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CoSIDA.com/ThankYourSID
This feature is part of our series of profiles showcasing members throughout the CoSIDA membership during the celebration of CoSIDA Membership Recognition Week for 2020-21. See more features at CoSIDA.com/ThankYourSID.
Jeff Kallin – Clemson University, Associate AD/Communications & Strategic Initiatives
by Rob Knox – UNC Greensboro, Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Communications / CoSIDA Past President
“… the willingness to help one another has a positive impact on what we do as a collective unit. We tend to forget that many of us have similar responsibilities, challenges, and successes, and having an atmosphere where people feel welcome and able to help guide and develop one another is critical … The skills in this line of work are so translatable elsewhere - the work ethic, the command of math, English, history, art, social studies - it's like elementary school was preparing us for this. Our key job is as facilitators - taking complex information and making it more approachable. If we approach each of our projects this way, we'll continue to flourish.”
- Jeff Kallin, Associate AD for Strategic Communications
The Clemson University strategic communications office has set the standard in content generation, storytelling, branding and engagement in college athletics through forward-thinking vision and superb execution.
For this CoSIDA Membership Recognition feature, I spent time with Clemson alum
Jeff Kallin, who is in his first year as the Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications. Kallin is a Clemson institution, spending the past 15 years serving in several roles within Clemson’s athletic department, most recently as the Director of Creative Solutions for Design and Digital.
Kallin oversees a staff responsible for 19 sports.
At the 2017 ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
What is your proudest career achievement to date?
JK: The fact that I get to come to work to serve at my alma mater every day is a true privilege. My proudest achievement during my career is when I get to see the young people who work with us find jobs and success. It's our job as educators to help young people learn and gain valuable experience. One of the things we see is how translatable the skills are to so many areas, in and out of sports.
Additionally, the ability to work as a team and continue to push and learn each day from one another is so valuable. I also had the opportunity to teach a class at Clemson for three years and work with more than 100 students. That was absolutely a career highlight.
What’s a key professional development tip that’s worked for you that you’d be willing to share?
JK: A key that has helped me along the way is asking for and providing direct feedback. I try to create an atmosphere where two-way communication is welcomed. I try to regularly provide that and ask the same of all of those in our department. It's okay to be honest, and the willingness to help one another has a positive impact on what we do as a collective unit. We tend to forget that many of us have similar responsibilities, challenges, and successes, and having an atmosphere where people feel welcome and able to help guide and develop one another is critical.
Who are some of the people who’s helped you along the way during your career journey?
JK: This profession is incredible. There are so many people from in and out of SIDs who have had a major impact. CoSIDA Hall of Famer Tim Bourret is an obvious choice for me. His compassion, brilliance, and the way he treats people is unparalleled. He is a patient and kind leader, whom so many look up to.
I also had a terrific mentor in college during an internship - Kevin Fischer. He really opened my eyes to how to enjoy the work. He rarely took himself too seriously, and was a welcoming and demanding, without being overbearing. I have to recognize the leadership at Clemson as well. They have been really good to our family, and have continued to place a ton of value on communications overall, and be willing to react accordingly.
For three years, Kallin taught a class in the Graphic Communications program, working with students on designing social and plan digital campaigns.
What’s your favorite quote and how has that inspired/motivated you?
JK: I am not much of a "quote" person, but I have always been drawn to the concept that there is no job too small or too large. As SIDs, we're constantly challenged to innovate and adapt, and SIDs have continued to evolve. One evolution I think we need to see is being our own publicity people. We need to advocate for ourselves now more than ever - not just through regular communication with our superiors and coaches - but also in quantifiable ways we can show. I'm reminded of something one of my team members said recently that "there isn't much glamour in setting an interview schedule." He's right. But that opens so many doors into how our program is perceived.
What’s one idea that you’ve found useful as our profession has evolved from when you started?
JK: There are so many ways it has evolved. The dreaded "R" words of "recruiting" and "revenue" have long been kept at arms' length by many in our group. The ability to navigate these now has come to the forefront. I remind myself all the time that athletic communications is a service organization. We're not here to have the spotlight on us, we're here to shine it on others.
I'm reminded of (Clemson head football coach) Dabo Swinney's phrase - "Let the light that shines in you be brighter than the light that shines on you." I think that applies to our profession, in which our currency is sometimes in impressions and retweets. We must remember that we have the ability to use our talents to help others, and it's this servant mindset that can impact our departments. I guess I am a quote person after all!
What’s the best part of being an athletics communicator and why?
JK: Probably the "athletics" piece. I take a lot of time to appreciate that I am privileged to come to work every day with smart people and build systems and philosophy on athletics coverage. I get paid to attend basketball games, tennis matches and baseball games. The skills in this line of work are so translatable elsewhere - the work ethic, the command of math, English, history, art, social studies - it's like elementary school was preparing us for this. Our key job is as facilitators - taking complex information and making it more approachable. If we approach each of our projects this way, we'll continue to flourish.
Kallin started in Clemson in 2003 as an undergraduate student equipment manager. Some of Kallin’s notable projects include the design of the lifesize CJ Spiller poster in 2008, the national championship logo in 2016, assisting in the management and launch of the new ClemsonTigers.com in 2018, and coordinating the social media team’s gameday efforts in 2018. Kallin has collaborated on projects with some of the largest companies in the world, including Nike, Adobe, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Fanatics. Kallin and his wife Jill have two kids, Mason (3) and Nora (1).
Kallin with Clemson defensive end Dexter Lawrence during a photo and digital/video shoot.