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CoSIDA.com/CoSIDA360 Magazine Archive
Note: This story appeared in the Winter 2021 February edition of CoSIDA 360 Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.
The Brothers Carmany
Siblings Paul and Joe work side by side in athletics communications at Liberty University.
by Will Roleson – CoSIDA Associate Executive Director
In the fall of 2017, Joe Carmany was experiencing every sports information director’s gameday nightmare at Liberty University’s volleyball season opener … computer crashing, printer jamming, live-stats malfunctioning.
But there to help him out was his older brother and fellow SID Paul, who also was Joe’s predecessor as the Flames’ volleyball contact.
“We survived that night and ended it by picking up Taco Bell and going to his house and decompressing,” said Joe. “It’s a great memory now of our bond as brothers getting us through work difficulties.”
Paul and Joe are in their 10th year working alongside one another in the Liberty athletics department in Lynchburg, Virginia. Overall, Paul is in his 15th season and serves as associate athletics communications director, while Joe is in his 10th year as an assistant director. Natives of New Middletown, Ohio — near Youngstown on the Pennsylvania border — they are believed to be the only siblings currently employed in the same sports information office.
Paul (left) and Joe (with ball) working a Liberty volleyball match.
“We get asked all the time if we’re twins or which one of us is older,” said Paul. “We also receive many emails and text messages which were meant for each other. For several years, one of the employees on campus would always say to Joe, ‘I know you’re not Paul’ but couldn’t remember his name.”
Paul arrived at Liberty in 2006 following two years as a graduate assistant at Ashland University. He primarily applied to Division II and III jobs in and around Ohio but he “decided to step outside my comfort zone and apply for a Division I job” at Liberty almost on a whim.
“Being a Christian, I was excited to see the school’s Christian mission stated in the opening sentence of the job description,” said Paul. “I had heard that the Christian band dc Talk went to Liberty and I had watched Liberty’s women’s basketball team play LSU in the Sweet 16 on Easter Sunday in 2005.”
He was about to give up on a sports information job and take a sports writer job with the local Ashland paper before Liberty’s Todd Wetmore offered him the position in Lynchburg. He currently serves as the primary contact for the women’s basketball, cross country, and track and field programs.
Joe got his first look at Liberty when he helped his brother move to Lynchburg. “Little did I know that I would be working with him less than five years later,” he said.
Joe graduated from Malone College in 2007 with a degree in sports ministry and looked for an internship but instead decided to take a year off. He then accepted a graduate assistantship at Mercyhurst University and earned his master’s before landing an internship at Charleston Southern University in 2010-11.
He interviewed for the job at Liberty while on campus covering a softball series for CSU in Lynchburg and started there in June of 2011. In addition to volleyball, Joe is currently the primary contact for the women’s swimming and diving and softball programs at Liberty.
“I’ve been blessed all along the way to have been given so many opportunities to learn and grow personally, spiritually and professionally.”
And while there may have been some sibling rivalry growing up, the Carmany brothers enjoy the opportunity to work together on a daily basis at Liberty.
“During the 14 years I’ve been at Liberty, I’ve never updated my resumé or applied for another job,” said Paul. “I like working at a Christian university and have been blessed to work with some amazing people and outstanding teams. It’s been amazing to see how much Liberty has grown during my time here, and I look forward to seeing what God has in store for the future.”
Added Joe: “I haven’t considered leaving Liberty since this is a great place to express my faith and be encouraged by fellow believers in a supportive environment.”
As some things change, the more they stay the same. Joe got his first taste of sports statistics by keeping the official scorebook for one of Paul’s junior high basketball games when Paul was in eight grade and Joe in fifth. Thirteen years later, Joe was the official scorer for Liberty’s women’s basketball team for which Paul was the media contact.
Their brotherly connection is evident to those who have worked with them.
“At games and events that the Carmanys work, they are in lockstep and perfect rhythm with each other,” said Bill Smith, an assistant athletics communications director at Liberty. “I think about volleyball matches in particular, and they always seem to be in perfect stride with each other even when chaos happens.”
“Paul and Joe were some of the best people I had the pleasure of working with during my four years at Liberty,” said Allison Hogue, who was an undergraduate at Liberty and is currently an assistant director of athletics media relations at Coker College. “They were one of the reasons why I found my passion in sports information and were instrumental in helping me develop my skills. It’s so much fun to be working with SIDs who happen to be brothers.”
Outside of the office, Paul and Joe run together at least once a week and also attend minor league baseball games during the summer. Paul and his wife Katy also regularly have “Uncle Joe” over to their house to spend time with their daughter — and Joe’s niece — Gabby.
“One of the toughest parts of our profession is missing out on family time when traveling and working long hours, “ Paul said. “So it’s nice to have a family member to spend some of those hours working with.”
“The best thing about working with Paul is that he is a great example of a Christian SID who excels in the profession,” said Joe. “His work ethic is amazing. I know him really well outside of work and can continue that relationship at work. There aren’t many adults who get to see their siblings every day.”
The Carmanys’ advice for working with your sibling
Joe: “My advice would be that you have to really love your job to be an SID and handle all the long hours. Put in all of the work that it takes to get the job done. Make sure to build your relationship with your sibling on another foundation other than just sports, because family time should be a release from the pressures of work.”
Paul: “It’s a blessing to have built-in time with my brother, especially working within a profession that so often takes you away from family. As best as you can, I would say try to leave your work at home and just enjoy time with your brother or sister away from the office.”
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