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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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Wendy Reid: Olivet Nazarene University
Sports Information Director

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

Wendy Reid is making great contributions to her family, university and community. Talking to her about her daily activities and how she integrates work and family responsibilities is simply impressive.

A doer and a giver, the award-winning professional is in her sixth year as Sports Information Director at Olivet Nazare University, overseeing the Tigers' 21 athletic teams. The NAIA institution is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, 60 miles due south of Chicago.

There's a unique twist to her story. Reid's husband and father to their three daughters, Todd, works right outside her SID office. He is the highly successful 11-year head coach of Olivet Nazarene's baseball team. The Reids live near campus with their three daughters, Maddux, Mia and Montana.

This SID-married-to-a-head coach is a rarity in college athletics. Especially when the duo works at the same school.

"Actually, we have three daughters and 30 sons: that's what we always say," Reid said. "We have always considered Todd's teams to be part of our family and our ministry. We have always been 'all-in' at the institutions we have been at...always supporting the other teams and always around. Our girls don't know any other lifestyle. So, when I became the SID, it allowed our family and ministry to grow."

Reid came into the athletic communications field with quite the varied career path. She was an insurance underwriter, a former softball coach at Eastern Nazarene College, and an elementary school reading assistant for five years as she balanced family and work obligations.

 

Then came the opportunity at Olivet Nazarene.

"Honestly, I got here because we had an SID leave in the middle of the 2011-12 academic year," she explained. "It just happened to be right before softball season and since that is my 'expertise' and I have done baseball and softball stats, so I filled in.

"Then, the position opened up as full time. After a lot of thought and prayer, we decided with my background in playing and coaching collegiately, a degree in marketing and a general knowledge of how the athletic department runs, that I would apply. But, I also made sure that the hiring committee understood that as a mother of three and the wife of a coach, they were going to have to allow me to be flexible."

The institution also was flexible with the hiring.

"The fact that Todd and I are husband and wife was actually a big hold up with the University when they hired me," Reid said. "They try to not have married couples report to the same manager. So, apparently (AD) Gary (Newsome) must have thought he could handle us...not sure how he feel about that now!"

Newsome is fully supportive.

"The ONU athletic department is rather family friendly. During most any week during the year you may see our coaches' kids in our buildings and at our practices," said Newsome, Olivet Nazarene's director of athletics. "Our student-athletes love the family touch and it tends to make us 'real people'. This kind of approach makes our athletes feel at home rather than at an out of touch university. Wendy and Todd play a big role in this."

Reid's work does not go unnoticed outside the department, either. This past August, she was selected as the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Sports Information Director of the Year by a vote of her peers.

Reid was singled out for many achievements, most notably for spearheading ONU's and the CACC's advancements in social media and for serving on the conference's executive committee and as a host for numerous CACC championships.

"Wendy deserves that honor. She has transformed the sports information office at Olivet Nazarene into one of the best in the country, and her knowledge and passion for the job is second to none," Newsome said. "She elevated our the social media presence as she one, dug the footer; two, laid the foundation; three, erected the walls; and four, put on the roof. The video presence that she has developed really enhances our programs. Her connections to CCAC colleagues ensures that we run conference events on our campus at the highest level. It's been outstanding work on her part."



"The CCAC honor is very humbling since I consider several of my colleagues in the conference to be mentors in the industry," Reid said. "The CCAC has so many excellent SIDs. I have learned so much from them over the years. I am truly honored that I received the award especially given the competition."

In her Q&A below, she outlines some of the measures she and the staff take to manage the expectations, manage the job and how she has made sure that both her roles - as a mom and and SID - are honored.

Pro Tips From Wendy Reid

You have 19 sports and two in athletic communications, with Nick Birkey wearing two hats as head assistant men's basketball coach and assistant SID ... How do you break up the workload? With just 1.5 people working in athletic communications, how does the work get shared?
When I was originally hired, we broke up the load as "men's" and "women's", but it didn't take long to realize that did not work! It has been a work in progress, but since I am full time and Nick is part time, we try and break it up 70/30. We take into account things like team's that have the same coach, teams that play back-to-back, teams that have double seasons, teams that have a coach married to one of the SIDs ... you know, normal stuff! I also handle all social media for the department and am the liaison between our department and the other departments on campus. This schedule gets tweaked annually.

