College Sports Information Directors of America

 
As Assistant Sports Information Director at Midwestern State, a member of NCAA Division II’s Lone Star conference, Regina Bolin is the primary contact for Mustangs men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis, women's basketball, softball, and volleyball.
 
Bolin earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration and marketing from the University of Illinois - Springfield in 2019. She was a four-year starter on the women’s soccer team and played in 73 career games.
 
Bolin was honored with the Student Laureate Award from the Lincoln Academy of Illinois following her senior season. She is an active member of the Women Leaders in College Sports, and was selected to participate in the NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar this year.
 
Find out more about this former soccer student-athlete and her tough battle with aplastic anemia during her undergraduate days, her variety of internships and experiences, and more.
 
 
You're now in your second semester at Midwestern State, what are some similarities and differences between your current role as Assistant SID at MSU and previous role as an Athletic Communications Coordinator at NCAA Division III Goucher College?
RB: The day-to-day is pretty similar between being Assistant SID and Athletic Communications Coordinator. We prep for games by doing preview and recap articles and conduct stats and run the broadcast in-game. In addition, I help with social media by creating graphics and content. The main difference between the two jobs is that now, I have more teams that I am the main contact for. At Goucher, I was the primary for the men’s and women’s swim/dive, cross country and track and field teams. At Midwestern State I handle responsibilities for men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, women’s basketball, softball and men’s and women’s tennis teams. 
 
How did you balance doing multiple internships in college while also being a four-year starter and captain on the Illinois-Springfield women's soccer team? And, you also underwent a serious media scare, too, during that time.
RB: I actually did the internships after I was finished playing soccer. I wanted to be able to balance being a student and athlete so I waited until I was finished playing to focus on figuring out my career.
 
In the end, I had to postpone my last semester of school and graduation to battle aplastic anemia, a rare blood disorder that is similar to blood cancer like lymphoma or leukemia. I underwent chemotherapy, radiation and two bone marrow transplants in the summer of 2018 and used the rest of the year to heal. When I was better, I started my internships and completed my last semester of school!
 
 
When facing your diagnosis of aplastic anemia, what were some of the medical difficulties and adjustments you went through? What gave you the strength to fight through it and who were some of your biggest supporters throughout the process?
RB: With my treatment, I had to drop out of my last semester of college and move back to Kansas City (where I am from) because I had to go to the doctor's office at least three times a week. I would get blood and platelet transfusions while I was there. Sometimes doctor visits would last five hours or more. It was hard to be away from my friends and make a drastic change to my lifestyle.

I went from being a healthy college student to experiencing daily health struggles.

I never knew what side effects each day would bring - nausea, pains, fatigue. But my friends, both at UIS and from high school, and my teammates were super supportive - even from four hours away! My family was very important during my recovery, especially my mom. She was at every single doctor appointment and was at the hospital every day after both of my bone marrow transplants. My dad, brother and sister would also visit between work, school and sports, which I appreciated with their busy schedules.

Every day was hard, but I think growing up playing sports helped me push through the hard times. I would not have been able to play college soccer if I gave up when things were tough. I kept this same mentality with me through my treatment and now I am so glad I did! It has been three and a half years since my last transplant and I learned so much from that time in my life.

That was an incredible journey for you for sure. We'll switch gears and talk about your career path. In your LinkedIn profile, you mention you interned with the Kansas City Comets for a semester. What were some of your favorite parts of working with a professional team as opposed to your other positions in collegiate athletics??
RB: My internship with the Comets is the only position I’ve held in Kansas City, my hometown. I grew up watching the Comets and going to games with my friends and family. A few of my club soccer coaches played for, or coached, the Comets. It was so cool seeing the other side of one of my favorite teams!
 
I loved being involved in writing the media guides and helping set up for the game. It felt like a dream to sit in the press box while the team was playing and see a whole new perspective on the game. I also enjoyed the hometown camaraderie that all the fans shared. The pride I felt when the arena exploded with cheering after a goal was amazing! My internship with the Comets also included some work for the league they compete in – the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). I liked that I got a taste of working for a conference and got to see a smidge of their duties.
 
