Below, see the schedule of the 2012 Special Award recipient feature stories which will be written by CoSIDA members throughout the spring. The
full slate of 2012 Special Awards was announced March 2. All awards will be presented during the 2012 CoSIDA Convention in St. Louis (June 23-26).
• Individual feature story schedule for 2012 Special Awards
• CoSIDA St. Louis Convention awards presentation schedule
Chuck Sadowski - 2012 CoSIDA 25-Year Award recipient
by Ann King, The Sage Colleges
Chuck Sadowski of the University of Bridgeport has been chosen to receive his 25-year Award plaque from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) in conjunction with the 2012 CoSIDA workshop at a June 24 awards luncheon in St. Louis.
Sadowski said of the award, “I really can’t see myself working in any other profession,” adding, “Being an SID has allowed me work all over the country and to meet folks that have become life-long friends. In my wildest dreams, I could have never imagined that that something that started out as basically as a way for me to make some extra money while I was getting a master’s degree in French Studies at New York University would become this wonderful career that I continue to enjoy.”
A veteran of 25 years in the sports information profession, Sadowski was named Director of Sports Information at the University of Bridgeport in late August of 2007. He came to UB after serving as the Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations at the East Coast Conference from September 2006 until the UB appointment. Prior to his time in the conference office, Sadowski was Director of Athletic Media Relations at the University of New Haven from January 2004 to June of 2006.
Jay Moran, Director of Athletics at the University of Bridgeport, said of Chuck, “He is a professional in every sense of the word. Chuck has a great relationship with the media and in our market that includes the Yankees, the Red Sox and the University of Connecticut, that is hard to do. His role as our SID has grown and he is an excellent representative for our institution with the media, his colleagues and within the University."
"Chuck is one of the best around and he understands how to get coverage for our programs, while applying his skills and still learning to adapt to the changing technology as well," concluded Moran. "He has played such an important role for UB with the NCAA and despite his 25 years in the business he has continued to improve by utilizing his old-school knowledge as an SID, while fine-tuning his skills as needed. Chuck is like a lineman and most certainly does not get the credit he truly deserves so I am thankful that he has received this award from CoSIDA.”
Sadowski served as the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information and Events at Austin College in Sherman, Texas from August of 1996 until January of 2004. He also served as the Director of Sports Information and Scheduling Coordinator at the University of Redlands from December of 1992 through August of 1996 and was Director of Sports Information at the University of Chicago from February 1987 to December of 1992. Sadowski began his career in athletic media relations as the graduate assistant SID at New York University in 1985.
“Chuck has been an outstanding colleague and friend and has done an outstanding job of serving his student-athletes throughout his career,” said Eric McDowell, Assistant Athletic Director and Sports Information Director at Union College. “He has been very active on a variety of CoSIDA committees, and one of the highlights of my career was when I got the news that he was selected to serve the board as a College Division Representative. I am so pleased for him, as well as Lisa, Laura and Sam, as he receives the 25-Year Award.”
An active member of CoSIDA, Sadowski completed a three-year term as an at-large College Division member of the organization's Board of Directors in the summer of 2006. He also is currently a vice chair of the organization's Committee on Committees. He has also worked on CoSIDA's Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest and Charity committees. Presently, Sadowski also serves as the East Region Representative to DII-SIDA. He is also a member of ECAC-SIDA.
Chuck has worked in press services at many large events including serving as the Mixed Zone Manager for baseball at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, working at the track cycling and boxing venues at the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York City, working at the 2000 USA Olympic Track Cycling Trials in Frisco, Texas. He has also helped staff the 1997 NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship plus several NCAA men's and women's basketball regionals, including the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 NCAA Division II Elite Eight in Springfield, MA. He has also assisted with many NCAA events hosted by the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard.
Sadowski assisted the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox in press services at the 2008 and 2003 Major League Baseball All-Star Games plus work for the Yankees during the team's World Championship run in 2009. He has also worked as a statistician and official scorer for the Texas Rangers Class AA affiliate, the Frisco RoughRiders in 2003 plus was the official scorer for the Class A San Bernardino Spirit in 1993. Currently, Chuck serves as official scorer for the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League.
“I’ve worked at the Olympics, the World Series, two MLB All-Star Games plus too many NCAA events to count, and that would have never happened without being a member of CoSIDA," Sadowski noted. "A 25-year award recognizes longevity and that’s really is a tribute to my family. Without the love and support of my wife Lisa and my children Laura and Sam, who had had to do without me for many things, I never would have reached this milestone.”
