Graphic and release courtesy of ECAC-SIDA
Bob Heller, Director of Athletic Communications at the University of the Sciences, has been named the ECAC-SIDA's Bob Kenworthy Award winner for 2015. Named in honor of long-time Gettysburg College sports information director Bob Kenworthy, it is presented at the discretion of the ECAC-SIDA Executive Board for contributions to the corporation and mission of ECAC-SIDA.
"I am indeed humbled to be selected to receive the 2015 Bob Kenworthy Award at this year's workshop," said Heller. Bob (Kenworthy) was the ultimate professional in our field and it's an honor and a privilege to receive such a coveted award that has his name on it. I only hope I can continue to live up to the standard of professional ideals that he put forth throughout his career."
Heller is in his 22nd year in the college sports profession and 19th at the University of the Sciences, where he serves in the dual role as the Assistant Athletic Director/Director of Athletic Communications and head men's and women's cross country coach, while performing administrative duties for all 12 Devils athletic programs.
"Bob Heller is extremely dedicated in promoting the accomplishments of the student-athletes," said University of the Sciences Athletic Director Marc Caserio. "More importantly, he truly cares about their success both on the playing surface and in life."
A Villanova University graduate, Heller oversees all aspects of USciences' athletic public relations efforts since becoming the institutions first ever full-time sports information director in 1997. He was promoted to assistant athletic director in 2005. Prior to joining the Devils, he served a three-year stint (1998-1991) as an assistant sports information director for the men's athletic department at Drexel University and was the contact for the wrestling, swimming and baseball programs. He has also worked as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers game-day public relations staff for eight seasons (1988-95) and one season (1991) with the USBL's Philadelphia Spirit. Prior to Drexel, Heller worked as an assistant manager in Villanova University's Athletic Ticket office, where he help develop and implement the office's first computerized database to keep track of season ticket sales.
Heller is currently in his second year as the national coordinator for D2-SIDA's All-America program. He served as East Region Coordinator on the Daktronics Baseball All-America committee for seven years and as its vice chair for the last two prior to taking over the national coordinator reins in June of 2013. Heller also serves on CoSIDA's Academic All-America Committee as a district coordinator and has also served on the publications contest committee and computer committee (now called new/media technology committee.). Since joining CoSIDA in 1998, a total of 15 USciences' student-athletes have earned academic all-district honors with four going on to earn Academic All-America status based on nominations submitted by Heller. He was a member of NAIA-SIDA from 1998-2003 and served as the chair of its computer committee from 2001-03.
As the longest tenured athletic communications director in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, Heller is currently in his eighth year as chair of the CACC SID's. He served as the conference SID in 1999-2000. Heller was named the 2006 Division II Northeast Region winner of the Grant Burger Media Award, presented by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
Locally, Heller is a member of the executive board of the Philadelphia Area Small College Coaches Association and has served as their secretary/treasurer since 2001. The Association inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 2013 as the first ever Sports Information Director to be so honored, and he received the organization's Sam Cozen Service Award in 2003. Heller is also a member of the Philadelphia Area Sports Information Directors Association (Philly-SIDA) and serves as a sport coordinator for the
Philadelphia Inquirer Area All-Academic Team. Since its inception in 2004, six USciences student-athletes have earned Philadelphia Area All-Academic Performer of the Year honors based on nominations Heller submitted.
This past June, Heller became the longest tenured active head coach at the University of the Sciences as he entered his 17th season as the helm of the men's and women's cross country program. The women have competed at the NCAA East Region Championship in each of their 12 seasons as an NCAA member while the men have raced at the NCAA region championship seven times since 2003. Heller also served as an assistant women's basketball coach for seven seasons, ending with the 2005-06 season.
The Bob Kenworthy Award has been awarded since 1999 with 13 previous recipients. Among them are John Garner of the ECAC (2000), Rosa Gatti of ESPN (2002), Pete Nevins of East Stroudsburg University (2006), Steve McCloskey of Mansfield University (2010) and Sue Cornelius Edson (2014). Heller will be presented his award at the annual ECAC-SIDA awards dinner held on Thursday, June 4th at the Sea Crest Resort in North Falmouth, Massachusetts.
A complete list of award winners is available at
www.ecacsida.org/kenworthy.
Established in 1955, the Eastern College Athletic Conference-Sports Information Directors Association provides support for the sports information directors of the many schools affiliated with the ECAC. Membership is open to all sports information directors, conference information directors, public relations directors, athletic communicators and corporations that have a vested interest in the welfare of the organization. ECAC-SIDA is one of the nation's largest sports information director associations, with member colleges and universities ranging from Maine to North Carolina in Divisions I, II and III as well as NAIA institutions and junior colleges.