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CoSIDA Hall of Fame
John Paquette – BIG EAST Conference, Sr. Associate Commissioner, Sports Media Relations
CoSIDA Hall of Fame Class of 2019
by Larry Dougherty, Temple University Senior Associate AD/Strategic Communications and former CoSIDA President
Over the last 29 years in the BIG EAST Conference, coaches have come and gone, student-athletes continue to flow through, and even entire universities have left and been added. One thing, however, has remained the constant. That is the man behind the scenes telling the league’s story, associate commissioner for communications
John Paquette, who will be inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame this June.
One of the most respected men in intercollegiate athletics, Paquette has worked behind the scenes promoting one of the top athletic conferences in the country. He has the innate ability to communicate effectively whether it is dealing with national media, local media, high profile coaches or university presidents. His calm demeanor, in what at times can best be described as a category four hurricane, is what sets him apart from the rest in what is truly a Hall of Fame career.
Paquette joined the BIG EAST in 1990 as commissioner Mike Tranghese's first hire. Paquette came to the conference office after serving four years at league member Seton Hall where he was the men's basketball media relations contact when the Pirates made their Final Four run under head coach P.J. Carlesimo in 1989.
“It was no mere coincidence,” said Tranghese on his initial hire. “(Former commissioner) Dave Gavitt and I put a high degree of importance on that position as we both value public relations and the media. I was on the job four days when I called John, and it was truly one of best hires I have ever made. In his own way John has become the face of the BIG EAST. I cannot imagine the BIG EAST without him.”
(L-R) The Paquette family: Terry, wife Debbie, Phil, Charlotte and John.
When the BIG EAST restructured in 2013, becoming a conference with non-football schools, it was again Paquette being one of the first hires by new BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman.
“In my mind, John Paquette is the BIG EAST,” said Ackerman to the
Asbury Park Press this March. “No one connected to our league today knows more about our history, our successes and what we represent in the game of basketball than John. And as far as the tournament goes, he's the unsung hero in ways fans won't ever see, but I'm very sure that every writer who's been with us those four days at MSG knows exactly what I mean. He's the best.”
No one is more respected in the profession by his peers than this low-key, humble professional. Paquette is the one that many will call when their organization is in a crisis, as he has been there to answer the call — and tells you not what you want to hear, but what you need to hear.
“John combines old-school know-how with a perceptive vision of where the media/collegiate athletics relationship is going and how we can best take advantage of those developments,” said Auburn University Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations and CoSIDA Past President Shelly Poe. “He is the consummate professional in what is still a service industry, going above and beyond to make the customer, the public and his conference institutions satisfied.
"Also, I think it’s a beautiful irony that in the heyday of the most media-friendly, brand-savvy conference that ever existed, the man running PR was as understated, unflappable and under the radar as they come,” Poe noted. “Did the job get done? Superbly. Were the many constituencies served? To all of their satisfaction a great deal of the time. There’s a lesson in that for a lot of us.”
Another CoSIDA Past President, Rob Carolla, worked under Paquette at the BIG EAST for eight years. He credits his mentor’s ability to build relationships with the media as well as with the coaches, as a major reason for his incredible success.
“John understands that this is a relationship business,” explains Carolla. “And that by building and maintaining those relationships with administrators and coaches as well as the media, it allows him to do his job in the best way possible. It is a great reminder for all of us that we work in sports — not just college athletics.
"The coaches and administrators respect John, and they should,” Carolla finished. “The coaches he has had in his conference are a who's who of the profession. From Jim Calhoun to John Thompson to Jim Boeheim to Jay Wright, each of them knew that things were going to be handled the correct way if John was leading the communications efforts.”
Tranghese echoed those sentiments, “He has an incredible relationship with coaches which is very valuable and not easy to do. John was also a calming voice, never too up or down, but steady every day.”
Fellow CoSIDA Hall of Famer Sue Edson, who is the Executive Senior Associate AD for Communications at Syracuse, has worked with Paquette throughout most of her 30-year career. She has witnessed first-hand the scope of his superb tenure at the BIG EAST.
“Every action John takes is in the best interest of all the people involved,” states Edson. “He never makes a move with selfish intentions. He gets the job done the right way, without cutting corners, sacrificing quality, or forgetting that there are two sides to consider in every situation. The two qualities I admire the most are his signature calm demeanor and admirable humility.”
The CoSIDA Hall of Fame is one of many honors that have been bestowed upon the man who is more comfortable behind the scenes than in the spotlight. Although he does flourish when the lights are on.
Paquette was previously honored by CoSIDA in 2014 with the Bill Esposito Backbone Award for his handling of the BIG EAST transition. The Esposito Award, which is only awarded when merited, is presented to a CoSIDA member who displays sound judgment and unusual courage in guiding their institution or conference through difficult public relations situations.
In 2007, he was the recipient of CoSIDA’s Arch Ward Award for meritorious service in college sports media relations. He was awarded the 2009 Katha Quinn Award from the United States Basketball Writers Association for outstanding media service and the 2013 Distinguished Service Award from the New York Metropolitan Basketball Writers.
“I was fortunate enough to begin my career in collegiate athletics 20+ years ago as an intern for John, before coming back as a full-time staff member a couple years later,” said Carolla. “He was always willing to involve new staff members of his staff with the veterans. When long-time AP writer Jim O'Connell was presented with an award at the Naismith Hall of Fame, I was fortunate enough to be invited to take a ride to Springfield with John, Mike Tranghese and the late Dave Gavitt, founder of the BIG EAST. Needless to say, I just listened during the entire two-hour drive from Providence.”
A good lesson for all young professionals, listen and learn.