Release courtesy of RMAC
(http://www.rmacsports.org/). Additional release information courtesy
Colorado School of Mines Athletics.
COLORADO SPRINGS – Colorado School of Mines’
Colin Bonnicksen has been selected by his peers as the 2013 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference J.W. Campbell/Con Marshall Sports Information Director of the Year, the league office has announced.
The award is voted on by the league’s 14 sports information directors. This is the third such award for Colorado School of Mines, as former sports information directors
Greg Murphy (2004) and
Jeff Duggan (2009) captured the award as well.
“To be honored by my peers with this award is extremely humbling, especially knowing their collective work ethic and abilities,” said Bonnicksen. “I’m fortunate in that I get to work with whom I believe to be the best group of student-athletes, coaches and staff in the entire conference, and I would like to thank them all for the support they have given me since day one. Specifically, I would like to thank our Assistant S.I.D., Bryan Desch, who brings a tireless work ethic, professionalism and strong passion for Mines Athletics with him to work on a daily basis. This honor is just as much his as it is mine.”
The 2012-13 season marks Bonnicksen’s first full year with the Oredigger athletic department. He joined the Oredigger Athletics staff in December of 2011.
Bonnicksen is responsible for the promotion of the Orediggers’ 18 intercollegiate athletics programs through the school’s athletics website (www.csmorediggers.com), in addition to composing press releases, print publications, game programs, and game notes while keeping track of statistics and records. He also serves as the Orediggers’ primary contact for football, volleyball, men’s basketball, wrestling, baseball and golf.
“Colin is a tireless worker and has an incredible passion for Mines’ Athletics and the welfare of our student-athletes,” said Associate Director of Athletics Brandon Leimbach. “His skill set goes above and beyond just reporting scores and statistics, most notably he has revamped our web site and all graphic arts material in addition to hosting numerous RMAC and NCAA Championships. He has been an unbelievable fit to our administrative staff and his ability to connect with our coaches has been tremendous. On behalf of the Colorado School of Mines Athletics Department, I would like to personally congratulate Colin on this amazing award as it is extremely fitting for him to be recognized considering the quality of work that he puts forth on a daily basis for the betterment of Mines Athletics.”
The 2012-13 season marks the first full year with the Oredigger athletic department for both Bonnicksen and Desch. Bonnicksen joined the Oredigger Athletics staff in December of 2011 and Desch came to Golden in September of 2012.
Prior to arriving at Colorado Mines, the Ringsted, Iowa native spent nearly two years as the Associate Director of Athletic Media Relations at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in Pembroke, N.C. In 2010, Bonnicksen received his graduate degree in education from Northern State (Aberdeen, S.D.) where he was a graduate assistant in the sports information office. He received his undergraduate degree in sports management from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2008.
Desch spent the two years prior to his appointment at Mines as a graduate assistant in the sports information office at his alma mater, Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio. He also worked with the athletic facilities operations staff at Ohio State University and also served as an intern in the University of Dayton sports information office.
Bonnicksen will be awarded the J.W. Campbell/Con Marshall Sports Information Director of the Year plaque at the 2013 RMAC Hall of Fame & Awards Ceremony on Friday, July 12 at the Colorado Springs Marriott.
Metro State’s
Andy Schlichting came in second in voting for the award while Chadron State’s
Alex Helmbrecht was third.
J. W. Campbell was a long-time sports information director at Western State. He was also the assistant to the Western State President, an assistant professor, teaching seven separate disciplines and was the school’s information director. He also co-authored two books and wrote numerous articles for magazines and trade publications. Campbell, who passed away in March 2000, was inducted into the RMAC Hall of Fame in July 2007.
Con Marshall, who resigned from the sports information director’s post from Chadron State College in 2007 after 36 years, continues to assist in the promotions of Chadron State and its athletics programs, and he is a member of the RMAC Hall of Fame committee. A native of Chadron and a CSC graduate, Marshall’s named was added to the award in 2007. He has received a 25-year award from the College Sports Information Directors of America and served on the Harlon Hill Award Selection Committee.
Past recipients of the J.W. Campbell/Con Marshall Award
2013: Colin Bonnicksen, Colorado School of Mines
2012: Anthony Sandstrom, CSU-Pueblo
2011: Andy Schlichting, Metro State
2010: Peter Yazvac, Nebraska-Kearney
2009: Jeff Duggan, Colorado School of Mines
2008: Chris Day, Adams State College
2007: Doug Fitzgerald, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
2006: Peter Yazvac, Nebraska-Kearney & Chris Day, Adams State College
2005: Jason McCullough, Fort Hays State
2004: Greg Murphy, Colorado School of Mines
2003: Jeff Duggan, Regis University
2002: Chris Day, Adams State College