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Matt Levy (Delaware Valley University), 25-Year Award
by Rob Cunningham, Rowan University Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
Matt Levy with his wife Becky, stepdaughter Molly and daughter
Carly (as well as the family dog Daffodil!)
It did not take long for Matt Levy to know that the sports information profession was a perfect match for him.
Currently the Associate Athletic Director and Director of Sports Information at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, Pa., about 30 miles north of Philadelphia, Levy started his communications career in September 1987. That month, he arrived on the campus of Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) and quickly found a work-study position in the college’s public relations office.
Levy’s coworkers discovered that he was an avid sports fan. The next month, he was sent down the hallway to work under the new sports information director Scott Deitch. Levy was hooked.
“Just about right away,” explains Levy on when he realized that he was interested in a career in sports information. “I didn’t know what sports information was and when I saw what the job entailed, I thought ‘oh my goodness, this is me.’”
It was a dream come true for the Long Island native. A diehard fan of the Islanders and Mets, Levy was hypnotized by the ins and outs of the game growing up. His nickname in high school was “Stats.” If someone had a question about sports trivia or a rule, Levy was their man.
“I was the typical guy that would go to a baseball game with his dad and keep a scorebook,” Levy noted.
Levy worked under Deitch for all four years of his collegiate career and graduated in 1991. Working freelance jobs as he sought a full-time role, in the summer of 1992 Levy applied for a new 10-month sports information internship at Hartwick College.
Levy was one of three candidates for the position along with fellow 25-Year Award recipient Bob Ziadie, King’s College director of sports information. The two found out that neither of them was hired. And, it turned out to be the best result for both of them.
“Bob and I were not hired for an intern position and then, about a month later, we were both SIDs in the Middle Atlantic Conference,” said Levy.
Levy came to Delaware Valley, commonly referred to as DelVal, in August 1992. He remains there 25 years later.
“It’s been awesome to have worked with Matt for the past 25 years,” said Ziadie. “We became fast friends and it is an honor to receive the 25-Year Award with him. Matt's a great guy, a hard-worker and a class act.”
Being able to keep up with the times is something Levy is most proud of.
“I started out doing stats on paper and then went to learning StatCrew, Facebook, Twitter, and video editing,” said Levy. “To be able to do all of that but still enjoy writing game stories and still get the thrill of being at a big game is special.”
“Matt has a great passion for Division III athletics and the profession,” said BJ Spigelmyer, DeSales University sports information director. “He has always been a great resource for me, whether I needed advice or help promoting a student-athlete in his coverage area. He is a true professional.”
Levy added the associate athletic director title to his responsibilities in 2008, allowing him to have an even bigger role in the department, while still putting his family first.
Levy takes advantage of every opportunity to spend time with his wife of 17 years, Becky, stepdaughter, Molly (26) and daughter, Carly (13). He has even been able to coach Carly’s youth softball team despite the long hours required of a SID.
“Matt was always very helpful to me and to the department,” said Frank Wolfgang, who retired in 2013 after 26 years as DelVal athletic director. “He does a great job for the university. On a personal level, I’ve seen him grow from a young man out of college to a great family man.”
Being a sports fan at heart is what got Levy into the field 25 years ago. Now it is the different people he has met that helps keep him in the profession.
“Above all, I love the relationships that you make with student-athletes, coaches and other SIDs. We (SIDs) are a tight-knit group because we appreciate each other and understand the commitment and the hours put in to this job,” Levy remarked. “I love seeing the student-athletes succeed and seeing them graduate. I’ve become great friends with a number of coaches and I’ll have those relationships for the rest of my life.”
“Matt really cares about the success of the programs and the student-athletes,” said Casey Stitzel, former DelVal and current Millersville University head men’s basketball coach. “It has never been about Matt, it has always been about DelVal and the student-athletes. He is everything that is right with college athletic departments.”
“Matt gets to know all of our student-athletes,” said Carol Di Girolamo, DelVal assisant athletics director and head field hockey coach. “Whenever I talk to my alumni, they always ask how Matt is doing.”
Levy’s impact has been recognized outside of the athletic department as well. Delaware Valley dedicates its yearbook to a staff member each year and Levy received the honor in 2012.
“That was one of the greatest honors I have received,” Levy said. “We all have our moments in this profession when we question the long hours but to know that your hard work made a difference makes it all worthwhile.”
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