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This feature is one of the many profiles we are doing to showcase our diverse CoSIDA membership during 2017 CoSIDA Membership Recognition Week. To see all the feature stories, please click HERE.

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Brian Morales: Wagner College
Assistant Director for Media Relations

by Barb Kowal, CoSIDA Director of Professional Development and External Affairs

You cannot take the New York City mentality out of Brian Morales, nor can you take Morales out of NYC.

Morales, born and bred and educated in the Brooklyn borough, is in his fourth year as assistant director for media relations at Wagner College, the Northeast Conference school located in Staten Island, NY.

He attended St. Francis College, also in Brooklyn, and started his media relations career there after graduating in 2008. He has a master's degree in sports business management - from Manhattanville College in White Plains, NY, a short drive outside the city limits.

The 31-year old is passionate and dedicated to his career, to volunteering with CoSIDA, and to all things NYC. He stayed local to attend St. Francis College where he served as an undergraduate student media relations intern before ascending to the St. Francis assistant media relations director position. Morales held that position for seven years and was the primary contact for 13 sports at his alma mater.

"Four years ago at St. Francis, my AD told me that is was time to go and grow," Morales laughed. "But he was right. I love my alma mater but it was time. I applied for some positions, had an interview at a Division I school in Ohio, came back to Brooklyn and was offered the position in a phone call. I was thinking about saying yes and mentally started packing up my bags when Wagner called me the very same day. I was faced with a decision, and stayed in the city. No regrets!"

Like a true New Yorker, he rides the subway back and forth to work.

"I get up very early to travel from my home in Brooklyn to Staten Island," notes Morales, who serves as Wagner's primary contact for men's basketball, baseball, men's and women's tennis and supervises three graduate assistants for the 22-sport athletic department. "Back home, I am helping out my parents who are retired. It's my time to help them as much as I can as they have supported me in everything I've done."

"I am doing what I love in the city I love in the place I grew up - and would not trade it in at all."

Outgoing and personable, Morales said once he discovered the field of athletic communications as an undergraduate, he was hooked.

"I stumbled on a great opportunity at a young age," Morales stated. "I love sports, and talking and connecting to people. My best friend is (American University assistant director of athletic communications) Nick Guerriero. We went to St. Francis together. We hit it off with sports, are the same age, and both of us are very passionate about what we do. We look out for each other, give each other advice, and take others under our wing, if we see the spark and fire we had when we set out as undergraduates in this profession.

"I love being around sports, connecting with people. Being in sports information is a lifestyle," noted Morales. "It's great to travel with the teams and student-athletes as they can sometimes be your "family" for those long four or five months that you are working closely with them."

Growing up, Morales was destined to be behind the scenes.

"In an elementary school recital, I panicked with a case of stage fright and removed myself off the stage," he said. "I did not like being on stage; the lights were too bright. That was a steppingstone of what my career has been. When Nick (Guerriero) and I did the first women's basketball video at St. Francis, I felt the same way. I don't want to be in front of lights, but want to be behind the scenes and make a impact."

Get up, get out, get connected. That also might be Morales mantra and what helps make him successful - and maintain a balance in his day.

"Twice a day, for 30 minutes or so, I walk around our department. I hit the compliance, track and field, basketball offices, check in, and talk some Yankees, Knicks and Jets with them. We are humans, we need to interact and have conversations," Morales said. "I love doing this! Our AD, Walt Hameline, is always full of energy and makes a point to go see people. That sets the bar for us. I tell our graduate assistants that, yes, we are here for long hours and months. So, come in with a positive attitude and say hi and meet with people as often as you can."

Morales continued his thought on how he schedules his day.

"I don't want myself or our assistants to be locked into our laptops. If your coaches, athletes and administrators don't see you, they don't know when to bring things up. Some of the best stories I've found at St. Francis and Wagner are through these casual conversations, or talking to the 12th guy on the bench. For instance, I asked one student-athlete, hey how's class and he told me, I got an award in art. I filed that away and was able to do a great story later on."

Morales has been involved as a mentor in CoSIDA's Mentorship Program since its inception three years ago. The 2017-18 academic year marks Morales' first as a CoSIDA Continuing Education Committee member.

"It's a natural extension of giving back," Morales said. "So many people have advised me and counseled me along the way. Now I see it as my turn. My mentees have worked in Illinois/Florida, New Jersey and California. The constant communication and sharing of ideas far outweighs our miles apart or our experiences.

"When you are in a position to help others or even to listen and learn from someone else, regardless of the position or title, it makes you a better person. It is one of the values strongly reinforced during my time at St. Francis Brooklyn and now at Wagner."

And, if he wasn't in athletic communications? Naturally, Morales would be doing something NYC-related.

