• 2015 CoSIDA Special Awards general announcement/release
• Special Awards feature story schedule
by Justin Doherty, University of Wisconsin Associate Director for External Relations
Larry Dougherty’s father, Andy,
was a sport
s information director at St. Joe’s in Philadelphia from 1972-81.
My father was the SID at the University of Detroit in the 1960s.
Dougherty oversees athletic communications at Temple.
I do the same at Wisconsin.
Dougherty is the sport administrator at Temple for men’s and women’s soccer.
I have sport administration responsibilities for men’s and women’s soccer and men’s basketball at Wisconsin.
But prior to our time together on the College Sports Information Directors of America board, Dougherty and I had never really known each other. And that’s the great thing about our profession. It can bring together two people with a lot in common, who have never met, but who then become good friends.
I was thrilled – and I know many others were, too – when I heard “Larry Doc” had been elected for membership into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame. It’s a great honor and he’s most deserving.
“It’s a terrific honor because it’s selected by your peers,” Dougherty said. “It makes me think of my dad and of (longtime Temple SID) Al Shrier, and all of the great people I’ve been able to work with.”
Dougherty is in his 12th year at Temple and fourth as senior associate athletic director for communications after serving the previous four years as associate athletic director. In his position, he oversees the athletic communications and publications of the university’s 19-sport Division I-A athletic program as well as the television and radio operations. He also is the varsity sport administrator for men's and women's soccer.
Dougherty joined the Owls’ staff after serving 15 years in the media relations office at Saint Joseph’s, the last eight as the school’s assistant athletic director for media relations. Prior to SJU, he served as the SID at Nicholls State for one year and as the information director of the East Coast Conference for two years.
Dougherty served as chair of the organizing committee for the 2009 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference-SIDA Workshop held in Avalon, New Jersey, and the 2005 CoSIDA Convention held in Philadelphia. Dougherty served as the president of CoSIDA during 2010-11. He was the recipient of the ECAC-SIDA’s 2011 Irving T. Marsh Award. He earned both his bachelor’s (1982) and executive MBA (1994) degrees from Saint Joseph’s.
Dougherty’s time on the CoSIDA Board and, eventually, as the organization’s president was one of great change. CoSIDA hired its first executive director (John Humenik), additional full-time staff and aligned itself with NACDA during those years. Dougherty recognizes those accomplishments as some of the highlights of his time on the Board.
Dougherty’s peers also recognize the value he brought (and still brings) to CoSIDA.
“Larry is most deserving of his selection to the CoSIDA Hall of Fame,” said Nick Joos, also a CoSIDA Hall of Famer from Baylor and CoSIDA Board member with Dougherty. “When I think of Philadelphia icons in the field of athletic communications, the two names that immediately come to my mind are the legendary Al Shrier and Larry. He enjoys tremendous respect from the coaches, student-athletes, staff and the media which he serves on a daily basis, and I’m excited that his peers have recognized this by putting him in the Hall of Fame.
"Not only did Larry do an outstanding job of continuing to advance CoSIDA and our profession during his year as president, but he also has faithfully served on the Academic All-America committee for some 20 years.”
Dougherty has the perfect set of skills for our line of work.
First, he can talk to anybody. He can transition from a CoSIDA Past Officers’ dinner to a YC (Young CoSIDA) get-together better than anyone I’ve ever seen. His friendly nature and outgoing personality fit perfectly in any social situation.
Secondly, Larry is dedicated to his work and to bettering our profession. No one serves on the Academic All-America® Committee, the CoSIDA Board and handles their own job at home without a great work ethic and devotion to what they are doing. Lastly, Dougherty combines professionalism with common sense. He was a good decision-maker and sounding board as a CoSIDA Board member.
Bottom line: Whether it’s a postgame news conference, a CoSIDA Board meeting or a 1,000-person social gathering, “Larry Doc” is a good guy to have in the room.
Welcome to the Hall of Fame, Larry!