Courtesy of Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Athletics
McCloskey Announces Retirement in 2017
McCloskey was inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame in 2016.
MANSFIELD, Pa. - Mansfield University long-time sports information director Steve McCloskey, has announced he will retire in 2017.
"It's been the best 10,447 days of my life," McCloskey said of his time at Mansfield. "Mansfield University believed enough in me to give me the opportunity of a lifetime in 1988 and for more than 28 years I've tried to repay that trust."
McCloskey, one of the most decorated and honored sports information directors in the nation, became Mansfield's first full-time sports information director in July of 1988.
"It's been a great honor to have been part of the lives of so many wonderful people," said McCloskey. "I'm especially privileged to work with Ryan McNamara over the past five years. Ryan is one of the best young professionals in our business and Mansfield sports information will be even more successful under his leadership."
"Steve McCloskey is Mr. Mansfield!" stated Gen. Francis L. Hendricks, President of Mansfield University. "For more than 28 years, Steve served Mansfield University as its Sports Information Director. His ability to captured the story beyond the box score is legendary. His recent induction into the College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Fame signifies his impact at Mansfield University. We thank Steve for his untiring service to his alma mater and wish him the very best in retirement."
"Steve has been a tremendous asset to Mansfield University" stated Director of Athletics Ryan Ehrie. "His passion, pride and work ethic have made him respected not just on this campus but across the country. He is the definition of what it means to be a Mountie, and while we will greatly miss his daily presence, we know he will always be around to lend his support. For that and everything else he has done, we thank him."
In 2016, McCloskey was one of six inductees into the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Hall of Fame, the highest honor afforded in the profession. That same year he was also the recipient of the Pete Nevins Award from the ECAC-SIDA for his work in enhancing the image of the profession. He also was awarded a Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Award by CoSIDA in 2016.
The 2003 Irving T. Marsh Award recipient from ECAC-SIDA, McCloskey was also honored by the General Assembly of Pennsylvania with a House Resolution honoring his accomplishment and contributions that same year. The 2009 Mansfield University Employee of the Year, McCloskey was named the ECAC-SIDA Bob Kenworthy Good Person Award recipient in 2010. In 2014, he was recognized by CoSIDA with its 25-year Award and cited by Mansfield University Student Life as its Service Award recipient.
McCloskey and his staff have won numerous CoSIDA awards including best in the nation for the 1992 football game program cover. McCloskey has also been the recipient for numerous Fred Stabley Sr. writing awards, including best in region.
From 2006-07, he was instrumental in the establishment of a sprint football program at Mansfield that was featured in a front-page article of the Wall Street Journal.
He was promoted to director of athletic operations and information in 2007.
Among his greatest accomplishments is McCloskey's ability to help mold young sports information professionals. More than 25 former student-assistants have gone into the sports information profession at all levels including the NFL, ESPN and NCAA Division I, II and III.
McCloskey served as a consultant to the Mansfield University communications department in establishing its sports information concentration.
McCloskey and his wife Pam, a 1990 graduate of Mansfield University, are the parents of Katey Grace and Zach who will enter Mansfield as a freshman in the fall of 2017.