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CoSIDA.com/ThankYourSID
This feature is part of our series of profiles showcasing members throughout the CoSIDA membership during the celebration of CoSIDA Membership Recognition Week for 2019. See more features at CoSIDA.com/ThankYourSID.
Nicole Curtin – Towson University, Athletic Communications Assistant Director
by Rob Knox – Towson University, Associate Director of Media Relations // CoSIDA Past President
Nicole Curtin enjoyed a memorable first year as Towson University’s assistant director of media relations. She documented the women’s basketball teams’ first trip in program history to the NCAA tournament through engaging social media storytelling and had a warm-up dunk of one of her women’s basketball players go viral.
Before coming to Towson, Nicole served as varsity athletic communications intern at Dartmouth College and as sports information intern at Shepherd University (West Virginia). These were her first two forays into the athletic media relations profession as she learned about the profession from her experiences as a college sports writer at West Virginia University, her alma mater.
A diehard Jacksonville Jaguar fan, Curtin enjoys listening to music in her office, walking around the track, going to lunch with co-workers and watching Friends on Netflix.
Learn more about Curtin’s career journey with this Q&A.
Taken during last year’s 2019 Towson women’s basketball Pink Game: Curtin, associate media relations director and CoSIDA past president Rob Knox and former assistant coach Dana Wieller.
What was the best part of documenting Towson’s first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament and CAA championship last year? How much work was it leading up to the first round game against UConn?
The best part was witnessing the joy from every single member of the team. There was so much emotion in the final seconds of the CAA Tournament Championship and the hour or so following it was something I will never forget. Traveling to the NCAA game at Connecticut held a bit of anticipation but still the team was so happy and excited. They showed so much companionship and it was a really special few days. Leading up to the UConn game held a lot more media responsibilities than I was used to at the time, many interviews for several players, and everyone wanted to talk to Coach (Diane) Richardson.
We’ve asked each Recognition Week featured member to share a professional development tip. What is yours?
I’ve been in the “game” since 2016, which doesn’t sound like long ago, but I used social media to my advantage. Joining in weekly Twitter chats with peers and other professionals in the field led to digital connections with those people, who later on became friends and have helped me along the way. There are a lot of resources through the internet as well that I have used and continue to use for growth in certain areas of my daily responsibilities. In 2018 I attended the CoSIDA Convention for the first time and it was amazing connecting with fellow sports information professionals and learning more hands-on skills in person.
Getting a chance to cut a piece of the net after the Towson Tiger women’s basketball team won its first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) title tournament championship and received its first ever berth to the 2019 NCAA National Championship.
What’s the biggest career lesson that you’ve learned?
The biggest career lesson that I have learned is to not be afraid to ask for help. There are so many great people in this field who are happy to not only give advice, but to literally sit down and show you something or get on the phone and walk you through it. When I was younger I had a very strong “do it myself” attitude and I’ve worked hard to destroy that because it needs to be a team effort sometimes! That has helped me grow tremendously through the last three years.
Is there an achievement or contribution that you are most proud of? (this could be work-related OR personal)
It might sound silly but the achievement that I am personally most proud of was finally getting my first full-time job in the athletic communications field in 2017 at Dartmouth College. I finished my master’s degree in 2016 (which, at the time was my most proud moment), but it took me so long to find a fit where I would actually be able to work and get paid for it. There was no describing the emotions I had after Dartmouth offered me the position.
What advice would you give someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
The advice I would give to someone who wants to do what I have done and am doing is to never give up. Do not settle for something that is not going to further your career or bring you any joy. Chase after the dream, not after the money.
Curtin working on press row during a Towson basketball game.
What has been the most memorable and/or rewarding moments of your career?
Probably the most memorable moments in my career have been championship events. In March the Towson women’s basketball team won the CAA Championship for the first time in program history. That was a day I will never forget. During my first season as a full-time SID, the Dartmouth men’s soccer team won the Ivy League outright for the fourth straight year and that was a very fun day. They won the title during a conference game at home and it was awesome. More of the rewarding moments have been going on the road with my teams and hearing the appreciation from coaches and student-athletes for me being their media director.
Who are some of the key mentors or people who deeply influenced who you are, what you believe in and what you’re committed to in your work and life?
One person has completely and totally influenced who I am today and how I go about my life - Justin Moore, my Justin Moore not the country star! Justin and I have known each other since ninth grade (2007) and we now live in a townhouse with our pitbull. He has deeply influenced how I think about the world and life in general and has been my support system through everything. If he was not around I don’t even know what I could be doing professionally right now.
Other people who have truly influenced me and inspire me daily are both of my parents, my friends Melanie, Terrell, Whitney, Sara and Tina. I also have to give a huge shout out to Charlotte Brackett who is at Dartmouth as an assistant director of varsity athletics communications. She was exceptionally helpful at guiding me through learning periods during my intern year with the Big Green. She rocks.
At a 25-year family anniversary party, Nicole, right, is pictured with her sisters (l to r): Amanda, Shannon and Grace.
What's one communications/social/PR tool that you could not live without and why?
People. I need people to see my work before it goes out. I need people to share, like and comment on that post. I need people to takeover Instagram stories, take pictures on the field together and watch our videos. We tell stories about people. They are the key.
Got any favorite quotes?
“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities”- Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
“A goal is just a dream without a deadline”- Napoleon Hill