College Sports Information Directors of America

Related Content
• 2021 Special Awards Announcements and Features
• 2020 Special Awards Announcements and Features
• #CoSIDA21 Virtual Convention Home
• Past Rising Star Award Recipients

---

Special note: Due to the cancelation of the in-person 2020 and 2021 conventions, our CoSIDA Special Awards winners from those two years are being honored online this year. Leading up to our 2021 June Convention, we will honor many of them via video tributes and interviews. Along with video interviews, you also will find links to the recipients' feature stories and photo galleries.

An interview with the 2021 and 2020 Rising Star Award Recipients

Inteview with Blake Timm – Great Northwest Athletic Conference, Assistant Commissioner for Communications

• See below to read more about 2021 College Division winner Anthony O'Hagan of the Yeshiva
• See below to read more about 2021 University Division winner Katie Mucci of the Missouri Valley Conference
• Click here for a feature on 2020 College Division winner Danielle Percival of Piedmont 
• Click here for a feature on 2020 University Division winner Chas Dorman of Princeton

CoSIDA Rising Star Award
Presented annually to two CoSIDA members – one in the University Division (NCAA DI) and one in the College Division (NCAA DII, DIII, NAIA, Two-year Colleges, U Sports) – with 10 years of service or less whose work at their institution, conference office or intercollegiate athletics-affiliated association and service, dedication, energy and enthusiasm to the profession make that individual a "rising star" in sports information. Voted on by the Special Awards Committee.
 



Anthony "A.J." O'Hagan – Yeshiva University, Sports Information Director

2021 CoSIDA Rising Star Award - College Division

by Jeffrey Bernstein – NYU Sports Information Director
 
His name is Anthony Joseph O’Hagan.

Better known by his friends and admirers as A.J., he will now be universally known within our profession as a “rising star,” defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary (circa 1828) as “a person or thing that is growing quickly in popularity or importance in a particular field.”

Bingo!

"I am very honored to be receiving the Rising Star Award for the College Division,” O’Hagan said. “To be honest, I am still in shock. It really makes me feel good that people believe in me and the work I am doing.”

While A.J., as a CoSIDA “Rising Star” in 2021, may technically just be beginning his ascent as a superstar in the SID business, as a person and as someone to be admired, that ascension began a long time ago.
 

"I became interested in the profession during my undergraduate years at Utica College,” revealed O’Hagan, a 2011 Utica graduate. “When I worked various UC home games as a work study, I watched Gil Burgmaster input stats, do PA announcing, train his interns, etc. It seemed like a fun job. Then, I interned for him during the fall semester of my senior year and learned a little more about the behind-the-scenes work such as writing recaps and updating the website. Seeing Gil in action, doing journalism, public relations, stats, and marketing for all the teams at UC made me believe that this was my dream job."

We can certainly take note of some of the great things O’Hagan has accomplished as an undergrad at Utica, or as the Assistant Sports Information Director at Lehman College beginning in 2013 - or as the Sports Information Director at Yeshiva University (which featured the longest Division III men’s basketball winning streak in the nation this year) since 2015.

But that wouldn’t tell the whole story.

“A.J. is not only a highly competent and professional SID, but it is also an honor to know and work with him,” said Yeshiva’s Associate Athletics Director Greg Fox. “I’ve been in this business a long time, and he is probably the most positive and giving person I have had the pleasure of knowing.”

Promoting that basketball team, which advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2020 NCAA Tournament before the coronavirus pandemic forced its cancellation, as well as the first-ever Yeshiva women’s team (tennis) to qualify for an NCAA Championship in 2018, has given a greater stature to the program and to O’Hagan himself within the New York Metropolitan area media.

But, those efforts pale in comparison to what he’s done outside of his office and the various fields of play where his statistical and game-day expertise is utilized. 

An active member of CoSIDA’s Goodwill and Wellness Committee, O’Hagan achievements are even more impressive due to the fact that he lives with autism. At three-years-old, he was diagnosed with the neurological condition marked by differences in learning styles, passionate interests in specific subjects, repetitive motion, and sometimes difficulty with language and communication.

