Photo, below: Three CoSIDA Hall of Famers working on the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Media Coordination Committee a few years ago: Tam Flarup, University of Wisconsin, Director of Athletics Web Site Services; Tammy Boclair, former CoSIDA President while at Vanderbilt who is now VP of Alday Communications in Nashville, Tenn.; and Kowal.
Barb Kowal's impact on the college sports information industry is not measured in publications and press releases as much as it is in mentorship, people and personality. Her dedication to the CoSIDA profession is evident in many ways - serving on the CoSIDA Board of Directors and on numerous committees, participating on CoSIDA workshop panels - and most recently, in her newest role as CoSIDA's Director of External Affairs.
But the most telling of her dedication is her CoSIDA "family tree". When Josh Krulewitz - a former student worker who is now ESPN's Vice President, Public Relations for College, News and Networks Information - was asked to send just a few of Barb's descendents, he immediately sent a list of more than 20 names of young professionals in the college sports industry. They worked with Barb during her tenures as University of Connecticut Senior Associate Director of Athletic Communications (1986-97) and Assistant AD/Media Relations at the University of Texas (1997-2008). Barb got her start in the SID world as a graduate assistant at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with CoSIDA Hall of Famer Howie Davis.
In a day where not many young people are staying in the field, Barb found a way to instill the passion, professionalism and love for the job to her former interns, students and assistants who have all credited her with them being in this field. Her legacy will live on through her many students and interns who continue to work in the athletic PR world throughout the country.
CoSIDA is also fortunate to have her working directly with the organization in helping spread the good word about the organization and helping develop a comprehensive strategic communications and marketing plan for the advancement of CoSIDA and its members, as she has already done for so many young athletic communications professionals.
"I am sincerely honored to join so many talented, respected and creative PR professionals who have been selected for CoSIDA Hall of Fame recognition," stated Kowal. "I know the award is giving for contributions to our profession, yet I've received much more from my career than I'll ever give - working side-by-side with like-minded colleagues to assist student-athletes, long-term friendships, wonderful trips and experiences. Watching and assisting young people - whether they be student-athletes or PR professionals - mature, grow confident, successfully deal with adversity and move on to have successes - is the most rewarding part of it all."
Barb's other major contributions are on the national women's basketball scene. The sport began its popularity with a buzz in the northeast from an undefeated Connecticut team with charismatic head coach Geno Auriemma and super talented student-athletes. Barb's abilities and driving force while UConn's women's basketball publicist helped build and support the nation's largest media following for women's basketball.
After 12 years at Connecticut, she headed south to become an Assistant AD for Media Relations at the University of Texas, overseeing and coordinating all media relations efforts for the nationally-recognized Longhorns women's athletics program. A big part of her responsibilities was working closely with the women's basketball program and legendary Jody Conradt's Hall of Fame career.
With Auriemma and Conradt, Kowal had the distinction of promoting two basketball program which had Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coaches at the helm.
During her UConn and Texas tenures, numerous student-athletes across many sports were recognized as National Players of the Year, All-Americans and Academic All-Americans. Additionally, the UT women's athletics department was singled out for 85 national/regional CoSIDA publications "Awards of Excellence," including 18 "Best in the Nation" honors.
Throughout her career, Kowal has maintained a sense of humor while demanding perfection and high standards for herself and those she has worked with. The media have enjoyed her gentle cajoling manner in her work with the NCAA Women's Final Four Media Relations Coordination Committee, a job she had from 1999-2008. She also served as the Division I coordinator for the Men's Basketball Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year award for five years.
In 2008, she received her CoSIDA 25-Year Award, a year after she was inducted into her high school's inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame class.
Outside of her athletic communications work, Kowal is involved in local Austin volunteer services. She gives time and expertise on the local high school scene, creating websites and volunteering at high school athletic events. Barb also serves as a Central Texas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer. In that role, she underwent long training and then was appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, making sure they don't get lost in the overburdened legal/social service system.
A big believer in "pay it forward and empowerment," Kowal endowed a scholarship fund at her former high school (Quabbin Regional HS) in her hometown of Barre, Massachusetts. The Kowal/Puchalsky Scholar-Athlete Award, named in honor of her parents and four grandparents, honors senior student-athletes annually for excellence in academics/athletics/community service and leadership.
Involvement, passion and service continue to define Barb Kowal.
Summing up her professional and and charitable work, Barb says,"It's simply about doing the right thing, honoring those who have reached out to assist me, and helping empower others to reach a new day."
Kowal's positive spirit, her dedication to her universities, coaches, student-athletes, and to CoSIDA, along with her highly-regarded professional attributes make her an ideal inductee into the Class of 2010 CoSIDA Hall of Fame.