A 1984 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor of arts degree with honors in French with a concentration in European Studies, Chuck also received a master's degree in French Studies in 1987 from New York University. He resides in West Haven, CT with his wife, Lisa, and daughter Laura, and son, Sam.
Individual recipient feature story schedule for 2012 Special Awards
General 2012 Special Awards release
March
Mon., 5: Kim Wenger (Centennial Conference): Rising Star Award (College Division) – by Ann King (The Sage Colleges)
Wed, 7: Malcolm Moran: Jake Wade Award: by Joe Hornstein, CoSIDA 2nd Vice President
Fri., 9: Maurice Williams (Hampton University): Rising Star Award (University Division) – by Ed Hill, Jr. (Howard University)
Mon. 12: Bernie Cafarelli (Notre Dame): 25-Year Award - by Debbie White (Old Dominion)
Wed. 14: Peter Schlehr (Towson University): Lifetime Achievement Award – by Ann King (The Sage Colleges)
Fri. 16: Debbie Copp (University of Oklahoma): CoSIDA Hall of Fame - – by Ann King (The Sage Colleges)
Mon. 19: Chuck Sadowski (University of Bridgeport): 25-Year Award - – by Ann King (The Sage Colleges)
Wed. 21: Bob Condron (USOC): Lifetime Achievement Award and Keith Jackson Eternal Flame Award
Fri. 23: Jack Neumann (University of Calgary): Warren Berg Award
Mon. 26: Roy Pickerill (Kentucky Wesleyan): 25-Year Award
Mon. 27: John Lewandowki (Michigan State): 25-Year Award
Wed. 28: Kennan Timm (Wisconsin-Oshkosh): CoSIDA Hall of Fame
April
Mon., 2: Tom Di Camillo (Pac West Conference, Central Arizona College): CoSIDA Hall of Fame
Wed., 4: Dave Wohlhueter (CoSIDA treasurer, Cornell-retired): Lester Jordan Award
Fri., 6: B.L. Efring (Southern Maine): 25-Year Award
Mon., 9: Lawrence Fan (San Jose State): CoSIDA Hall of Fame and Arch Ward Award
Wed., 11: Sue Edson (Syracuse): CoSIDA Hall of Fame
Fri., 13: Mark Bankert (Malone University): 25-Year Award
Mon., 16: Joe Dier (Mississippi State): 25-Year Award
Wed., 18: Rich Herman (Clarion): Bob Kenworthy Award
Fri., 20: Shirley Jones Hill (Southern Mississippi): 25-Year Award
Mon., 23: Shelly Poe (Ohio State): Trailblazer Award
Wed., 25: Michael MacEachern (Young Harris College): 25-Year Award
Fri. 27: Roy Pickerill (Kentucky Wesleyan): 25-Year Award
Mon., 30: Bob Noss (Wright State): 25-Year Award
May
Wed., 2: Wallace Dooley (formerly of Tennessee State): Lifetime Achievement Award
Fri., 4: Jeff Nelson (Penn State): Bill Esposito Award
Mon., 7: Bill Turnage (Florida Southern): Lifetime Achievement Award
Wed., 9: Herb Vincent (LSU): 25-Year Award
Fri., 11: Mike Mahon (Drake): Lifetime Achievement Award
Mon., 14: Bill Wagner (DePauw): 25-Year Award
Wed., 16: Fred Huff (formerly of Southern Illinois-Carbondale): CoSIDA Hall of Fame [Veteran Award Committee recipient]
Fri., 18: Phil Haddy (University of Iowa): Lifetime Achievement Award
Mon., 21: Dave Geringer (University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth): 25-Year Award
Wed., 23: Charles "Chuck" Prophet (deceased; formerly of Mississippi Valley State): CoSIDA Hall of Fame
Fri., 25: Robert Wilson (Florida State): 25-Year Award
Awards to be presented during CoSIDA St. Louis Convention, St. Louis, Missouri
Sunday, June 24: Kickoff Luncheon
Awards presented: 25-Year Awards; Trailblazer, Kenworthy Community Service, Rising Star (University and College Divisions), Esposito, Keith Jackson
Monday, June 25: (two award presentations)
CoSIDA Hall of Fame luncheon
Awards presented: Lifetime Achievement; Jake Wade Award, CoSIDA Hall of Fame
Capital One Special Awards Gala (dinner/ceremony)
Awards presented: Arch Ward, Warren Berg, Lester Jordan, Enberg Award, Capital One Academic All-America® Hall of Fame