I have four to five student workers who we train on inputting stats and one to two students who take pictures. I also usually have one to two sports management majors who intern for me and work on larger projects. Then, we hire our baseball team to work the volleyball games, handling everything from doing the official game book to line judging. I'd recommend that other schools do what we do - use our student-athletes for help. For example, the softball team handles the table at the women's basketball games.

I'd like to take a second to brag about my volleyball table. I got complimented on them every game from the officials and often the visiting coaches. We host an annual tournament which they work 10-12 hours days and they rock it! This year, I had an official and a coach tell me that two of them should get certified and use it as a secondary career. I'm going to miss them.

There are not many coach-SID marriages out there, and especially not many head coach-SID marriages where both work at the same institution. What is that like for you?
Honestly, we barely see each other at work, partly because our offices are in different buildings and partly because Todd also teaches and is at the field or in practice most of the rest of the time. The one advantage is that I know things that he might otherwise forget to tell me. A disadvantage is that he likes.

Since both you and Todd are graduates of Mount Vernon Nazarene within two years of each other - is that where you met or did you meet later in your professional careers?
We graduated from Olivet's sister school, Mount Vernon Nazarene University. I was a softball player and he was a baseball player. We met in the training room! Our first unofficial date was to an away men's basketball game. Even from the beginning, we spent our lives at collegiate athletic events.

Funny story, we both played for the same coach, Keith Veale, while at MVNU. Coach Veale coached softball my freshman year, then abandoned us when the baseball coach resigned. I still hold a grudge! Actually, Coach Veale and his wife have continued to be our mentors, Todd as a coach and Toni as a coach's wife. Their friendship and guidance has meant the world to both of us and directly affected our ministry.
 

You have three daughters, one of who is a college softball student-athlete. Have they been/are they involved in mom and dad's professional lives on campus? What do they think of it?
Our oldest is a junior at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville. She is on the softball team and studying communications with the desire to be in sports information...in case anyone is looking for a graduate assistant in a couple of years! Our middle daughter is a high school freshman and our youngest is in third grade. Super spread out...one born in each state we have lived in.

When I became the SID, it allowed our family and ministry to grow. It also meant I was getting paid to be at games I was already attending! The girls are at events and travel with me when their scheduled allow. They have always been more comfortable around college athletes than people their own ages. I love seeing the relationships they form with the student-athletes and the role models that they have. They even learn some life lessons right along with our 18-22 year olds. Life is crazy...but I think everyone would say that's the way they like it.

As parents involved in collegiate athletics, give some of your "pro tips" to others in athletic communications on how you balance meeting family obligations, social obligations, other outside obligations and your seven-day a week jobs?
Rule number one, don't let you job consume you. Actually, that's the only rule! There will always be more you can do. Learn to say no. Though I guess that would technically be a second rule.

I truly try to only work 40 hours a week. If I know it's a week with several events or a home tournament, I make sure that I take time during the week to get things done that I need to at home. I also try and volunteer in their classroom or chaperone their field trips. Make time for the things that are important to them.

I do my best to always get the kids up in the morning and put the kids on the bus. I also try to be there when they get home, even if it's just to hear how the day went. They know that we won't be at all of their events. If we can't be there, we use it as an opportunity to make them tell us about it. We don't take the "We won" answer - they have to tell us what actually happened. As coach's kids, they know that means details about how the team played as well as personally.

The girls will come to events and travel with me when I need to. It's often "bring your child to work day" when it's an early release or no school for some reason. There are a lot of kids in the department, so they always have friends to play with. I think the thing I love seeing the most is how they interact with the younger children of the other coaches. It's like their way of mentoring them into being "coach's kids". I often get a text from a coach asking if they will be there because their children are asking.

Do you and Todd get to watch your collegiate athlete play and attend the activities of the other two daughters?
We are a busy family, that's for sure. The youngest still plays recreational sports and one of us usually coaches her, so she always gets one of us. The older two know that we don't can't attend all of their sporting events.

Our oldest plays softball about seven hours away at Trevecca Nazarene in the same season that Todd coaches. He has been to one double header in two years. It's much more difficult for him to get away. But, the games are lives streamed - a big thank you to (Trevecca SID) Greg Ruff for that! - so he can watch some. I try and go to as many as I can when our team isn't playing at home. I also am comfortable leaving my students in charge. I think I have been to maybe ten games in two years.

