This is the next profile Q and A in a series entitled "
Communicators Outside the Lines: Better Yourself, Better Your Community" that the CoSIDA Goodwill & Wellness Committee is producing.
Profile: Bryan Marshall, Millikin
Profile: Kim Ling, Ole Miss
Profile: Rick Baker, Mars Hill University
Profile: Sam Atkinson, Gallaudet University
Profile: Judy Willson, Mountain West Conference
Profile: Chris Wenzler, John Carroll University
HAVE IDEAS OR MEMBERS TO NOMINATE FOR THIS SERIES?
If you have any ideas for this series, which will revolve around CoSIDA member volunteerism and health and wellness, please contact Goodwill and Wellness Committee chair
Chris Mitchell, Washington University in St. Louis Assistant AD for Communications, via cell (618-560-9280) or email (
mitchell@wustl.edu).
Q&A with Tom Caudill
Muskingum University Sports Information Director
by Chris Wenzler, John Caroll University Assistant Atheltic Director/Sports Information Director
CoSIDA Goodwill and Wellness Committee
Tom Caudill has served as the Sports Information Director at Muskingum since 2001, but will be reinventing his role this fall with the creation of a new academic major in Athletics Communication. He will serve as the Director and Assistant Professor for the program and be a member of the faculty for the Sport Administration major. He will still
Tom Caudill and his family - Tom, son Tanner, wife Mary Beth (Muskingum women's soccer coach) and son Ty.
oversee sports information and have a new focus on evolving the Athletics Communication program.?? As he embarks on this new venture, it is worth noting that through his previous 15 years at Muskingum he has managed to strike one of the great work-life balances of anyone in the profession. He has done this with the assistance of his wife, Mary Beth Caudill, who has been the women's soccer coach at Muskingum for the past two decades.
Q: Tell us about your path toward a career in sports information (Where did you do your undergrad work, what kind of things did you do prior to Muskingum, etc.)
A: I earned my B.A. in Journalism at The Ohio State University. During my senior year, I was fortunate to be selected as the Sports Editor of The Lantern, the official student newspaper of Ohio State. This great opportunity allowed me to work with Ohio State's athletics communications office and exposed me to the sports information profession. Following graduation, I worked as the marketing manager for the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League, which ultimately led to my current position at Muskingum. Furthermore, I made sure to complete my M.A. in education at Muskingum before things got really hectic with kids!
Q: How did you meet your wife? With the both of you working at Muskingum, what advantages and disadvantages does that bring?
A: Mary Beth and I met during my first few months at Muskingum. It is great seeing each other throughout the day and having lunch together. We both have a passion for sports and love our jobs. It is awesome to be married to someone who understands the profession and is willing to listen and offer suggestions on the many sports information dilemmas that arise throughout the year. I could not have accomplished many of my achievements at Muskingum without her help and continuous support.
Q: How have you and your wife managed to strike a healthy work-life balance?
A: First, we make a great team! When one of us has work obligations, the other picks up the slack. Our calendars are based on quarters throughout the year ... fall sports quarter (soccer, football, volleyball, cross-country, etc.), winter quarter (basketball, wrestling, indoor track, etc.), spring (baseball, softball, track, lacrosse, tennis, golf, etc.) and summer (family fun, recruiting, camps). We organize our schedules at the beginning of each season and adjust as we need to throughout. This is a DAILY ... HOURLY plan to make sure we are both where we need to be and the kids are taken care of.
There is a lot of "tag-team" parenting throughout each season... but we make it work. We used to rely on help from both our parents and babysitters while we were both working (evenings, weekends); but now that the kids are older, I have been able to take them with me to events, and they even help (passing out programs, helping with concession stand, etc.). Additionally, it was vital that we live in close proximity to our jobs. We are able to be anywhere on campus in a minute's notice.
Q: In your time at Muskingum, what have been the biggest roadblocks you have encountered along the way and how have you conquered those?
A: Muskingum has always been very supportive of me. Being a one-person office, many challenges are presented throughout the year. From budget shortfalls, to properly staffing home events, Muskingum has always worked hand-in-hand with me to ensure that the needs of the sports information office are supported. The administration, faculty and staff know the value that Sports Information brings to the University. This has created a positive and fun work environment.
Q: What part of the business has been most surprising, and what has been most rewarding?
A: I most enjoy mentoring my student workers to become dependable, responsible, and confident people as they go out into the world. I enjoy the daily interaction of working together on events and problem-solving as a team. I like that I am trusted go make decisions that help promote Muskingum athletics and our university.
Q: You have devoted time to being advisor to the Student Athlete Advisory Committee at Muskingum? What have been the challenges, and what have been some of the successes?
A: I volunteered to be advisor for Muskingum's Student Athlete Advisory Committee in the fall of 2015. I feel the efforts of SAAC go hand-in-hand with the majority of functions of the Sports Information Office. It's been very rewarding working with Muskingum's student-athlete leaders on a daily basis to help promote Muskingum athletics and community service.
Last year, SAAC hosted several highly successful spirit nights, sponsored numerous game promotions, partnered with New Concord elementary school for a reading and tutoring program and hosted Muskingum's first-ever Golden Hook Awards to honor Muskingum's student-athletes and teams. I'm looking forward to building upon the solid foundation that was set this year by Muskingum's SAAC.
Q: You might be the most fit SID in the Ohio Athletic Conference ... How do you stay in shape and how do you manage to make that a priority given your management of 21 varsity sports at Muskingum?
A: Health and fitness have always been a priority of mine since college. It makes it easier having a wife and kids who are also very health conscious and active. We have a home fitness area in our house (put in after our first child, Tanner, was born) that features a treadmill, stepper, weight bench and free weights. This makes it more convenient to work out during the many hectic months of the school year. I make sure to block out an hour a day, 5-6 days a week, to focus on fitness. I also utilize a Fitbit that helps me track my daily calories, steps, workouts, and active minutes.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your new role - what does it involve, how did it come about/evolve, and where you see it going?
A: Most recently, I spearheaded a campus-wide effort to make Athletics Communication an academic major at Muskingum. The new program, which I will direct and serve as assistant professor, debuts in the fall of 2016 and will position Muskingum graduates to be highly-qualified candidates for jobs in college athletics, professional sport organizations, amateur sport organizations, and numerous other jobs in the sports industry market.
The new program was heavily supported by Muskingum's president, faculty, and staff. The addition of my academic duties allowed me to hire Muskingum's first-ever full-time assistant. The program is projected to be a very popular major and one that will continue to grow.
Q: What's the best piece of advice you've ever gotten on work-life balance and what made it so helpful? In turn, what advice could you give?
A: Do what you love and enjoy it. Then it doesn't feel like work. Don't be afraid to ask for help. I solicited the help of so many fellow SID's in the league my first few years at Muskingum which enabled me to make a smooth transition to the job. I continue to ask other SID's for ideas on how to provide the best services we possibly can. Finally, I make it a point to say thank you to everyone who helps and supports the sports information efforts throughout the year. I really do appreciate those who make my job more enjoyable and believe it's important to let them know.