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Past Keith Jackson Eternal Flame Award Recipients
Louise McCleary (NCAA Division III) - Keith Jackson Eternal Flame Award
by Amie Canfield, Mount Holyoke College Associate Director of Athletics, Communications/CoSIDA Board of Directors member
McCleary at a Special Olympics event during the 2015 NCAA Convention.
January 14, 2012. On that date came the announcement from Division III Vice President Dan Dutcher, that
Louise McCleary had been named the Director of the NCAA Division III. It was a hire that would impact Division III in many ways, and few knew the impact it would have on athletic communications professionals.
"I remember asking Dan (Dutcher) about how his search was going for the position," recalled Eric McDowell, original CoSIDA College Division Management Advisory Committee Chair and CoSIDA past president. "He said he had somebody in mind, and couldn't say, but noted that we would all be very impressed. It didn't take long for that to work out."
McCleary, promoted to Managing Director of NCAA Division III last September, has had a profound impact on CoSIDA and CoSIDA's membership, particularly at the D3 level. For her contributions and as one of CoSIDA's most ardent and effective advocates, McCleary is the 2018 Keith Jackson Eternal Flame Award recipient. The Keith Jackson honor is given to an individual who has made a lasting contribution of excellence to intercollegiate athletics and has been a loyal supporter of CoSIDA and its mission.
McCleary will receive the honor on June 28th
at the Gaylord National Resort during the 2018 CoSIDA Convention in National Harbor, Maryland. McCleary is the third representative from the NCAA to receive the distinguished Keith Jackson honor, joining the late and former NCAA president Myles Brand (2009) and current Managing Director of External Affairs Erik Christianson (2015).
A chance to serve the Division III membership at its highest level proved to be a natural progression for McCleary. From her childhood days of watching Old Dominion women's basketball to her own experience as a three-sport student-athlete at Division III Wellesley College, athletics has always been a fixture in her life.
She began her professional career as an assistant coach and a sports information director before moving into top administration, finding herself at the helm of Elms College for a decade prior to joining the NCAA.
It's clear to see that McCleary truly has Division III in her blood, but most importantly, it is in her heart as well, having spent 15 years of her 26-year career in the NCAA's largest division.
For those she has worked with, her influence and dedication has been nothing short of impactful. Chris Attwood, who worked for McCleary for three years as the Sports Information Director at Elms, recalled that her mentorship and friendship continues to make an impact on his career. Now the Assistant Executive Director of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), Attwood insistently credits McCleary as a heavy influence in his success.
"From the very first interaction I had with Louise, support has been the cornerstone of every subsequent conversation, moment and experience," Attwood explained. "She is selfless in the truest sense of the word, and has always supported me and my goals. Louise truly wants to see her colleagues grow into the best people that they can be - and that's not just in a work environment - but life in general."
Though her role in athletics has changed, her drive to help others continues to make an impact at the National Office.
"She is my coach, and like most coaches, she wants success for her players," explained Adam Skaggs, who serves under McCleary as the Assistant Director for Division III Governance Communications. "A successful coach provides guidance, instruction and direction, which Louise has given me all three. Her work ethic pushes our department to go that extra mile, give that extra effort and reach higher goals."
For Jay Jones, the Associate Director of Division III who famously stars in the DIII video updates with McCleary, her work ethic continues to amaze even after six years.
"Honestly, I'm not sure if her heart or her energy is more bountiful," stated Jones. "She is a tireless leader with an unmatched passion and caring for Division III and the people in it."
Let's take a moment to circle back to the beginning where I mentioned how Louise McCleary impacted the landscape for athletic communicators. Nope, that wasn't just hyperbole or wishful thinking. While the entire Division III membership of 450 institutions and 45 conferences have benefited greatly under her leadership, it's on a selfish note that I pull in the sports information side of things.
Having served as an SID, McCleary understands the demands, the work load and the dedication. The programs she has helped put into place since her arrival have changed the way this profession is looked upon, be it at the campus, conference or national level.
It all started with the creation of the Guide to Strategic Athletics Communication on Campus, which helped educate campus personnel about the role of athletic communicators on campus and brought to light the time demands they experience. The NCAA allocation of funds for the professional development of sports information personnel, and programs like Division III Day at CoSIDA and Division III Recognition awards followed. They all bring awareness and a higher level of respect to the profession, while giving the overall membership a voice. These are significant moves that don't go unrecognized by anyone in the athletic communications business.
"Louise is the major driving force in the evolution of athletic communications for every person at the Division III level," explained Ann King, Director of Athletic Communications at the Sage Colleges, and also the D3SIDA Vice President. "Her gifts have helped to change the professional careers for countless individuals. She is the three Ds of Division III, "Discover, Develop, Dedicate," all rolled into one very dynamic package and we are all better for her time and devotion to us all."
"I admire Louise for her ability to champion Division III initiatives to so many different key decision-makers," stated Sam Atkinson, Associate Athletic Director for Communications at Gallaudet University, and the 3rd Vice President on the CoSIDA Board of Directors. "Her even-keeled temperament and leadership has helped to positively impact Division III and that is something we will feel, and see, for years to come."
If you haven't guessed it by now in reading this, in the minds of many across Division III, there is no one more deserving of the Keith Jackson Eternal Flame Award than McCleary. She has made a definitive contribution to the landscape of intercollegiate athletics and has demonstrated a long and consistent commitment to excellence - two of the most important cornerstones of this prestigious award.
Her loyalty to CoSIDA and the athletic communications profession is profound and is one of the many things that we as athletic communication professionals will never take for granted.