Our high schooler knows at least one of us will try and be at all home events. We don't generally travel unless it's a big game.

The same goes for when we put our "coach's family" hats on. We go to home games, but only travel when it's a big game or there is a good place to eat nearly! That's been the case for all 21 years. I never wanted to make my daughters attend all the games. I didn't want them dislike the game because they were always in the car going to a different game or always sitting the cold. Now that they are older and understand the game and know the players, they will sometimes ask to go.

Many young professionals in our association, particularly women, are struggling with the thought of being a parent and an SID, or are struggling to meet the demands of both. What are some of the lessons you've learned along the way to make it work, or some of the mistakes you've made?
Ironically, all three of my daughters say they want to enter the profession. One is well on her way, I try to help her select classes that I think will help her.

First, see Rules Number 1 and 2 above. Second, be open with your supervisor about what options there are and how to be more flexible. Think outside the box. So much of this job can be done at home or on our phones even. Can your children come to work with you? Can they travel with you? Do you truly need to travel with your teams? Is it really necessary for you to have 8-5 office hours and be at all of the events? Can you take time off during the week when you have to work all weekend? Can you train your students to cover "easier" sports?

I know that I work for a small school and some things are different as the school gets bigger. But are some the expectations put on you "because that's how it's always been" or is it truly necessary? Or is it "keeping up with the Jones'?"

I think the biggest mistake I made, and still find myself doing sometimes, is seeing what other schools are doing and think we NEED that too. Don't get me wrong, improving and doing new things is very important, but not at all costs. The grass isn't always greener.

How do you have conversations with supervisors on this topic?
I had the advantage of coming into the profession later in life and knew what college athletics was like. So, I knew that I wasn't going to work in the office eight hours a day all week and then be at a volleyball tournament for 18 hours on Friday and Saturday. I knew that I needed boundaries. So, I said it in the interview. Basically, I will get the work done, but not at all costs.

You have a lot of "game plans" within the sports information office to get your job done. Organization and careful, strategic thinking seem to have helped you balance the demands.
I would suggest just being honest with your supervisors and staff. Go in with ideas of how you can balance life with kids. Give a game plan, outline how things will get done. Ask for a trial, an opportunity to make things work. Get back together often to talk about any concerns.

Often things are dumped on the SID because they don't know where else to put them or because no one else wants to do them. Clean up your department. Set reasonable standards. For example, our department policy is that a game recap should be posted on our website within 24 hours of the contest ending. The score and the stats link are up as soon after the game as possible, and social media is updated. But the actual recap doesn't have to be done until the next day. I have never had a complaint about this and I get to be home to tuck my daughter into bed. I also know many in the industry don't agree with this. Exceptions would be post season, which is the day of the game. After six years, no one has ever complained.

You've become involved with the CoSIDA organization. You serve on the Convention Programming Committee, for instance. What else are you involved in and what drives you to volunteer for the organization?
Our AD Gary Newsome has encouraged me from the beginning to attend the convention, but with our crazy lives it didn't work out until this past year. I had a great experience in Orlando, and am so thankful for the opportunity to go through a CoSIDA convention grant. After interacting with colleagues there, I decided that I needed to figure out a way to get more involved...and maybe, just maybe I was pushed a little by (Cornerstone's) Aaron Sagraves, a CoSIDA board member! The opportunity came up to be on the programming committee, so I jumped on. Go big or go home, right? I admit I am a little overwhelmed by the idea, but I am excited.

I also jumped on board with the mentor/mentee program this year. I'm not sure if I am qualified to be the mentor of Corban University's Danny Day. I think it's more of a reciprocal relationship.

My drive to get involved is the fact that I have so many student workers and now my daughter who think they might want to get into the industry. While I certainly know there is a lot of room from improvement on my end for ONU Athletics, it does make me think that maybe I am doing something right if they want to do it too.

Tell us about a project or accomplishment(s) that you consider to be the most significant in your career.
The biggest challenge coming into the job at Olivet was the website. We were housed under the education site and it was very limited to our needs. It took numerous conversations with anyone who would listen that the athletics site needed to be updated. About two years in, our head of information technology had a son who was looking at college to further his athletic career. This was the spark we needed. Partnering with him, I was able to finally get our own site. Though I'm sure they say this to everyone, but SIDHelp tells me every time we talk that ours is one of their favorites...but I'm going to choice to believe that ours is special!