Between press releases, game notes, player interviews, social media managing, etc., there are some similarities between media relations at the collegiate and professional levels. What are some of the differences you've experienced between your time with the Comets and your multiple positions in a college athletic department?
RB: It is interesting working with just one team versus a handful of teams. You get to know the players a little bit more since you do not have to split your time between teams. Another big difference is found in the game days.
 
They are a big deal with the Comets because there are only one or two matches per week versus the multiple games that come in collegiate athletics. You can’t help but get excited! It is a very fun environment to watch the players compete for a living. You can see the passion they have for the game and all the hard work they put in. College athletes work hard too, of course, and working with professionals shows just where these athletes can end up after they graduate.
 
 
You also interned for a semester with SS&C Technologies as a digital investor. What was it like doing an internship away from the sports world? What skills did you learn during that semester that help do your job to this day?
RB: It was interesting to see how the corporate world worked. It was weird at first because I had to get used to the regular office working hours and not go over 40 hours per week, if possible. With the sports world, I never really had to worry because you worked when there were things to do or a game was going on.
 
Another thing that threw me for a little loop was the dress code. I had to “dress up” every day in professional clothes, which is another thing that working in sports is relaxed about. I did learn a lot while I worked on the digital investor team. I learned some HTML coding that I use when working on our athletic website now. I also learned very valuable project management skills and how to work with clients. These skills transferred to my job now through working with coaches when they have special projects that they need my help with.
 
You're a member of the national association Women Leaders in College Sports, as well as CoSIDA. What are some of your takeaways from Women Leaders?
RB: I enjoy being part of Women Leaders and it’s super beneficial. Women Leaders in College Sports has a TON of resources like community calls and a career board. I also attend the yearly Women Leaders convention that is very similar to the CoSIDA Convention. There are speakers, workshops and groups that help so much with navigating being a woman in collegiate athletics.
 
 
You were selected to participate in the NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar this year. How big of an honor is it for you to participate and what advice do you have for future emerging leaders?
RB: Honestly, I was shocked when I received the acceptance email. I had high hopes when I applied, but I thought it would be a long shot that I would be a part of the Emerging Leaders Seminar. It was such an honor to be selected and it serves as a reminder to continue learning and growing in order to become a leader in collegiate athletics. The seminar taught me that peers that are in the same stages of life are very valuable resources. It is so helpful to ask questions to a big group and get so many answers and ideas!
 
My advice is to create bonds with those that you meet along the way because you never know when you both can help each other out or if you will end up working together!
 
What challenges have you faced in this industry as both a woman and a person of color?
RB: A big challenge that I have faced is that people are hesitant to give me things to work on because they do not want to overwhelm me or make me feel pressured. They underestimate me from the start and slowly realize that I am capable of more. I appreciate the thought, of course, but I know how much I can handle and can gauge when it is too much. Though asking for more work does show initiative so there is a plus side!
 
 
Do you have any advice for young female professionals beginning their careers in sports communications?
RB: My advice is to keep working hard no matter what the circumstances. It will get tough at times, but if you keep progressing, you will come out on the other side. Sports information is not an easy career because of things like late nights and there is almost always something to do. Just know that you’ve prepared for this and you will find your way. Also, if you need help, do not be afraid to ask! It can be intimidating sometimes, but people want to see you succeed and want to help.
 
Outside of your profession, what are some of your favorite things to do in your free time?
RB: My main thing is just hanging out with my friends and family. We like to play and watch all sports from soccer to football to pickleball even. I love watching all Kansas City sports teams – the Comets, Sporting Kansas City, the Chiefs, the Royals and the Current!
 
If we can find the time, my friends and I like to travel and visit each other since we live all over the country. It is great to see their new homes and experience new places! I also enjoy watching movies. I am a sucker for anything with Vince Vaughn or Taraji P Henson! I used to be an avid reader as well, but I do not find as much time for it anymore. I have a stack of books next to my bed that I will attempt to go through during winter or summer break.
 
If there was one place you could travel to right now, where would it be?
RB: Oh, it is so hard to pick just one! I would go to Hawaii. It has been on my travel list for a long time and I’ve heard so many great things. Plus, I’ve always wanted to learn how to surf and what better place to learn than Hawaii?!?