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Note: This story appeared in the Fall 2019 November edition of CoSIDA 360 Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.
Celebrating Two Decades of Service, and Counting
Jeff Hodges of North Alabama has served the CoSIDA Board of Directors for over 20 years including a term as college division at-large representative and currently as the organization’s secretary since 2002.
by Shelly Poe – Auburn University, Assistant AD/Communications // CoSIDA Past President
In a profession where sports change seasonally and student-athletes are considered old-timers if they stay four or five years on a campus, serving more than two decades on the CoSIDA Board of Directors should be recognized as a remarkable milestone, one that CoSIDA secretary Jeff Hodges recently passed, completing his 20th year as a board member.
Hodges, whose day job is as senior associate athletic director for communications at the University of North Alabama, served three years as a college division at-large representative on the Board from 1992-95, then assumed the role of secretary in 2002.
In the history of CoSIDA, only two others — longtime treasurer Dave Wohlhueter (37 years) and Hodges’ predecessor as secretary Fred Neusch (27 years) — have had longer service to the organization in that capacity. And not coincidentally, they had a role in initiating Hodges’ lengthy involvement.
“My whole CoSIDA story begins with Fred Neusch,” Hodges recalls. “I’d been a student worker at UNA and they created a full-time position for sports information after I graduated in 1983-84. My second year here, 1985, we played in the Division II national championship football game. It was played in Kingsville, Texas, and I met Fred there as one of the hosts. Immediately, he began telling me, ‘You need to get involved in CoSIDA and he was very convincing, explaining how it would help me meet people in the profession and help me in my work.
The three longest serving members of the CoSIDA Board of Directors are (l to r) Fred Neusch (27 years), Jeff Hodges (20 years) and Dave Wohlhueter (37 years). All three first served as college division representatives. Neusch then served 23 years as secretary, while Wohlhueter was CoSIDA’s treasurer for 35 years.
“I went straight from student to SID at 22 years old as the first full-time SID and he talked me up on the profession and getting involved. I think my first committee was membership services, where we tried to get people to join the organization. Now I’m on the Special Awards Committee, trying to get people to nominate those who are worthy of the different recognitions. That’s been great. That’s part of our job at our schools — making sure people are recognized for their accomplishments — but it’s really cool when your peers also recognize you, because you work with them, you see all the good things they do, and you want to let people know about it.
“My first convention was Nashville in 1986, where Fred and Dave drafted me to help with some duties, and in 1987, the summer after my first convention, I worked at the U.S. Olympic Festival in North Carolina. I had eight days of basketball and eight days of track and field; during my time with basketball, I worked with Rick Brewer of North Carolina and Doug Vance of Kansas. We spent all day, every day together for several weeks, so I got to know them well. When I was elected to the board in 1992, they were both on the board as vice presidents.
“When I was on the board as an at-large representative, there were no full-time staff members, so the various officers were handling all the convention and organizational duties, and the rest of us helped them. I coordinated door prizes, or sent letters to potential corporate partners, or whatever would help alleviate some of their duties. I think that went a long way with my relationship with Fred, because I always tried to help him in whatever he needed.
“When he decided to retire from the secretary’s post (in 2002), I think I was involved enough and well-known enough to be considered (for secretary),” Hodges recalls. “One of the best ways for me to know the ins and outs of things was working for a long time with Dave and Fred.”
The duties and responsibilities of secretary have changed often since 2002, much like everyone deals with changing technologies and media platforms.
“Now I feel like I’m CoSIDA’s utility player. Back when I started as secretary in 2002, I was on the front line, because we didn’t have full-time CoSIDA staff. I was involved in almost every aspect of the organization and putting out a monthly printed digest, but as each additional staff person has come on board, my duties have been adjusted. They’ve taken on a lot of details and I’ve taken on things they’ve asked me to do. I love CoSIDA and I just want to do whatever’s necessary. I don’t have a problem filling in wherever they need me.
Hodges was honored in 1997 to be one of three inductees into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame alongside June Stewart (Vanderbilt) and Arne Sgalio (Big Sky Conference/ESPN).
“A couple of duties have remained the same. I’m the historian; I’ve got all the old Digests, documents and photos and I’ve worked to scan a lot of it and have it readily available and usable, which helps a lot when people get awards, or retire or pass away.
“And everybody knows me as the photographer — if they see me at a game or meeting away from the convention, the first thing they say is ‘Where’s your camera?’ The biggest challenge at the convention, especially in Orlando, is trying to shoot as many panels and speakers and events as I can and it’s very spread out. It’s a lot of miles in a day going back and forth.
“And then I try to get all those out to people the same day who have won awards or presented, in case they want to use them or their school wants to promote that. I get to the convention and I don’t go outside until I go back home, unless we have an event that’s outside. I’m constantly in motion or going back upstairs to send out photos. But it’s fun and I enjoy it. That’s always been a passion of mine, to help people get recognized.
“Technology continues to change, but the basics are still the same. We’re still working to promote our members and help give them a better work experience. That’s why I feel passionate about CoSIDA.
“You get to meet a lot of people from different regions and leagues that your school doesn’t play. The camaraderie is the thing in our profession. The majority of us don’t view ourselves in competition with each other. Some take it harder when their team loses, but of all the professions, I think we’re one of the best to share information and share ideas, and have good relationships with our peers.
“That first advice I got from Fred is still great advice: get involved with CoSIDA and it will make a difference in your life.”
This summer during meetings at NCAA offices in Indianapolis, CoSIDA celebrated Hodges’ 20th year of board service and Barb Kowal’s 10th year on the CoSIDA staff. A CoSIDA Hall of Famer, Kowal was the second full-time staff member hired in June 2009 by then-executive director John Humenik. Her first title was Director of Communications, which was soon upgraded to Director of External Affairs. In 2017, Professional Development was added to her title.
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