This profile on 25-Year Award recipient Diane Nordstrom, University of Wisconsin Associate Director of Athletic Communications, is the sixth in a series of profiles and features on CoSIDA's 2011 Special Awards recipients.
See link to original release and the March/April schedule of the profiles/features, below.
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
Tue. 22 Diane Nordstrom (University of Wisconsin): 25-Year Award
Thr. 24 Chevonne Mansfield (SWAC): Rising Star Award (University Division)
Tue. 29 Dr. Bill Smith (University of Arkansas): Bob Kenworthy Community Service Award
Thr. 31 Kevin Ruple (Baldwin-Wallace College): Lester Jordan Award
April
Tue. 5 Rich Herman (Clarion) - CoSIDA Hall of Fame & Warren Berg Award
Thr. 7 Paul Madison (Western Washington)- CoSIDA Hall of Fame
other profiles in the schedule to be announced; schedule subject to change
DIANE NORDSTROM: 25-Year Award recipient
by Mary Jo Haverbeck, Retired, Penn State University
Diane Nordstrom may celebrate her entry into CoSIDA’s 25-year club by doing a handstand or maybe a cartwheel. That’s what she does when she’s absorbing a special moment.
For Nordstrom, Wisconsin has always been home. Born in Melrose, she competed for the Badger’s track team setting a school record in the discus. During her last semester in Madison she worked in what was the women’s sports information office.
“It was great to be able to continue to be involved in the sports I love and to see another side of athletics,” she said of her early years. “I fell in love with sports information right away since it combined my love of sports and writing.”
“I could tell she was going to be a natural when I first hired her as a student assistant, and later full-time,” said Tam Flarup, the former director of women’s sports information at Wisconsin for 25 years who now serves as UW's Director of Website Services. “As a former student-athlete and journalism graduate, she had a tremendous background and love for women’s sports which was important at that time. When desktop publishing came into vogue, it unleashed her tremendous creative abilities. She is truly at the top in our profession.”
Nordstrom's first full-time position was at UW-Milwaukee where she was hired as an assistant at the NAIA school. Three months into the job the director left and she took control of a one-woman shop.
“We were hosting the NAIA National Championship for volleyball that fall,” she said. “Talk about getting thrown into the fire. Luckily, things went well, but it was quite the learning experience.”
She came back to her alma mater in 1990. Three years later she was back running a national women’s volleyball championship, this time for the NCAA. “Like any event, it’s all of the preparation that’s the tough part,” she said. “This was before cell phones were common and we had to rent phones for the championship. At that time phones were the size of a small loaf of bread but I remember thinking how cool they were.” Nordstrom again was the host for the NCAA ‘s 1998 Women’s Volleyball Championship.
“I think my favorite part of any championship is making sure all of the participants, from the athletes to the coaches to the staff, have a great meet,” she said. She mentioned hosting Big Ten Indoor and Outdoor Track Championships for several years as one of her most challenging responsibilities. “You’re not just running one event,” she said. “You’re running 42 events in the space of three days.”
Three years ago her job changed as she became the full-time contact for Badger women’s basketball. She also is her school’s publications coordinator spending countless hours working on a computer. She’s not sure how many hours of her day that consumes. “I’m afraid to count. I actually like doing media guides, despite the time commitment. I like the creative aspect of the job.”
Nordstrom used riding mountain bikes and travelling as an outlet for her energy. She has given up the mountain bike races but still has a passion for travel.
“I have been to more than 20 countries outside of the U.S.,” she said. “I have photos of places I have travelled to on the wall of my office to remind me of enjoyable times.” She also has photos of herself doing handstands during her travels.
Nordstrom admits that she hasn’t kept track of her time working in athletic communications. “I actually almost forgot that this was my 25th year with CoSIDA,” she said. “It seems just like yesterday I was attending my first convention in Nashville.” She does recall having to sleep on a couch in a room during her visit to Nashville. “There was a mix up with the person who was supposed to be my roommate that year,” she said.
Nordstrom’s resume combines success as an athlete with a degree from Wisconsin in journalism. She joins a growing number of women who have reached the celebrated tenure of 25 years in the profession and she’s following in the footsteps of Flarup, her former boss, and now Badger Athletics' Director of Website Services.
“My biggest influence by far has been my mentor, Tam Flarup. She gave me my first job in the field and also passed on her passion for the profession. Tam gave me advice over the years, both spoken and by the way she does things.”
Nordstrom’s Rules To Live By In Athletic Communications:
• Get involved, whether it’s joining a CoSIDA committee or volunteering to serve on a panel or do a table topic. Also, make sure you get out and meet new people. I’ve met some amazing people from committees, FAME and just through travelling to other schools.
• Pick your fights. Not everything is worth battling over. There are times you need to give in and live to fight another day.
• Always speak up for your sports. Don’t let them get lost just because they are not football or basketball. Sometimes you may be the only publicity that your sport will get.
• Most importantly, take time for yourself. Whether it’s lunch, working out or taking a day off, the office and duties will still be there when you get back.