What do you think are the biggest issues or hurdles for women in the athletic communications and women in the college athletics workplace?
In my opinion, the biggest issue is always going to be a female is going to have to go beyond to prove themselves in the predominately a male industry. While I don't deal with this issue, locker rooms are also always going to be a hot topic. I do, however, think that there are so many possibilities for a female who truly understands athletics to thrive.

What advice can you offer women who are seeking a career in our industry?
Know your stuff. The first thing you will be judged on is if you know the rules and the concepts of the game. Once you can prove that you know what you're talking about, then you can add your touch. With more females watching sports, the target audience has changed. While I believe the final score is important to the female viewer, I also believe that females tend to want the background story. Get the stories behind the star on the field.

General advice for a young professional thinking of athletic communications as a career?
Get any experience you can. Smaller sports information offices always need people. If you go to a large school that doesn't need you or where you might have limited opportunities, head over to a nearby community college or smaller university and volunteer there.

Second, know your weaknesses and work on them, challenge yourself. Third, major in what I call an "umbrella" major like communications or marketing, but take classes in journalism, broadcasting, graphic design, video editing. Don't specialize too much, because over the course of your career, you will wear many hats. And, I always tell everyone to make connections and use them. I got my internship which turned into my first job because I could play softball. Actually, I guess I got this job because I played and coached softball.

Your hobbies and interests are .... ?
I consider myself a creative person. I love to paint, color and draw. My girls share this love, so it's something that we do together. I also love to read. I love the Harry Potter series, and can read it over and over again. I have been able to share my love of the books with our girls. I am currently on book four with the youngest, who dressed as Ginny Weasley for Halloween.

We are also big game players. Rarely does a week go by that someone isn't over to play games...church friends, baseball players, student workers. And finally, I love to cook. I love having the athletic teams over for dinner. It's generally the baseball team, but I enjoy inviting other teams over to get to know them and share our home with them.

I also have spent the last 10 years coaching one of my daughter's summer softball teams. After getting the oldest all the way through 18u travel ball, I am back to 10u recreational ball.

We are also active in our church. Todd and I teach our 2's and 3's Sunday School Class and I volunteer with Children's Church and Vacation Bible School. My friend and I also cook for the teen's once a month and help lead the mom's group.

Since you enjoy literature, what are the titles of the last three books you have read?
"Univited" by Lysa TerKeurst - Not don't with this one yet, we working through this with a mom's Bible Study. It's about rejection and overcoming it. I don't think there is anyone who can't relate.

"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling - I think I always relate to Hermione in the Harry Potter series. I'm not a risk taker, like to follow the rules, but am incredibly loyal and will do anything for my friends. While not top in my class, I am a thinker and try to process all of the possible outcomes.

Who has inspired you in your life and why?
My father. I was always a daddy's girl. Family was always a priority to him. My earliest childhood memory was lying on the couch with him watching a documentary about the USS Indianapolis. I don't know how old I was, but couldn't have been more than five. I remember him telling me the story. To this day, I still have a fascination about the Indianapolis.

He worked long hours in a factory, even lived in a different state for several years in order to get his years of service in so he could retire early. He didn't move us there though because he didn't want to uproot the family, take us out of our schools. That job was temporary and he would drive home every weekend to see us. Once he retired, I was only in elementary school, he never missed a game all the way through college. He woke me up every morning for school, made me breakfast and packed my lunch.

My father died when my oldest was five months old. My mom told me years later that his goal was to hang on to meet her.

If you weren't in your current position and profession, what would you be doing instead, or what would your life be like?
I always wanted to be an elementary teacher. It's what I thought about studying in college, but at the time it was hard to find teaching jobs, so being the practical person I am, I chose the business route instead. I love seeing children learn, watching it all click. When I was a reading aide, I was able to pull kids out of class who didn't have parents who were active in their education and work one-on-one with them. Sometimes it was just helping with their spelling words. Sometimes, it was just listening to them talk about things they like to do.

I'm not sure I could deal with the politics of teaching in today's world, but I would love to be able just spend my days in a school trying to make a difference in the lives of at-risk children.