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2019 Special Awards Annoucements and Features
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Past CoSIDA 25-Year Award Recipients
Brian Morgan – University of North Florida, Assistant AD for Communications
2019 CoSIDA 25-Year Award recipient
by April Goode, Virginia Tech Director of Engagement & Analytics, Strategic Communications
Many in our industry have been among the fortunate to get their start under the tutelage of
Brian Morgan. Almost all of us have realized, either immediately or down the line, how fortunate we were to have that opportunity.
As a 25-year-old fresh out of grad school, beginning what was essentially the very first job of my life, I realize now how ill-prepared I was to be the first-ever assistant sports information director at High Point University.
While having attended HPU as an undergrad and working in the department may have helped to get my foot in the door, working under Brian is what truly helped launch my career. Brian has been that catalyst for numerous people over the past 25 years as he gets ready to be recognized with a CoSIDA 25-Year Award this June.
Brian Morgan enjoying a North Florida men's basketball thanksgiving trip with his wife Lindsey in Cancun, Mexico.
If you are not one of the lucky ones to know Brian, let me tell you a little bit about him. I spent four years learning (A LOT) from Brian at High Point. Our first two years saw us sharing a space about the size of a walk-in closet (and not quite one of those you would see on MTV Cribs). If you ever really want to get to know someone, I suggest sharing a claustrophobic-inducing space with them.
We eventually moved to a newly-built sports information suite. While it was nice and shiny and new, it was never really the same as our trusty “cupboard-under-the-stairs.” We often joked about adding a pass-through window to the wall between our offices because we had become so accustomed to interacting with each other throughout the day.
Brian and I both left High Point within weeks of each other. He departed for a job in Alabama while I headed to the University of North Florida. We both worked for a year at our respective spots until there was an opening for the sports information director’s job at UNF. The athletic director asked me and fellow assistant Chris Whitehead what we thought, and I wasted no time in recommending Brian for the job. By this time, I had spoken so often and so highly of Brian that Chris was also quickly on-board. He was, of course, hired and has continued to lead the office at UNF for the past nine years.
Brian is one of the most dedicated people I have ever known. Like many of us, he is dedicated to the job, but more important, he is dedicated to the people in his life. Brian loves to tell the stories of his coaches, administrators and student-athletes while his own accomplishments take a back seat (I’m sure this 25-Year Award attention is killing him).
He is fiercely dedicated to his wife Lindsey and their three sons – Isaiah, Levi and Judah – and if you have been one of his pupils over the years, you know that you are included in the family as well. The way Brian balances his home and work life should be an example to us all.
The final group that Brian is dedicated to is those of us who fall under his “coaching tree.” I could use this space to try and tell you the immense impact he has had on each and every one of us, but I thought it would be better to let them tell you in their own words.
What they are saying about Brian Morgan:
“I am one of many people who can say this without hesitation: I owe Brian my career. When I arrived at UNF as a 22-year-old who knew exactly enough about the business and the world to get himself into truckloads of trouble, he spent two years showing me patience and teaching me the million (and counting) things I didn’t know. More importantly, he taught me how to be a professional and a leader in this business, which is no small thing. Every day, he showed me and dozens of others kindness and a willingness to do anything he could to help. I left North Florida six years ago and I still call Brian before any significant decision I have to make and our conversation is always invaluable to me. I know I’m not alone in that and I’m so proud of him for this award. Congratulations, Boss Man. Thank you for everything!”
- Jason Krech: Director, Director of Athletic Communications, James Madison University
“Brian was a tremendous boss, who was willing to do anything and everything in order to help out his employees and get the job done. He always thought of himself as a coworker rather than a boss and was never too good to roll up his sleeves and help out at a moment's notice. Congratulations on 25 years of dedicated service! This industry is much better for having members like you in it.”
- Chris Whitehead, Assistant Sports Information Director, United States Naval Academy
“Congrats Brian on 25 years in the business! Brian is a guy that pours his heart and soul into everything he does. He’ll never call himself a leader but doesn’t need to. His energy, dedication and work ethic make others follow. He has the innate ability to make others feel welcome and that is evident in the countless number of people that that speak fondly of him in the industry. I’m forever thankful for him and his family helping my wife and I call Jacksonville home for three years. It will always be a special place to us and I think he had a lot to do with that. It was a privilege to work alongside him and I’ll always be appreciative of the opportunity he gave me.”
