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It doesn’t take very long to figure out why Mark Beckenbach, of Ohio Wesleyan, is the winner of the 2014 Warren Berg Award, which is presented annually to a CoSIDA College Division member who has made outstanding contributions to the field of sports information, and who by h
is or her activities, has brought dignity and prestige to the profession. What is puzzling, however, is that it took so long for him to join the elite ranks of those who toiled in mostly “one-man-shops” throughout their careers.
A fairly unassuming person whose phone conversations are punctuated by thoughtful periods of silence, Beckenbach has become a pivotal player in CoSIDA’s standard-bearing Academic All-America® program. He has also been involved in the sports information field for 36 years, e
ver since he took on SID duties at Ohio Wesleyan as a sophomore in 1979.
“The Warren Berg Award is a tremendous honor and I am very appreciative,” said Beckenbach in his typical humble approach to pr
aise about himself. “I’m grateful to many SIDs, administrators, and coaches who have been kind and generous with their knowledge and time over the years.”
Through it all, Beckenbach has been the epitome of professionalism and consistency. After a one-year stint as the sports information director at DePauw
University in Greencastle, Indiana after graduating from Ohio Wesleyan in 1981, he returned to the Delaware, Ohio campus of his alma mater in the fall of 1983. And it has been his home ever since and he has quietly, as is his nature, become one of the best in the business.
He joined the Academic All-America® committee in 1990 as a district coordinator and moved into the national coordinator’s role in 1994. He became a vice-chair in 1999 and 2007 was named associate chair. From 2011 until the present he has shared co-chair duties with Bernie Cafarelli of Notre Dame.
Cafarelli, who was inducted into CoSIDA’s Hall of Fame in 2013, has this to say about her colleague. “I can’t think of anyone more deserving of the Warren Berg Award than Mark Beckenbach as he epitomizes all that makes our profession special. He is a credit to his university and our in
dustry. Mark tirelessly works for his alma mater, Ohio Wesleyan, and is one of the most respected individuals in our business. Of course, Mark would shy away from anyone saying this because he never wants the spotlight shining on him.”
For a guy who wants to stay in the background, he has made it his mission to make sure the light shines brightly on others. His work on the Academic
All-America® committee is the stuff that legends are made of. He almost single-handedly led the transition to the on-line process in 2005 and then was the point-person on the switch from the old college division/university division format to the breakout of NCAA Divisions I, II and III and NAIA/Junior College/Canadian schools that happened in the 2011-12 school year.
“Working on the Academic All-America committee has been rewarding and inspiring, both professionally and personally. I’m fortunate to have been involved with both the core program, which recognizes the best and brightest of today’s student-athletes, as well as the Hall of Fame program, which honors Academic All-Americans who have led truly inspiring lives,” he said. “On a personal level, I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of CoSIDA’s most brilliant and passionate people as both colleagues and friends, and I treasure those relationships forged over the years.”
Through it all, he just rolled his sleeves up and got to work. He didn’t ask for much help and he certainly didn’t seek any credit for all of his work.
“I am grateful to work side-by-side with him on the Academic All-America® committee,” said Cafarelli. “We’ve grown up together working in this profession and being members of the AAA committee. Mark has so much passion for the program and its ideals. The decisions he makes are always for the betterment of the student-athletes that are honored each year.”
The common theme in assessing Beckenbach’s body of work is clear. This is a man who clearly puts others ahead of self.
“Mark has been a great friend and role model to so many of us in the sports information profession throughout his career. I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Mark for over 20 years now, especially with the Academic All-America® program and thousands of student-athletes have benefitted from his leadership and vision,” said Jim Seavy of Massachusetts Maritime Academy who serves on the leadership group of the Academic All-America® committee. “He represents everything he does with great passion and energy. I am proud to call him a colleague but even prouder
to call him a friend.”
Besides the mountain of work that he climbs each day for the Academic All-America® committee as the co-chair for internal operations, he also does yeoman’s
duty for the Bishops of Ohio Wesleyan. He is responsible for the public relation needs, in all forms, for 23 intercollegiate athletics teams fielded by the Bishops. The senior sports information director in the North Coast Athletic Conference, Beckenbach eagerly shares his wisdom and expertise with his colleagues.
He has served as the president of the NCAC sports information directors from 1999 through the present. Beckenbach was inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame in 2011 and received the Lester Jordan Award in 2006 for his work on the Academic All-America committee. He becomes just the third SID in CoSIDA history to win the “triple crown” of Hall of Fame, Lester Jordan and Warren Berg awards.
Beckenbach served on the Football Gazette All-America team selection committee from 1992 through 2004 and was on the selection committee for the All-American team that had sponsors such as Champion, Hewlett-Packard and D-III SIDs from 1998 through 2003. A total of 67 of his publications have won CoSIDA awards, including 17 “Best in Nation” and five “Best Covers”.
Kevin Lanke, the sports information director at Rose-Hulman University, assessed Beckenbach’s impact on the future of the profession. “As CoSIDA members, we are proud to have someone with such passionate belief in the Academic All-America® program representing us in this flagship endeavor,” said Lanke who helps Beckenbach on the internal operations side of the program. “The next generation of sports information professionals would be well advised to look to Mark as an example of how to do things right.”