"I think I would be a train conductor for the Metropolitan Transit Authority!" Morales exclaimed. "Growing up in Brooklyn and before I started driving, we went everywhere by train/bus. From day one, I've loved trains. At the age of eight I rode it by myself, from my house to Yankee Stadium, to my grandmother's house in Queens. I looked like I was 11, 12, so no one stopped me. I knew where to get off and my mom would be waiting for me. They trusted me enough to grow up on the trains.

"I still know every stop on every train in NYC. I can never get lost! Six months ago, they had a conductors test and I took it - you never know!"



A Moment With Morales

How would someone describe you?
Hard-working, determined, easy going, mild-mannered, dedicated, a sports enthusiast, a friend

Who are your role models, and why?
Both my parents. My mother didn't graduate from high school but did earn her G.E.D. My father came to the United States from Puerto Rico when he was 17 and obtained an associates degree. I've always admired their work ethic and they tell me that I am the spitting image of them.

My family supported me in Cub Scouts, basketball, and said to be passionate in what you do. Mom worked in the government, and Dad worked at Columbia University in the law enforcement office. I did an internship with the Justice Department, which was a good experience, but I knew I wanted sports as a career. They were all in.

Hobbies and Interests:
I love sports and am a huge fan of the Yankees, Jet and Knicks, naturally! I also love watching WWE wrestling. I enjoy watching the TV shows Blue Bloods and Law & Order. I like to listen to all types of music. (As I talk to you, there is country and Spanish music blasting in my office.)

I love to travel. I've been to Costa Rica three times and been to the Dominican Republic. My dad and I, after the seasons end, have started to travel. You get comfortable living in New York - but we are excited to get chances to go outside the country.

Cooking. I love to cook! My best recipe is shrimp and spinach lasagna. My mom, who is Italian, begs me to cook it. With her being Sicilian and my dad being from Puerto Rico, I have a great blend of heritages and recipes to choose from.

While at St. Francis Brooklyn, you were the primary contact for 13 Division I programs. How did you balance it all and what suggestions would you give to an SID who is responsible for promoting multiple of sports by themselves?
I love a challenge. I was never a soccer fan or even followed track & field, but, in getting to cultivate relationships with the coaching staffs, it made it easier to promote their sports.

My best suggestions I could give an SID who is responsible for promoting multiple sports by themselves would be first, develop great time management skills. Come in everyday and draw up a to-do list of items that need to get done immediately, things that need to get done within a two-three day window and those that you will have extended deadlines for.

In terms of game day operations, I apply the same principle. If I am covering a basketball event at 7:00 p.m. and have both men's and women's tennis competing and they send in results, if I have time prior to tipoff, I will draw up my release for the website and keep my other computer open to import the file. If things get chaotic, take a step back and prioritize to your strengths. You know what can be accomplished first and thoroughly.

Talk about your involvement in CoSIDA - what drives you to be involved in the organization?
I've been a mentor in the CoSIDA Mentorship Program all three years of its existence and am now on the Continuing Education committee.

When I got to my first CoSIDA conventions in Florida, I knew some people in the business and got to pick their brains about what they do on campus. It really resonated with me as I enjoy engaging with people. Here at Wagner, I am responsible for overseeing three graduate assistants, who are significantly younger than me. I try to point out my early mistakes and successes and they in turn teach me things that I might have forgotten or don't know as well.

This is where my drive to volunteer my time comes for. I get involved to assist others. When I was coming up, people like Ira Thor (NJCU), David Freeman, Ron Ratner (Northeast Conference) and Ken Baker (Robert Morris University), took the time to show me the ropes and I have always felt that it is my responsibility to pass that knowledge down and share.

If you could change one thing about the athletic communications profession, what would it be?
To have more collaborative engagement, not just at our annual Convention, but try to be more engaging within the conference/affiliation you are associated with.

What would you tell someone who is thinking about working in athletic communications?
If you love sports, love being engaged, and love a challenge, then working in athletic communications is the career for you. My parents always expressed to me "Love What You Do Regardless Of What Others May Say!" It has been one of my mantras that I strongly live by.

Any final advice for athletic communications professionals?
Younger people need to keep cultivating - take what someone tells you and run with it. When you hit a wall and face a setback? Regroup. You will be successful.

Dealing with incorrect Statcrew files or missing stats can be corrected, missing out on birthdays and family outings is something that hits a little harder at times but, fortunately, I have a great support system with my mother and father, and friends in this business that keep me grounded.

I would encourage everyone in our profession to make sure to develop a great support system and educate your family and friends about our profession, the pressures, the time commitment. You can lean on them more when they really do understand what the job entails.

With all the hard work and missed times - you feel bad, but to have the support and understanding of those you care about outweighs everything else.