- Scott Fitzgerald, Assistant Director, Media Relations, University of Virginia (formerly of UNF)
“I received my true start into college athletics under Brian Morgan as a graduate student at High Point University in 2005-2007. I learned so much under Brian, or BMO, as everyone called him. Not just in the sports information field, but also from his attention to detail and wanting to give each and every one of High Point’s sports as much love as the next. BMO also had a funny sense of humor that a lot of times only myself and April Goode witnessed while all three of us shared a large closet space nestled right off from the main basketball court. One of my favorite memories (which I often find myself laughing about to this day whenever I am taking a call from the conference office), is when we were on a call from the Big South Conference and there was a new feature that would allow you to mute the call so you could listen but not be heard. Brian muted the call, and then to test it, at the top of his lungs yelled whoooooo! All of us cracked up and it still brings a smile to my face now. BMO, 25 years is NO JOKE! You deserve this! Congrats man and keep on getting it!”
- Will Price, Assistant Athletic Director, Marketing & Promotions, University of Memphis
“I worked with Brian at Murray State from 1995-97 when I was just a rookie in this business and had ZERO knowledge of what I was doing. Poor Brian. He took me in, patiently showed me the ropes, and not only taught me all the tricks to the trade but he taught me how to have fun doing it. He also taught me how to not take myself too seriously and how relationships are the key to a long and successful life as an SID. Working with Brian jump-started my passion for this profession and helped me get to where I am today. Brian and his family will forever be in my pool of ‘favorite people on the planet.’ Congrats, Brian!”
- Susan Lax, Director Athletics Communications & Public Relations, University of Kentucky
“Brian has made such an impact on not only my career, but my personal life as well. He gives so much to the job and to his employees; it is an absolute honor to work with him. I appreciate the care he shows me as a person and all of his great dad jokes. It keeps the office lighthearted and fun. I appreciate that he celebrates our victories and works through our faults. Congrats to Brian on a successful career and I can’t wait to see what is still lies ahead.”
- Amanda Radtke, Assistant Director, Athletic Communications, University of North Florida
“I can remember my first email from Brian Morgan when I was an intern at Coastal Carolina. Brian sent me his team's volleyball information and signed the email "BMo." I can remember thinking who is this guy? Many years later, I am fortunate that I got to know and work with BMo. Brian makes anyone who works with him feel like part of his family. He truly cares about the students (both athletes and workers), coaches, athletic administration, and fellow SIDs. As a result, many would come to his office for advice. There were many of times I had conversations with him, and his advice was very solid ... and usually right. There's no doubt that Brian is one of the best in the biz.
Here's to you, BMo...Happy 25th SID-versary!”
- Colleen O’Connell, Former Assistant Director, Athletic Communications, University of North Florida
“I got my start in sports information working under Brian, and I learned a ton from him, not just from his deep skill set, but also from his strong work ethic and how he treats other people. He holds himself and others to high standards, but never loses perspective on what it's all about. Sports info is a people business, pure and simple. Sure, we work with stats and graphic design and all kinds of other "duties as assigned," but it's still about people, and Brian epitomizes that mindset. He's poured himself into the student-athletes of the universities he's worked for, but he's also helped to mold dozens of colleagues to do the same. The mark he's made on countless people is tremendous. Thanks, B-Mo, for devoting so much of your life making sure student-athletes get the recognition they deserve, despite not getting nearly the recognition that YOU deserve. Congrats on 25 years of SID work!”
- Michael Nuckles, Assistant AD, Charlotte Day School (former student at High Point)
“Congrats to one of the best in the profession. I was one of the lucky ones to be mentored by B-Mo, and not just in the profession side of things, but also in life. While wet behind the ears when I started and having plenty of “firsts” along the way, Brian was always looking to push it even further and let me experience as much as I could along the way. He turned into my career and life mentor and I can’t ever thank him or repay him enough for always having an ear to talk to no matter the situation. And B, I’m still very sorry about that spill you took during our lunch hoops game. Still pains me to visualize it!”
- Manny Nieves, Florida Luxury Realty and former graduate assistant at High Point University
“Brian has been in the game as long as I've been on this earth — with that, thanks for giving me my chance in the business — I'll always remember that.”
- Brock Borgeson, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, University of North Florida