College Sports Information Directors of America

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• 2016-17 Special Awards Honoree Feature Stories 
• Nominations Open for 2017-18 Special Awards

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Congratulations to all the 2017 CoSIDA Special Award winners!

by Tamara Flarup, University of Wisconsin, Emerita and Chair of the CoSIDA Special Awards Committee and Barb Kowal, CoSIDA Director of Professional Development and External Affairs
 

Nearly 40 members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), along with espnW contributor Michelle Smith-McDonald, will receive national awards for outstanding contributions to the organization at its 60th annual national convention June 11-14 at the World Center Marriott in Orlando. CoSIDA will also induct its 2017 Hall of Fame class at the convention.

CoSIDA is comprised of more than 3,000 intercollegiate athletic communications and media relations professionals from colleges, universities and athletic conferences at all divisions of competition in the United States and Canada.

This is the fifth year the CoSIDA Convention will be held in conjunction with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) & Affiliates Convention.

In addition to the Hall of Fame, other awards recognize emerging leaders, community service, lifetime achievement and 25-Year service honors.

Another highlight of the convention is the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where the newest class of distinguished former Academic All-America standouts is enshrined into the Hall and the annual Enberg Award winner is recognized. The new Academic All-America Hall of Fame class will be announced later in March, and the Dick Enberg Award recipient will be announced on March 7.

The CoSIDA Hall of Fame luncheon takes place on Monday, June 12. The Jake Wade Award (media award) and CoSIDA's Lifetime Achievement Award recipients also will be recognized at this luncheon. The remainder of the awards will be presented at the Special Awards luncheon on Wednesday, June 14.
 

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2017 CoSIDA Hall of Fame Class

Two current and four former sports communications professionals will be inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame on June 12. This CoSIDA Hall of Fame is presented to members who have made outstanding contributions to the field of college athletic communications.
 

Duane Schroeder Wartburg College	Carole Grills Smith College	Tim Bourret Clemson	Charlie Fiss Goodyear Cotton Bowl	Pete Kowalski USGA	Debbie Harmison White Old Dominion

Members of the distinguished 2017 Hall of Fame class include the following from the university division:
• Tim Bourett, the Assistant Athletic Director/Sports Information Director at Clemson University
• Charlie Fiss, the Vice President for Communications for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Athletic Association
• Debbie Harmison White, the former Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs at Old Dominion University.

College representatives elected into the Hall of Fame include:
• Carole Grills, the former long-time Sports Information Director at Smith College
• The late Duane Schroeder, the former Director of Sports Information at Wartburg College.

These five honorees were selected by a vote of 88 CoSIDA Hall of Famers and the CoSIDA Special Awards committee.

Additionally, Pete Kowalski, currently the Director of Championships Communications at the United State Golf Association (USGA), was selected as a member of the 2017 Hall of Fame class by the CoSIDA Hall of Fame veterans selection committee. Kowalski's career as a sports information director spanned over 20 years, including positions at Rugers and Penn State. He also served as CoSIDA president in 1997-98. Schroeder, who passed away in August 2004, was an award-winning news and sports information director at his alma mater, Wartburg, for 42 years after being offered a full-time job the day after his graduation in 1958. A founding member of CoSIDA, he received the organization's Warren Berg Award in 1998 and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. This past June, Harmison White retired after 36 years in the ODU athletic department and received a CoSIDA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. The first full-time female sportswriter in the state of Virginia, serving on the staff of The Daily Press in Newport News from 1974-77, Harmison White then joined the ODU staff in 1979 as the assistant SID. CoSIDA recognized her in 2006 with the Trailblazer Award for her pioneering efforts in the profession.

All-time CoSIDA Hall of Fame honorees
 

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Jake Wade Award

Michelle Smith- McDonald espnW, ESPN.com

The Jake Wade Award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution in the media to the field of intercollegiate athletics. Michelle Smith- McDonald, espnW contributor and an accomplished sports journalist and author whose writing has focused on telling the stories of women who have changed the face of sports, is recipient of this year's award.

Breaking barriers and facing resistance as a female sportswriter, Smith-McDonald has made significant contributions to professional and college sports coverage in her 25-plus years working as a journalist/content provider for some of the nation's largest newspapers, publications and media outlets in the country. These include: ESPN, espnW, San Francisco Chronicle and Examiner, WNBA.com, Pac-12.org, Bleacher Report, AOL Fanhouse, among others. Two of her most notable accomplishments include her coverage of the Women's World Cup soccer tournament and her annual coverage of the NCAA Women's Final Four basketball tournament.

Previous Wade Award winners include Rece Davis, ESPN; Verne Lundquist (CBS); Beth Mowins (ESPN); Lee Corso (ABC/ESPN); Christine Brennan (USA Today); Robin Roberts (ABC/ESPN); Dave Anderson (New York Times); and Dick Enberg.

