety of the different levels of the profession. The College Division Management Advisory Committee (CDMAC) was instituted in June of 2008, and when John asked me to form this committee I was honored and excited about the future. The members of the committee were chosen by their experiences, regional representation, along with members of our Rising Star Award, who are up-and-coming SIDs who have a bright future. The CDMAC was put in place as part of the board’s strategic initiatives as it related to creating a more federated management structure within CoSIDA. This would encourage respective divisional leadership groups to take a more direct and personal responsibility approach to manage needed matters in regards to its specific membership within the overall CoSIDA organization, which numbers more than 2,600 members.
The CDMAC is an “umbrella” management group that includes NCAA DII-SIDA, NCAA DIII-SIDA, NAIA-SIDA, CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) and two-year institutions. Our group focuses on joint-based issues, challenges and opportunities that arise and should include input from all of these divisional groups as a key component of the decision-making process. We also assist in specific convention programming, target individuals for board roles and nominate colleagues for prestigious awards.
We feature the presidents of each of our national collegiate organizations. These sports information organizational presidents are Rich Herman of Clarion (NCAA Division II), Bill Wagner of DePauw (NCAA Division III), Sam Ghrist of Eastern Oregon (NAIA) and Ben Matchett of Calgary (CIS).
With these individuals, relationships have developed and we have already seen the fruits of their labors. Rich and Bill attended the NCAA Convention and met with numerous officials thanks to the efforts of Erik Christiansen, public and media relations director for the NCAA. The contingent met with the Vice President of NCAA Division II, Mike Racy, and the Vice President of NCAA Division III, Dan Dutcher, along with athletics director councils and NCAA officials for championships and other departments.
The contingent assisted Mike and Dan with branding development and execution, and have also brought thoughts for the SID profession to serve the students. These relationships helped produce the outstanding news that both the Division II and Division III entities would work to expand the Academic All-America program. Discussions with NCAA representatives who work with the National Student Athlete Advisory Committee have initiated a future relationship. This grass-roots initiative is truly exciting.
A visit to Mont Tremblant, Quebec featured attendance at the CIS Convention, with sports information directors throughout Canada listening to the opportunities that await the membership for involvement with CoSIDA. Discussions with Michel Belanger, the public relations director for CIS, and the SID representative and President Ben Matchett, has led to more involvement and awareness by the Canadian SIDs. They are thrilled of the expansion of the AAA program that will provide more opportunities for their student-athletes to be recognized and rewarded for their service in the classroom, community and playing arena.
Chad Waller, the NAIA public relations representative, joined Sam and his NAIA SID committee to meet with us about their proposed involvement with the NAIA leadership. These discussions and subsequent conference calls with Jim Carr, the NAIA President and Chief Executive Officer, have led to Sam’s committee being included on important NAIA branding and future initiatives.
Whatever service you perform to serve the student-athlete, you can see how valuable IN PERSON meetings can be and the relationships that can develop. The members of CoSIDA today are as proud and dedicated as their colleagues 53 years ago. The College Division Management Advisory Committee is just one piece of a magnificent puzzle at a time when we all work together to serve our colleagues and our students.