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CoSIDA Goodwill & Wellness Committee
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Communicators Outside the Lines Feature Series
This is the next profile in a series entitled
Communicators Outside the Lines: Better Yourself, Better Your Community produced by the CoSIDA Goodwill & Wellness Committee. Read past profiles at
CoSIDA.com/CommunicatorsOTL.
WE NEED YOUR IDEAS!
If you have any ideas for this series, which will revolve around CoSIDA member volunteerism and health and wellness, please contact Goodwill and Wellness Committee chair
Megan Jameson, St. Edward's University Associate AD for Marketing and Communications, at
mhardin@stedwards.edu.
Q&A with Sean Cartell
University of Texas, Associate Media Relations Director
by A.J. O'Hagan – Yeshiva University, Sports Information Director
Goodwill and Wellness Committee Member
Sean Cartell’s career in the athletic communications field has been nothing short of successful. If there is one word that best describes the Gainesville, Florida native, it is “dedicated.”
Having been involved with college athletics since he was a freshman at the University of Kentucky, Cartell is now the associate media relations director at the University of Texas. Prior to his time at Texas, he worked full time for the University of Central Florida, University of Florida, and the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
While at UF, he covered the men’s indoor track and field team that won back-to-back national championships, the first NCAA titles in program history. During his time at the SEC, he worked with major outlets such as ESPN, Sports Illustrated, FOX, CBS, etc.
Thanks to Cartell’s hard work in the profession, CoSIDA honored him with the Rising Star Award at the 2015 convention in Orlando.
Cartell dreamed of being involved in sports since he was a kid. Most people his age who want to have a career in sports have a goal to play the games. Cartell had a different vision, he was more interested in the behind the scenes aspect of the sports world. When he went to sporting events as a child, he not only played attention to what was happening on the court, he observed what was going on behind the scenes that made the events a success.
“My parents took me to all the sporting events which got me interested,” Cartell recalled. “Being at the indoor sports, I saw people running around. I was like ‘what are they doing? That seems interesting.’”
During each sporting event he went to, Cartell would buy a media guide and look at it. He was interested in seeing the team photos. Cartell also checked out the head shots and bios of the people working behind the scenes. He learned a lot about the different jobs outside of the in-game competition and then started talking to professionals to get a better understanding and learn from their experiences. “Mainly, it was curiosity,” Cartell said. “I always enjoyed reading, writing, and communicating with people. That’s why the athletic communications field was a perfect fit for me.”
Cartell is the contact for the Texas women's basketball and women's golf teams.
Cartell is not only active in his profession, but he makes sure he keeps in shape under the guidance of the CoSIDA fitness program. At the CoSIDA Convention in St. Louis, back in 2012, Cartell participated in his first ever 5k run. He has done a few more since. “The very first one was pretty meaningful,” Cartell said. “I was unhealthy around that time and started working out on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2012. The CoSIDA 5k as a goal was actually really helpful because it gave me something to work towards.”
The coronavirus pandemic has taken its toll on the world. Cartell has been creative in staying active and engaged during these troubled times. He is currently a member of the CoSIDA fitness team, Cirque de Sore Legs, a unit that competes in a virtual fitness challenge against other teams full of his fellow SIDs. “I have been doing a lot of hiking and walking,” Cartell explained. “Austin is a great place for hiking. The street that I live on has a great sidewalk and I spend the weekends exploring different hiking spots.”
Despite his success in adapting to a difficult situation, Cartell admits that the pandemic has taken its toll on him. “I’ll be honest, it’s tough,” Cartell said. “When you live by yourself and you are used to going to work, it’s hard to adjust.” He does have his dog, Moco, to keep him company. He rescued Moco, who was 11 at the time, and now he is 14 years old. The Rising Star Award winner is also using this time to connect with people he hasn’t talked to in a while in order to strengthen his friendships with them.
Thanks to his strong dedication to his career and fitness work, Cartell has networked with many colleagues in the profession, including his friend Ira Green, who was a student that worked for him at his first full time job at Central Florida. He was the one who nominated Cartell for the Rising Star Award. “It’s so easy for us to focus all the time on work, but the people in our lives make an impact,” Cartell said. “It’s important to focus on the people that make an impact on our lives. Don’t let anything ruin those relationships.”
Sean Cartell and his dog Moco.
Q. How was it transitioning from Florida to Alabama to Texas?
Cartell: I think when you are moving to college towns, things are similar. The toughest part when you move to a new town is that you don’t know anyone. Having to adjust to new people is a difficult challenge.
Q. What was it like working for a national championship program? Is the behind the scenes work more intense?
Cartell: I have worked with a lot of great programs, great coaches, and student-athletes. It makes everything go more smoothly.
It’s more work to cover a team that won the national championship but it’s more fun work. You must work hard to sell the brand. For example, prior to the event, you should let the media members know that your coaches and student-athletes are available for a pre-game press conference.
Q. What has your experience been like working for well-known major outlets? Do you get starstruck?
Cartell: It’s just getting to know people. Give the media all the information. You need to make them feel welcomed at your program’s events. When you have a good story, reach out to them. I don’t get starstruck when I work with the major outlets because they are normal people and I am fortunate to know and work with them. My positive relationship with media members is something I am proud of.
Q. Any advice you would give to someone who is looking to break into the SID profession?
Cartell: Get involved and volunteer. Reach out and request to volunteer for a team’s home game or a conference championship event in your area. Contact SID professionals. Some will respond, some won’t. Get as much volunteer or intern work as you can and connect with people that work in the industry.
Q. What advice would you give someone who is going through a tough time with the pandemic? What should they do?
Cartell: I’m probably not the best person to be giving advice on this, but I think staying in a routine is important. Defining your workday and setting out to get important tasks accomplished each day, in addition to setting aside time for regular meals, exercise and relaxation. Being at home, it’s so easy to let your work and personal time blur together, even more than normal for an athletic communicator. Staying connected is important too. Make regular connections with your student-athletes, co-workers, friends, and family.
Q. How have the hikes and participating the 5k runs made you feel physically and mentally compared to before?
Cartell: Getting outside and getting some exercise is important to both physical and mental health. More than anything, it’s an opportunity to get some time away during the day when you can think of other things. I generally listen to an audiobook or a podcast while I’m walking or hiking, so it’s a great opportunity to escape from everything going on and focus on yourself.
Q. Thoughts on the CoSIDA Fitness Program?
Cartell: I think CoSIDA’s fitness efforts are important. All of us in this profession are focused on serving others and, a lot of time, that comes at the expense of ourselves. I’ve appreciated the emphasis CoSIDA has put on fitness and all the fun ways to get members involved and staying consistent with their exercise efforts. So much credit goes to Jeremy Rosenthal. For so many years, he has been dedicated to creating these opportunities for CoSIDA members and has done a terrific job with the 5k and the fitness challenge. His efforts have made an important impact on CoSIDA as an organization.
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