See the full schedule of Special Award features
Like many athletics communications directors through the years, Paul Helgren stumbled into the profession.
But nearly 30 years later, the University of Toledo’s associate athletic director for communications couldn’t imagine doing anything else, and he will be honored with a 25-Year Award at the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) annual convention on June 11 in Orlando, Fla.
Helgren had just graduated from the University of Michigan in 1985 when U-M SID Bruce Madej recommended to Jim Streeter of Eastern Michigan University that he hire Helgren, who had known Madej from covering the Wolverines for the
Michigan Daily student-newspaper. Helgren made the transition to sports information, expecting it to be a short-term job, but has remained in the field, save for a year in EMU’s athletic marketing and promotions office in the late 1980s.
Today, Helgren is the dean of active SIDs in the Mid-American Conference, completing his 16th year at Toledo this summer. He was hired as assistant athletic director for media relations at UT and was promoted to his current position in 2008, overseeing all communications efforts and handling media relations for the Rockets football program.
"Paul Helgren's dedication and professionalism to the University of Toledo Athletic Department and the Mid-American Conference is a shining example for all within our profession," noted Ken Mather, mid-American Conference assistant commissioner/media and public relations.
After the year in marketing at EMU, Helgren returned to sports information as the SID at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from 1990-96 and as assistant athletic director for external operations from 1997-98 before arriving at Toledo.
“When I came into the business, things were different. We did not have the internet, social media, bloggers. Heck, we didn’t’ even have computers until my second year at EMU. But technology has basically kept me in the business. If I had to do baseball stats by hand, I would
have found another occupation long ago.”
Helgren cites Streeter, a recent CoSIDA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, as his mentor and role model: “He taught me the SID business. I always admired how Jim kept his cool under pressure and how he treated people. He knew how to take care of reporters, which really paid off for EMU in terms of media coverage over the years. Jim also made me realize that you don’t have to work at a ‘big-time’ school to make a big impact in our business.”
And now, Helgren returns the mentoring favor to his assistants, Steve Easton and Brian DeBenedictis, who have been together with him for an
incredible 14 years on the UT communications staff.
“Paul is a true professional,” said DeBenedictis. “His writing style and ability to tell an athlete's story is impeccable. He constantly pushes his staff to be the best writers we can be. As with any athletic communications professional, Paul's career has been full of some outstanding wins as well as some tough losses both on and off the field. He has treated every moment with the attention and detail it deserves.”
Among the highlights of Helgren’s career are the Toledo football team’s victory at Penn State in 2000 and a home win over 9th-ranked Pittsburgh in 2003. But, perhaps, the most memorable is the Rockets’ victory at his alma mater Michigan in 2008.
“It was my first time in the old press box since my college days and it struck me how nothing had changed in 23 years,” Helgren said. “Bruce Madej was still the SID. Heck, even the carpeting the press box was the same! It was a sweet victory. After the game, I stayed on the field for late interviews. I just looked around and thought to myself, ‘Never forget this day.’ I felt like I had come full-circle.”
A CoSIDA member since 1986, Helgren has found a long-term home at Toledo and looks forward each year to working with the student-athletes, athletics staff and media.
“I love the rhythm of the profession, how it changes with the seasons,” Helgren said. “Fall means football, winter is basketball, spring is baseball and summer is a time to enjoy yourself a little before getting ready for football again. It’s perfect really.
“I’m happy I stayed with it and very humbled to be recognized by CoSIDA. Like most SIDs, I prefer to stay in the background, but I guess doing anything for 25 years deserves a pat on the back!”
###