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Scott Crawford, Ph.D.: Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Commissioner
by Tim Hanson, Rogers State University Sports Information Director
CoSIDA Recognition Week Committee member
A long-time supporter and member of CoSIDA,
Dr. Scott Crawford has been the commissioner of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) since 2007.
This academic year, he assisted all the sports information directors in his conference this year by purchasing CoSIDA memberships for all 12 NAIA member institutions.
In the forefront of digital and video needs for the conference, Crawford created the KCACN – radio network providing state-wide coverage of games of the week in football and men's and women's basketball, and he also started the KCAC Digital Network to provide a more affordable video streaming platform for all member schools.
Described as extremely SID-friendly by numerous athletic communications professionals, Crawford holds SID summits to help with professional development.
Before his time at the KCAC, Crawford served at the commissioner of the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) for two years and spent three years as assistant commissioner for the Mid-South Conference (MSC).
Read more about Dr. Crawford and what he has done for the KCAC below.
Crawford at the 2017 sports management conference
that the 2017 KCAC hosted at York College.
Where did the idea come from to buy CoSIDA memberships for every KCAC institutions SID? How was that received?
I wanted to makes sure all our sports information directors at our member institutions were involved with the online training provided by CoSIDA for its members and had the additional opportunities for networking with fellow professionals within the industry. I also wanted to make sure that deserving KCAC student-athletes from all conference member schools were being nominated and considered for Academic All-American honors. Overall, this initiative has been well received as best I can tell. In reviewing the fall all-district nominations, for example, I have seen student-athletes from all or nearly all KCAC member institutions.
You've implemented the KCACN. What benefit has that been for the conference and for the member institutions? How has that helped the exposure of the KCAC?
As best I can tell, there are no other NAIA conferences that have been fortunate enough as we have to have a comprehensive radio network produced at the conference level to promote as many teams and sports as possible. Currently, we are focused on a Football Game of the Week and will return to basketball ‘doubleheaders of the week” in the near future as we enter conference play. We signed a three-year extension of the network and will be expanding into the Kansas City market for fall 2018. This added exposure, combined with the efforts of member institutions, really has helped with connecting with alumni as well as raising awareness about our conference for future student-athletes and their families. Any time you can get a school name and their athletic program mentioned over a large area as the entire state of Kansas, there is tremendous added value to belong to the conference.
You've also established the KCAC Digital Network. I talked to a few of your SIDs in the league and they said it's really helped keep video streaming affordable. What other benefits has there been from having a conference-wide digital network?
For nearly six years now we have been doing video streaming with a few different providers. Video is so impactful - especially as the schools develop how and what they broadcast. For the past three years, we have partnered with Stretch Internet and have been very pleased with their Game Central platform. We are really impressed with how they operate and conduct business with customer service for both the client as well as the viewer being a primary value.
We are in the process of extending our agreement with Stretch Internet as they have prepared for added focus on viewers being able to access KCAC programming over mobile devices and connecting with even more people than ever before.
How do your Sports Information Summits help improve athletic communications for the conference and for the SIDs? What does a typical summit include?
We typically use these events to bring all conference SIDs together to work on specific projects and learn from each other. I am consistently amazed at how much everyone is able to learn and share. In the last few years, these summits have taken a bit of a back seat to the CoSIDA convention and the awesome efforts from NAIA-SIDA to conduct training each year. I highly encourage regular attendance at these important national events.
Everyone I talked to in your conference called you "very SID friendly." What impact do you try to make with the athletic communications professionals in the conference?
At the small college level, there is no greater opportunity to connect with people for athletic departments than through the efforts of sports information professonals. Websites, social media, video streaming and all the other game day efforts such as live stats are so impactful. What used to be a luxury is now almost mandatory and expected. All I have done is try to persuade and educate member schools about how important these touches are with their fans, student-athletes and all others who want to be as up-to-date as possible with the best information and stories possible.
Looking back on your career, what sparked your interest in athletics? How did you get your start?
I was always interested in sports. I have worked in college intramurals while attending school, coached high school basketball and volleyball and volunteered with a variety of youth sports programs. I love the opportunity to use sports as a teaching tool. While working on my masters degree at the University of Louisville, I chose to do my 600-hour internship with the Mid-South Conference of the NAIA. After completing that internship, I was lucky enough to volunteer for two additional years. That led to becoming the Commissioner of the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (now River States Conference) of the NAIA. All of those experiences led to the opportunity with the KCAC.
Who were some of your early influences in the profession? How have they helped shape your career?
It's hard to make sure I give all the influencers the credit they deserve on how my career has turned out. In terms of learning the ropes as a commissioner, the single biggest influence was Mike Pollio from the Mid-South Conference. I really appreciate being able to serve the MSC for three years and learning on the job. He allowed me to dabble in many areas - especially with marketing and event management. I really learned during that time about the importance of websites and internal communication with member athletic departments.
Since then, I can honestly say that I learn new things and am open to being influenced by so many great professionals in the KCAC - from the ADs to the SIDs to athletics trainers and beyond. I am also very fortunate to be part of the NAIA's Conference Commissioner Association with so many talented peers.
What's been some of your most meaningful accomplishments during your career?
In the KCAC during my tenure, we have added eight new sport championships including men's and women's lacrosse, women's golf and men's wrestling. This has been exciting work – and only possible through the cooperation of member schools.
We have added three member schools over the past four years. The first institution was Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville, Okla. followed by York College (York, Neb.). Our newest institution is Avila University in Kansas City.
In addition to the radio and video networks we have developed, expanding our footprint into three additional states and growing the number of championship sports are two of my favorite things to look back on.
My latest project is the creation of the Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT) launched this school year. SALT is comprised of two student-athlete leaders at each member campus. To see their enthusiasm and to give student leaders a voice and platform to discuss issues and answer their questions is quite meaningful.
What's been the most enjoyable part of your time in your time at the KCAC?
Developing relationships with the many good people in the KCAC, seeing my efforts making impacts, and being able to do something I love for a living. It is the hardest and most challenging work I have ever been part of. Fortunately, it has been positive and impactful.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to enter the business?
(1) Take chances and show initiative. You never know who is watching and taking notes.
(2) Be sure to volunteer and ask to lead on projects that will help you stretch yourself and grow within your profession.
(3) Do not be afraid to fail. I make mistakes every day. The challenge is to own up to the mistakes, learn from the mistakes and work your tail off to get better while eliminating the mistakes.