Prior Jake Wade Award recipients
 

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Lifetime Achievement Awards

CoSIDA will recognize eight professionals with its Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is presented to CoSIDA members who have served at least 25 years in the profession (as of June 2017) and are retiring or leaving the profession. The Lifetime Achievement Award honorees are:

• Max Corbet, Boise State University Assistant Athletic Director of Media Relations
• Bud Focht, former Rider University Director of Sports Communications
• Jack Frost, Winthrop University Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
• Edward Hill, Jr., Howard University Director for Athletic Media Relations
• Steve McCloskey, Mansfield University Director of Athletic Operations and Sports Information
• Tom McGuire, Bloomsburg University Interim Director of Media Relations and Content Strategy, and former Director of Sports Information/Athletic Marketing and Promotions
• Roy Pickerill, Kentucky Wesleyan University Special Assistant for College Relations and former Sports Information Director
• Rob Schabert, former Tennessee Tech University Assistant Athletic Director of Athletic Operations and Sports Information
 

Max Corbet Boise State	Bud Focht Rider	Jack Frost Winthrop	Edward Hill, Jr. Howard

 

Steve McCloskey Mansfield	Tom McGuire Bloomsburg	Roy Pickerill Kentucky Wesleyan	Rob Schabert Tennessee Tech

Previous LIfetime Achievement Award recipients.
 

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Arch Ward Award

Jeff Hodges North Alabama

The Arch Ward Award is presented annually to a CoSIDA member who has made outstanding contributions to the field of college athletic communications, and who, by his or her activities, has brought dignity and prestige to the profession.

Jeff Hodges, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications at the University of North Alabama, will be recognized with this award. Hodges is a long-time member of the CoSIDA Board of Directors, serving as the organization's secretary since 2000. He has been recognized with two other CoSIDA major awards: the Warren Berg Award and the CoSIDA Hall of Fame, both in 1997. A member of the CoSIDA Special Awards Committee, Hodges is in his 33rd year as UNA sports information director where he has helped promote five national championship teams, hundreds of all conference and All-American student-athletes and two Harlon Hill Trophy winners which recognizes the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year.

Previous Arch Ward recipients
 

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Warren Berg Award

Blake Timm GNAC

Blake Timm, Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Assistant Commissioner for Communications and the former Sports Information Director at Pacific (Ore.) University, will receive the college division equivalent to the Arch Ward as he becomes the 2017 Warren Berg Award recipient.

Timm has served CoSIDA in a number of capacities, including holding the college division management council (CDMAC) chair position, serving on the CoSIDA Board of Directors as well as chairing or membership on numerous committees and panels. Currently a member of the CoSIDA Special Awards Committee, he is credited with initiating a major award, the Rising Star Award for college and university divisions.

Berg Award previous recipients

 

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Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award

Paul Carson Toronto

Paul Carson, the former Sports Information Director at the University of Toronto, will be recognized with the Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award. This honor is presented annually to an individual who is a pioneer in the athletic communications profession and who has mentored and helped improve the level of ethnic and gender diversity within CoSIDA.

Carson is recognized for his four decades of conscientious effort to promote CoSIDA in Canada and through his efforts, Canadian SIDs now serve key roles in the college division management group, serve on numerous CoSIDA commitees, attend the CoSIDA conventon and have their student-athletes recognized with Academic All-District and Academic All-America honors. His leadership in planning the 2004 CoSIDA Workshop in Calgary was essential in staging the only CoSIDA convention ever to take place outside of the continental United States. Carson is a lifetime honoree of CoSIDA and also received the CoSIDA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.

Previous Haverbeck Trailblazer Award honorees.
 

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Bob Kenworthy Community Service Award

Larry Dougherty Temple

Larry Dougherty, the Assistant Senior Associate Athletic Director at Temple University, will be honored for his community service with the Bob Kenworthy Community Service Award, presented annually to a CoSIDA member for civic involvement and accomplishments outside the athletic communications profession.

The former CoSIDA president (2010-11), Dougherty is a member of the CoSIDA Hall of Fame (2015) and also the recipient of the ECAC-SIDA Irving T. Marsh Award (2011). Dougherty created the Philly-SIDA organization to recognize Philadelphia-area student-athletes for work in the classroom. For over 20 years, he has contributed platelets and bone marrow to the Red Cross for cancer patients; he has contributed over 150 donations of placelets during this time. Additionally, Dougherty has volunteered as a Little League softball and baseball coach while also participating in numerous other civic activities.

Prior Kenworthy Awards recipients.
 

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Bill Esposito Award

Tim Volkmann SUNY Geneseo

Tim Volkmann, the Director of Athletic Communications at SUNY Geneseo, will be awarded the Bill Esposito Backbone Award. This award is presented to a CoSIDA member displaying sound judgment and unusual courage in taking a stand in intercollegiate athletics contrary to public opinion and sentiment, or who displays sound judgment and unusual courage in guiding their institution through difficult public relations situations.

