College Sports Information Directors of America

"Take advantage of every opportunity that is presented to you and be proactive, not reactive. Also, always take time to listen and learn. Multiple perspectives are so valuable."
- Nicho DellaValle, Riverside CC SID

For the last four years at Riverside Community College in Riverside, California, Nicho DellaValle has held the position of Sports Information Director. A former NCAA Division III All-West Region and All-Conference baseball infielder for the nationally-ranked Cal Lutheran baseball program, DellaValle had long set his mind on working in athletic media relations. At Riverside, he inherited a position which had been vacant for over a decade. Read more about his work, his involvement in organizations outside of his main duties at Riverside (including serving on the new CoSIDA Two-Year Cabinet), and why he is a baseball and music junkie.
 

In a Tweet-length of 280 characters or less, tell us who you are and how you got to where you are today.
ND: I am a sports fanatic who has a true passion for collegiate athletics and the grind behind a student-athlete journey. I strive to help student-athletes reach their goals and I did so by never backing down from a challenge and pushing myself to be the best I can be.

As an undergraduate, you were a starting infielder on Cal Lutheran’s nationally-ranked baseball team which made NCAA West Region appearances and won SCIAC conference titles during your junior and senior seasons. Congratulations on your All-West Region and All-Conference First Team honors, too! What benefits in being a former collegiate student-athlete do you bring to your SID job?
ND: Understanding what it is was like to be a student-athlete provided me with a unique lens into the world of athletics. Sports, whether its baseball or table tennis, is a world surrounded by failure. When failure is presented, it is about getting up, dusting yourself off and dealing with adversity head on. Being an SID can be challenging at times, especially with the lack of resources at the two-year level. Being creative and resourceful is the cornerstone to success at any level.

Was there an “aha-moment” as an undergraduate student SID assistant or during your baseball playing days that made you decide to enter the athletic communications profession?
ND: I always knew I wanted to work in the field of athletic communications, but I did not know where to start. As a freshman at Cal Lutheran, I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to work alongside the former Cal Lutheran SID, Tracy Olson (Maple), meeting at a job fair, and I fell in love with the gig.

 

You received your MBA a few years ago in business administration, marketing and management from the University of the Redlands School of Business. Why? How has that helped you in your current position, and, with an MBA, what are your future career aspirations?
ND: I had the drive to further my education after receiving my undergraduate degree. I knew that earning my MBA would give me the edge in a very competitive field, but I also had the urge to learn more about the business world in general. My experience at the University of Redlands was amazing. Balancing a heavy workload and graduate level classes was very challenging, but it undoubtedly prepared me to enter the full-time workforce. Working alongside former Redlands SID Rachel Roche (now Associate AD/SWA), who is a great mentor, friend and one of the best in the business, are some of my fondest memories as a young professional.

My future career aspirations are continuing to advance in the field of intercollegiate athletics. Whether that is continuing to advance on the communications and marketing side or becoming an Athletic Director, I am ready for whatever challenge lies ahead.
 
In the new CoSIDA governance system starting this past fall, we established Divisional Cabinets as new leadership groups. You are one of 10 SIDs serving on the Two-Year Divisional Cabinet. Talk about the importance of being on that Cabinet and what is means to serve in that capacity. What are some of the initiatives you are working on?
ND: I am beyond thrilled to be serving on the 2YISDA Executive Cabinet. This is a unique and very important opportunity to show the world of collegiate athletics that the two-year colleges bring valuable expertise and knowledge to the table. Most two-year colleges are lucky to have SIDs. If they do, most SIDs wear numerous hats in the department ranging from marketing and communications to game management and fundraising. All in a department that supports anywhere from 12-21 programs.  

The main initiative we are currently focusing on is simply bringing validity to our profession at the two-year level, encouraging involvement in our CoSIDA organization and honoring the hard work of our fellow two-year SIDs. Additionally, we are working to provide leadership and development opportunities for the two-year SIDs or whoever is interested in the field. We have a seat at the table now, so it’s time to eat!

What’s the project or campaign that you’re proudest of as a professional? Why?
ND: Two things – building the sports information department at Riverside City College from the ground up and becoming the President of the California Community College Sports Information Association (CCCSIA).

When I started at RCC, the position of SID had been vacant for nearly 10 years. The former Athletic Director at RCC, Jim Wooldridge, gave me the opportunity to direct the area and make it into my own. I am so proud of what we have accomplished and I will be forever grateful to Jim for giving me the opportunity.

Second, being the President of the CCCSIA has been amazing. I only served as the President Elect for one year until accepting the President position – during the pandemic nonetheless! It has been an incredible run so far. Being able to make changes at a state level and act as the voice for so many talented and longtime California SIDs has been very rewarding.

 

Speaking of the pandemic: What did you/do you miss the most about college athletics during the pandemic?
ND: I miss the student-athletes. The daily interaction I have with our student-athletes is one of the main reasons I love doing what I do. I love seeing them compete, work hard on and off the court, tell their stories and see them transfer to four-year universities. More importantly, seeing them grow is heartwarming and so rewarding. I cannot wait to get back and see them all do what they do best – COMPETE!

What’s one trend in athletic communications (or college athletics) that you are a fan of?
ND: Graphic design and hype videos. I love them both. It is such a unique way to brand your department in a way that can flawlessly execute a specific vision for your teams and athletes.

We are asking each CoSIDA member we feature to give us a professional "takeaway" - it could be a suggestion on working with staff, on balancing the demands, a game management tip, small-staff strategies, etc.
ND: Take advantage of every opportunity that is presented to you and be proactive, not reactive. Also, always take time to listen and learn. Multiple perspectives are so valuable.

If you could trade jobs with someone you know, who would you trade with and why?
ND: My first reaction is to say Brian Cashman, the General Manager for the New York Yankees. He is amazing and I appreciate his dedication to the best franchise in sports history (yes, it may be a biased answer….) But, it is hard to choose. I have family and friends that have started their own businesses, friends who work in professional sports and some who are extremely successful accountants. I definitely would not trade with the accountants, so I will stick with Cashman!

What’s the most interesting thing about you that we wouldn’t learn from your resume alone or something you’d like people to know about you? (For instance, in a D3 Week story on you in 2014, it mentioned that you like to sing … does that still hold true?)
ND: I am definitely a music and sports junkie! Sports goes without saying, but I enjoy finding new artists and hidden music gems and playing DJ at all of our sporting events, too. I also love the beach, golfing, snowboarding, traveling and spending time with my family and friends.