College Sports Information Directors of America

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• Jeff Bernstein to be Inducted into CoSIDA Hall of Fame (gonyuathletics.com)

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Jeffrey Bernstein – NYU, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
CoSIDA Hall of Fame Class of 2019

By Chris Mitchell, Washington University in St. Louis Assistant AD for Communications
CoSIDA Goodwill and Wellness Committee Chair

The word “Godfather” has a simple definition – “A man who is influential or pioneering in a movement or organization.”
 
New York University Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information Jeffrey Bernstein is referred to as the Sports Information “Godfather”, and for good reason.
 
After 37 years in the sports information industry, Bernstein will be inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Hall of Fame on Monday, June 10, during this summer's annual convention in Orlando.
 
“A Godfather is someone who is respected, and in my case, someone who is usually getting up there in years,” said Bernstein, who was given the nickname by former St. John’s University SID Mark Fratto. “But I don’t think anyone fears me.”
 
Bernstein, a native of Brooklyn. N.Y., graduated from St. John’s in 1982 with a degree in athletic administration. Within a year of graduation, he was hired as the Sports Information Director at Hunter College, a position he held for six years.
 
From 1988-99 Bernstein served as the Director of Sports Media Relations at Manhattan College, a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). He moved on to NYU in 1999, and has been a part of Violet Nation ever since.
 
“Jeff has spent his entire career working in the toughest media market in the nation where there is a massive group of colleges on all levels in addition to nine pro teams representing the four major sports,” said peer and University of Rochester Director of Athletic Communications, Dennis O’Donnell. “He has always been able to pick his spots with the Fourth Estate. That's something that draws respect from his colleagues and his employers.”
 
From time-to-time you can also find Bernstein courtside working for the Associated Press as a stringer at New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets home games, combining his relationships built with the New York media with his love for writing.
 
 
Why in this business for 37 years?
 
Bernstein comes from a family of educators. His mother Corinne and two of his sisters, Leslie and Debbie, were all teachers.
 
His father Ben served as a police officer and then a sergeant in the New York City Police Department for over 20 years. Bernstein and his wife Jennifer named their son, Benjamin, after his late father. Benjamin is 13-years old and in the seventh grade, and recently celebrated his Bar Mitzvah.
 
“That was one of the proudest and happiest days of my life,” Bernstein added.
 
Sports have played a huge role in Bernstein’s life. He is an avid tennis player, still plays touch football with the “boys” each Sunday morning and slow-pitch softball in the summer, and loves to shoot hoops and play catch with Benjamin.
 
“The world of educators and sports is something I am familiar with,” Bernstein said. “Sports and education is who I am – and both have been a big part of my life. Sports Information combines the two professions of which I have spent my entire working life.”
 
The Profession …
 
What does Bernstein enjoy most about being an SID?
 
“Personal relationships and problem solving,” Bernstein said. “I like to use logic to figure things out. And I like hunting for things.”
 
That has been Bernstein’s niche the past 37 years. He may not be a wiz at Statcrew, graphics or social media, but the “Godfather” loves to have his finger on the keyboard and gives back to his organization.
 
Bernstein is in his first year as chair of the Fred Stabley Jr. Writing Contest Committee. In 2014, he initiated a Division III Men’s and Women’s National Player of the Week Award that was supported by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). He also serves as Chairman of the Division III Selection Committee, and is also on the Executive Board of the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA).
 
“Jeff’s impact, legacy and passion for our profession has opened doors for others, and deepened the footsteps of those who have come before and elevated our organization,” said Rob Knox, 2018-19 CoSIDA President and Towson University Associate Director of Media Relations.
 
“I’ve based my entire career on personal relationships,” Bernstein said. “It’s a noble profession – with such good people in it. It’s not a competition. The fact we help other, and care about each other is important. It’s so rare and to be cherished.”
 
Bernstein will be the first to admit that the profession has changed since the 1980s, but the challenge for him each day is to keep up with youngsters who have grown up in the social media world who are adept at doing multiple things at one time.
 
“I always thought juggling tasks was a huge part of being an SID, and I still think it is, it’s just different right now,” Bernstein said. “I have never woken up and dreaded going to work, so I think I made a good choice.”
 
The CoSIDA Hall of Fame …
 
We all know The Godfather is an emotional guy, and when he received the news about his induction to the CoSIDA Hall of Fame … well …
 
“It got me very emotional,” he said. “When you think about all the years of service, and to be recognized by your peers in a large way, it overwhelmed me.”
 
Bernstein was a “straight shootah” when asked if he had ever thought about being selected to the CoSIDA Hall of Fame.
 
“I have thought about it before, but not recently. But receiving this honor is like winning a championship – they can’t take it away from you. What could be better than that? I am extremely humbled.”
 
The Memories …
 
As time has worn on, it’s hard for Bernstein to remember all the wins. Yet, a few memories stick out in his 37 years in the industry:

• 1993 – The Manhattan men’s basketball team winning the MAAC Tournament and earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. “That was my first chance to be part of March Madness. We were the darlings of New York City!”
• 1995 – Being in the room and watching on television when Manhattan received the first at-large bid in MAAC history. The Jaspers upset Oklahoma in the first round before losing to Arizona State in the second round.
• 2007 – Covered NYU’s first national championship in men’s cross country on a cold and windy day in Northfield, Minn.
• 2010-11 – Served as President of the Eastern College Athletic Conference-Sports Information Directors Association (ECAC-SIDA).
• 2016 – Received ECAC-SIDA Irving T. Marsh Award, which is presented annually to a member “who has exhibited excellence in the field of sports information.”
• 2018 – Received the Bob Kenworthy “Good Guy” Award for “contributions to the corporation and mission of ECAC-SIDA.

 
Closing Thoughts …
 
Bernstein could say this honor is a culmination of his career’s work, but he admits there’s still a lot more left in the tank!
 
“My parents always taught me that making money is not as important as enjoying what you do for a living,” Bernstein said. “I am a very lucky person to have been able to follow that advice. But I wish I had more money, too!”