In the past 12 months, Tim and members of the SUNY Geneseo community had to deal with the deaths of three student-athletes, including two in a suspected double murder-suicide last January and one in a car accident this past December. Dealing with international and national media attention with the murder-suicide, Volkmann worked with campus colleages in crafting the university's message which included the social media hashtag #OneKnight.

Prior Esposito Award recipients.
 

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CoSIDA Achievement Awards

Dave Reed Colorado College	Chris Masters Big Ten Conference

Now in their third year, the Achievement Award is presented annually to a university and college division member who serves as an assistant or associate in an athletic media relations office, who has made outstanding contributions to the field of college sports information for at least 10 years, and who by his or her activities, has provided exceptional service and dedication to their institutions or conference office.

Winners this year are Dave Reed, Associate Director for Athletic Communications at Colorado College and Chris Masters, Asssociate Director at the Big Ten Conference and formerly the long-time Notre Dame assistant communications director. Both have served three-year terms on the CoSIDA Board of Directors and are long-standing members of a number of CoSIDA committees.

Reed is in charge of 11 sports at Colorado College, and has been recognized with the Grant Burger Media Award by the National Volleyball Coaches Association for his outstanding media service, communications efforts and promotions of volleyball.

While at Notre Dame for 15 years, Masters promoted eight NCAA Final Four women's basketball squads and 30 All-Americans. He also supervised golf and softball communications and served as tournament coordinator for several NCAA tournaments for both sports. He began his first year at the Big Ten Conference in the summer of 2016.

Prior CoSIDA Achievement Award recipients.
 

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Rising Star Awards

Megan Hardin Southwestern University (Texas)	Chelsey Chamberlain New Mexico

CoSIDA also recognizes its young professional talent with the Rising Star Awards. This award is presented to both a university division and a college division member with 10 years of service or less whose work at their institution and service, dedication, energy and enthusiasm to the profession make that individual a "rising star" in athletic communications.

The college division selection is Megan Hardin, Southwestern University (Texas) Sports Information Director. Hardin has an unusual resume having served as a college assistant basketball coach and an intern in the university development office before discovering her niche in sports information where she has served as the SID since 2009. Hardin also is an active member of CoSIDA's Goodwill and Wellness Committee.

The university division honoree is Chelsey Chamberlain, University of New Mexico Associate Director of Communications. She is in her third season with the New Mexico athletics department and in her first year as associate director as she oversees men's basketball, softball and spirit programs. Chamberlain has made a fast rise in the athletic communications ranks moving from serving as an assistant in 2013 at her alma mater, Division III Pacific University (where she served under 2017 Warren Berg recipient Blake Timm) to her current UNM position.

Previous Rising Star Award honorees
 

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25-Year Awards

At the annual convention, CoSIDA also recognizes those who have completed 25 years in the profession. The following 11 individuals will receive a 25-Year Award in June in Orlando:

• David Alexander, The College of Saint Rose Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
• Ed Cassiere, Xavier University of Louisiana Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
• Tyler Cundith, Johnson County Community College Sports Information Director
• Steve Fenk, Oregon State University Associate Athletic Director for Communications
• Gregory Goings, Bowie State University Sports Information Director
• John Hartrick, Binghamton University Associate AD - Communications
• Mike Kern, Missouri Valley Conference Associate Commissioner
• Matt Levy, Delaware Valley University Associate Athletics Director/Director of Sports Information
• Frank Mercogliano, University of New Mexico Assistant Athletic Director of Communications
• Terry Owens, Beloit College Director of Sports Information
• Scott Strasemeier, U.S. Naval Academy Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sports Information
• Judy Willson, Mountain West Conference Assistant Commissioner
• Bob Ziadie, King's College Director of Sports Information
 

David Alexander Saint Rose	Ed Cassiere Xavier (La.)	Tyler Cundith Johnson County CC	Steve Fenk Oregon State	Gregory Goings Bowie State	John Hartrick Binghamton

 

Mike Kern Missouri Valley	Matt Levy Delaware Valley	Frank Mercogliano New Mexico	Terry Owens Beloit	Judy Willson Mountain West	Bob Ziadie King's College

The list of all-time 25-Year Award recipients is found HERE.
 

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Lester Jordan Award (Academic All-America Committee Award)

Jeff Nelson Penn State

The annual Lester Jordan Award goes to Jeff Nelson, Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications at Penn State University. The Lester Jordan Award is presented annually to an individual for exemplary service to the Academic All-America program and for promotion of the ideals of being a student-athlete. The award is chosen by the leadership of the Academic All-America Committee.

A long-time member of CoSIDA's Academic All-America Committee where he has served in numerous roles as district and national coordinator, Nelson is in his 23rd year with Penn State Athletics, having served as the PSU football primary communications contact from 1993 through the 2014 season before he was promoted to his current position.

Past Lester Jordan recipients are HERE

 

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Congratulations to all the 2017 CoSIDA Award winners!