This is the fourth in a series of profiles and features on CoSIDA's 2011 Special Awards recipients.
See link to original release and the March schedule of the profiles/features, below.
Rob Knox, Sports Information Director at Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, will receive the 2011 Rising Star Award for the college division during CoSIDA's June Convention (June 26-29) at the Marco Island Mariott Beach Resort in Marco Island, Florida. The Rising Star Awards annually go to one college division and one university division professional with 10 years of service or less whose work at their institution and service, dedication, energy and enthusiasm to the profession make that individual a “rising star” in the intercollegiate athletic communications field.
THE CoSIDA SPECIAL AWARDS FEATURES SERIES
March
Tue. 1
Special Awards general announcement
Thr. 3
Capital One Academic All-America Hall of Fame release
Thr. 3
Ann King (The Sage Colleges): 25-Year Award
Tue. 8
Kent Cherrington (Plymouth State University): 25-year Award
Thr. 10
Justin Doherty (University of Wisconsin): Arch Ward Award
Tue. 15
Rob Knox (Kutztown University): Rising Star Award (College Division)
Thr. 17 Jim Daves (University of Virginia): 25-Year Award
ROB KNOX FEATURE
by Ed Hill, Howard University
Rob Knox of Kutztown University has been named the College Division recipient of the 2011 CoSIDA Rising Star Award. The Rising Star Award is presented annually to one college division and one university division member with 10 years of service or less whose work at their institution and service, dedication, energy and enthusiasm to the profession make that individual a “rising star” in the intercollegiate athletic communications field. The University Division is comprised of Division I members, while the College Division is composed of Division II, III, NAIA, two-year colleges and Canadian representatives.
Knox will be honored in June at the CoSIDA National Convention in Marcos Island, FL along with the
all other CoSIDA Special Award recipients. The University Division Rising Star, who will be profiled on CoSIDA.com at a later date, is Chevonne Mansfield of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
“Being named the Rising Star is a very humbling experience,” said Knox upon being informed that he will be receiving the award. “There are so many talented young SIDs out there who work just as hard or harder than me. This is truly overwhelming and I am honored that the Special Awards committee thought enough of me to select me for this distinguished award.”
Knox is currently the sports information director at Kutztown where he has served since 2009. During his short tenure there, Knox has achieved several outstanding accomplishments. Knox currently is completing his first year of a three-year term on the CoSIDA Board of Directors. In addition to being selected to the CoSIDA Board in June of 2009, he has successfully promoted former Kutztown basketball student-athlete Stephen Dennis who was honored as the 2010 Daktronics NCAA Division II Ron Lenz National Player of the Year. Knox also has had three other student-athletes named to the Capital One Academic All-
America® All-District first team and three to the second team.
This past fall, the tireless Knox was named to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Women’s Soccer Regional Advistory Committee. Knox spent time evaluating the teams throughout the year, evaluating them during the NCAA tournament selection process, and served as an on-site committee representative during the NCAA championship play. He was the only SID in the NCAA DII ranks to serve on a regional advisory committee this fall.
Among his CoSIDA Board duties, Knox serves on the CoSIDA Hall of Fame/Capital One Academic All-America® Hall of Fame Gala Committee which coordinates the joint Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremonies during the annual Convention.
Prior to coming to Kutztown, Knox became the first fulltime SID at Lincoln University, his alma mater, and served from 2004-09. His hard work and love for the profession resulted in the success of promoting student athletes there. Knox was instrumental in having one of his student-athletes, Ashley Parker, named a finalist for the prestigious 2007 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. He had another named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All America® third team.
“From day one in this business, Rob has set himself apart from any in the profession,” said April Emory, currently the SID at Elizabeth City State University and a former Rising Star recipient in 2009. “He is easy to work with and he is dedicated to the profession. I am very happy for Rob. He is truly deserving of this honor.”
Knox's other promotional successes include five Lincoln University student-athletes featured in
Sports Illustrated (2005, '06, '07 and '08). Knox played a key role in the Lincoln football team being featured on NFL Films Presents in 2008 and men’s basketball player Kelly Myrick winning the Division III Player of the Year Award in 2006.
Knox’s individual awards include receiving two CoSIDA Fred Stabley, Jr. Writing Contest awards and being recipient of the “Raising the Bar” award from Lincoln’s VP for Student Affairs (2008).
Prior to his tenure at Lincoln, Knox spent five years as a sportswriter for
Delaware County Daily Times. In addition to covering several outstanding athletes including Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Dawn Staley and Lisa Leslie, he covered WNBA all-star games and the 2004 NBA draft.
Knox has served on numerous CoSIDA committees and has participated in several workshops since joining the organization in 2005. He was elected President of the Black College Sports Information Directors Association in June of 2008.
Knox is married to Trudell Knox and they are the proud parents of a two-month old son, Robert.