• 2016 CoSIDA Special Awards general announcement/release
• Special Awards feature story schedule
by Josh Horton, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Director of Sports Information
Misericordia University has seen many changes over the last 25 years. Each year there seems to be at least one new coach, numerous new professors, dozens of new staff members, or even a new president. However, one position hasn’t changed in the last 25 years.
Scott Crispell Is the only sports information director in the history of the institution and now holds the title of Assistant Athletic Director of Media and Community Relations.
Twenty-five years later, Crispell is being honored for his year’s of service with a CoSIDA 25-Year Award.
“Scott has done an admirable job of promoting Misericordia University athletics, its student athletes and any special undertakings during his tenure,” said Misericordia University Athletic Director Chuck Edkins. “Scott cares a great deal not only for the Athletics department, but Misericordia University as a whole. He has taken pride in his work and the work of his office staff.”
Crispell implemented the Cougar’s Wendy’s Athlete of the Month/Year recognition program and is a key
Crispell with his wife Debbie and daughter, Quinn
member of the Hall of Fame Committee, in which he coordinates the ballot process.
In addition to his sports information duties, Crispell also oversees the Cougar Club, which brings in key monetary donations to the athletic department each year.
“Scott’s outstanding job in the community has allowed Misericordia’s name to spread positively to the external community. He has taken on these additional responsibilities while still performing the daily duties that sports information requires,” Edkins said. “We are fortunate to have Scott as part of our Misericordia University Athletic Staff.”
Edkins and Crispell both started at Misericordia around the same time and have developed a great friendship. Edkins, a longtime men’s soccer coach, was recently promoted to athletic director and knows he can count on Crispell.
“Scott has tremendous insight as it relates to the Athletic program and its staff. I can always count on him for sage advice when it comes to personnel,” Edkins said. “He reads individuals extremely well and I have had conversations as it relates not only to current staff, but anyone that has been a candidate for full time positions. His observations and input are highly respected by me and others.”
Respect for Crispell extends far beyond the arches at the entrance of Misericordia University. One of the places it reaches is nearby Wilkes University. Longtime sports information director, Vince Scalzo, has learned a lot from Crispell.
Misericordia, Wilkes and King’s College are all within 20 minutes of each other and all three sports information director’s have a great relationship, despite vying for coverage in Wilkes-Barre’s two daily newspapers and three television stations.
“The proximity of the three Wyoming Valley schools not only plays out positively in rivalries in competition, but allows staff from each institution to build professional bonds with one another that they would otherwise miss out on with distance,” Scalzo said. “There is a reason these guys have been in their positions for as long as they have, and it is in direct relation to the kind of work they do and how much they care about their schools and the student-athletes they publicize/promote.”
It’s not uncommon for Crispell to make the trip to Wilkes-Barre, or for Scalzo to make the trip to Dallas when either school’s have scheduling conflicts.
“Scott and I have a great relationship where we help one another out when one is in a bind with games or has questions on something. He is always someone I can call and ask work-related questions or just talk with to take a break from the crazy life of the SID world,” Scalzo said. “They say there are role models in every stage of one’s life. In saying that, I have tried to emulate someone like Scott since I have entered my professional career in athletic communications.”
Crispell has been a CoSIDA member since 1990 and in addition to his professional duties, he is a former member of the Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Mental Health/Developmental Services Advisory Board, former President of the Luzerne County Down Syndrome Network and former member of the Misericordia University Circle of Friends Advisory Board.
He served two stints as the sports information director for the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference. Crispell also coaches his daughter Quinn’s youth soccer team.
He is known not only as a great sports information mind, but also a great friend.
“Scott is fiercely loyal and I am proud to be his friend,” Edkins said. “He has a wonderful spirit and giving heart, who is there to assist with any issue or situation, both personal or professional without thinking twice.”