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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,
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Chad Waller: NAIA
Director of Athletic Communications and Media
by Laurie Bollig, CoSIDA Director of Membership Engagement
Ball is Life
The NAIA’s Chad Waller Stays on Top of His Game Through Basketball Officiating
It’s possible while staffing national championships
Chad Waller could hear complaints from coaches, players and fans. It’s part of the job, right?
Here’s the thing about Waller, the NAIA’s director of athletics communications and media. When he leaves the office, he trades business casual attire and a briefcase for a black-and-white striped shirt, black pants and comfortable shoes. And a whistle.
As a high school and college basketball official in the Kansas City area, it’s a 100-percent certainty he will hear complaints from coaches, players and fans.
“There are huge similarities,” Waller said of the comparison between his day job and his side hustle. “There are things I can apply to both officiating and my career. How to manage people and personalities. You really understand how people operate.
“Listening is something I’ve learned is a skill, and it takes years of practice to be a good listener,” Waller said. “Conflict resolution I can apply to all things in life. You have to think on your feet, be a straightforward and effective communicator.”
Waller has been an official since 2005, starting at the middle school and junior varsity levels before moving to the small-college level in 2008. He officiates primarily Division II games but also does games at the Division III and two-year college levels.
What’s the attraction for Waller? Camaraderie with his fellow officials tops the list.
“It’s a feeling of satisfaction after the game is done and you’re with two other officials in the locker room and you feel like you gave it your best. It’s just like being on a team.”
Waller with Paul Allan, Minnesota State University Associate
Athletic Director of Communications at CoSIDA Convention
in 2009 when he was inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame.
Waller’s career in athletics communications began when he was a graduate student at Minnesota State and worked for Paul Allan for two years, before moving on to work in sports information at Bemidji State and Northwest Missouri State.
Both Minnesota State and Bemidji sponsored Division I men’s hockey, so Waller got a taste of big-time sports. He also came in contact with professionals who would influence his career, specifically Allan at Minnesota State, Dr. Bob Boerigter at Northwest Missouri State and Andy Bartlett at Bemidji State.
“I learned a lot and learned how to operate in a high-stress environment,” Waller said. “The pros of all four jobs were that I had great mentors. You need to have a lot of people in your corner helping you out.”
Since joining the NAIA office staff in 2007, Waller has relished the day-to-day variety of his job.
“Being on site at our championships and working alongside our SIDS and the media – it’s rewarding for me to see the schools and athletes performing at their best at the championship level,” Waller said. “I still do some of the dirty work – media guides, writing, editing, researching. I hope that aspect never escapes me, but I enjoy the strategic side as well, and managing a team.”
Time management, organizational skills and transparency are key for Waller to juggle a job, his family life and his professional hobby of officiating.
“I’m still learning that I have to be honest with myself and transparent with people who supervise me.”
Wife Rachel is chief among Waller’s supervisors, along with sons Logan (5) and Jackson (10 months). Family time trumps officiating duties. Waller said his boss at the NAIA has been understanding of his officiating career, while the schedulers are respectful of Waller’s desire to spend time with his family on certain weekends.
Officiating, like athletic communications, benefits from an influx of new young talent. Waller has advice for young men and women entering both professions.
Waller with his sons Jackson (11 months) and Logan (5)
at the 2017 NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball
Championship in Kansas City, Mo.
“I would tell a person to not be afraid or hesitant to learn more about what officiating means. There’s a negative stigma. The idea of getting yelled at really scares young people away. I would tell them to give it a chance.”
Long hours, excessive travel, low pay - the stigma carried by sports information – can be overcome as well, according to Waller.
“Set yourself up for success. Be around people who care about you and who you would like to be like. It’s a discovery process,” Waller noted. “I’d say not be turned away by some of these stigmas that we all talk about. Be true to yourself.”
SIDEBAR
Final Four with Chad Waller
One thing you absolutely love about your job: Going to championships
Two mentors in the business:
1. Paul Allan, Minnesota State associate athletic director, communications
2. Dr.Bob Boerigter, former commissioner of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and former director of athletics at Northwest Missouri State
Three favorite sports memories:
1. “Being in the backyard with my dad, throwing the ball around. Having father/son time was important to me.”
2. “Attending a Boston Red Sox game with my wife in 2010.”
3. “Officiating – getting involved in this as a career – it’s been big part of my life and means a lot to me.”
Four words to describe you:
Passionate
Engaged
Charismatic
Even keeled
Waller at the 2017 NAIA National Convention celebrating with Chris Wells
(SID at Lindsey Wilson College, holding plaque) on his honor of the Ike Pearson lifetime achievement award.