College Sports Information Directors of America

This feature is one of the many profiles we are doing to showcase our diverse CoSIDA membership during 2016 CoSIDA Membership Recognition Week. To see all the feature stories leading up to - and during - CoSIDA Membership Recognition Week, please click HERE.


OUR STORIES
Maurice Williams
Sports Information Director, Hampton University
Member, CoSIDA Academic All-America and CoSIDA Scholarship Committees
Member, 2015-16 CoSIDA Strategic Planning Committee
2012 CoSIDA Rising Star Recipient (University Division)

by Chevonne Mansfield, American Athletic Conference Director of Communications/CoSIDA Week Committee member
 

Serving as Hampton University's Sports Information Director for the last decade. In addition to his SID duties, Williams has expanded administrative and teaching functions. Williams serves as the sport administrator for golf and is an assistant professor in the health, recreation, and physical education department. In his athletic communications role, he handles the day-to-day operations of the office, and he serves as the primary media contact for football, men's basketball, softball, and men's and women's golf.

Here is a Q&A with Williams.

You are very active in CoSIDA and serve on the Academic All-America and Scholarship Committees. What are some of your responsibilities on those committees? When did you first get involved with CoSIDA?
Williams: I first got involved with CoSIDA in 2006 when I became the SID at Shaw University because I felt that it was important to be a part of the organization if I wanted to better myself as a professional.

On the Academic All-America committee I am a District Coordinator for NCAA Division I & II. I am responsible for checking the nominations and working with the publicity committee on women's basketball and track & field/cross country nominations.

What is a cause/group you support?
Williams: I have always been an advocate for cancer and cancer research. I always do my part to help out whenever I can with Relay for Life or donating to cancer research because I always think about the young kids who have this awful disease. I also like to help student-athletes whenever they do community service project like Jump Rope for Heart, the Heart Walk and when they team up with the Food Bank to take donations for canned goods and non-perishable items. There are many people who don't have the means to get food and it's very important to me to help in that aspect.

Can you share a networking tip you've learned?
Williams: As a southern gentleman I have always been in the habit of speaking to others. Because I always speak to everyone it is really easy for me to hold a conversation with anyone which makes it easy to network with others. Also, most SIDs travel with their teams and when you're on the road at the different schools it is always good to talk to and get to know other SIDs.

What is the biggest challenge you face working in sports, and in particular, athletics communications?
Williams: The biggest challenge I face is working with people who don't understand what I do as an athletic communications professional. I often find myself in situations where I have to explain a decision to help make the department better and the office run more effective and it slows down the process. Many times I have to remind some of my colleagues and even the AD that at some home events I am the first to arrive and that last to leave.

What is the best advice you've received for career development?
Williams: The best advice that I received was never be afraid to talk to others in the profession. I was always told that people will only know who you are if you are willing to talk to them and introduce yourself.