“Social situations generally make me a little uncomfortable,” O’Hagen admitted. “I’ve gotten better with it over the years, but I always have that paranoia that people are watching me and judging my every move. I’m not a fan of being in front of a crowd of people and my anxiety goes way up in a room full of people.”

Despite those feeling, O’Hagan has been able to move forward and work on facing some of those fears. In 2021, he put together “Team Autism Awareness and Acceptance” to compete in CoSIDA’s virtual Fitness Challenge.

"It was a blessing to work with someone like AJ,” explained Allison Hogue, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications at Coker University. “I remember on our first phone call together as we mentioned how we both have autism and talked about our struggles with it. A few weeks later, he invited me to be co-captain of Team Autism Awareness and Acceptance. We had an amazing run during that time. Since then, we have done fun things virtually such as watching the WNBA Finals via Zoom. A.J. is an amazing person to be around, and I'm so thankful that we get to share our platform together."

Beyond his CoSIDA involvement, O’Hagan is a passionate advocate and volunteer for those with disabilities and for autism awareness. While an undergraduate at Utica, he formed an Autism Awareness Club in 2009 and did lectures, fundraising events, movie nights, and more to raise awareness. Now, O’Hagan continues with independent lectures, serves as a panelist at conferences, and every April during Autism Awareness Month he promotes awareness on his social media channels.

Among his other achievements thus far in his budding career, O'Hagan served as the media relations coordinator for the NCAA Fencing Northeast Regional and earned the Alumni Award for "Young Leadership" from his alma mater in 2016.

And, in my personal view having worked with A.J., I will add that he may be the nicest, most selfless human being I have ever met. He is a tireless worker and advocate for the sports information profession. Not only is he dedicated to Yeshiva, putting in massive hours to create content and handle game operations, but A.J. helps out at many colleges throughout the area.

A.J. does so many things and helps so many people both inside and outside of our profession. The man is a true inspiration. His attitude is always more positive than anyone else's in the room. Never has a bad word been said about him, nor has he ever uttered a bad word about anyone else. If everyone were like A.J., this world would be in a lot better shape than it is today.”

This Rising Star is still ascending, and no one can doubt that the sky’s the limit!
   

Katie Mucci – Missouri Valley Conference, Assistant Commissioner for New Media and Technology

2021 CoSIDA Rising Star Award - University Division

by Kailin Nelson – Chatham University, Assistant Athletic Director / Director of Athletic Communications

It comes as a surprise to no one in the business that Katie Mucci has been named a CoSIDA Rising Star, earning the University Division honor for 2021.
 
The Assistant Commissioner for New Media and Technology at the Missouri Valley Conference since July 2018, she handles the league’s creative and digital content and sets, coordinates and develops its social strategies.
 
Prior to her MVC position, Mucci developed a standard of excellence for NCAA Division III while working at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference for four years. She handled all social and digital responsibilities, coordinated championships and was an advisor for the conference’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). In 2017, she was named a “Rising 25 Award Winner” by Front Office Sports/Teamwork Online.
 
A 2014 graduate of Northern Colorado, Mucci immediately earned the respect of CoSIDA colleagues as a young professional. Earning numerous CoSIDA Publications and Digital Design honors for her graphics and creative work, she ascended to the CoSIDA New Media Committee Chair in January 2016 and served until last summer. She is also on CoSIDA’s Professional Development and Education Committee and the Young Professionals Committee.
 
When I was asked to write the feature on her, I knew nothing I could ever write would be enough – so I recruited some friends to give her the recognition she deserves.
 
 
From colleagues come these thoughts on Mucci:
 
“Glam. Fab. Sparkles. All that glitters is gold or is Katie Mucci. With an incredible sense of style and design, Katie's creativity sets the bar for what should be in social media and design. Her receiving the Rising Star Award is far overdue.”
- Patrick T. Walsh, Associate Director of Communications, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
 
“We have so many amazing up-and-coming young professionals within CoSIDA who all deserve to be recognized, so to win the Rising Star honor says a lot about what Katie brings to our organization. She’s chaired the New Media Committee, she was part of the small team that got CoSIDA into podcasting and she’s contributed to our content and professional development programming in so many ways. It’s fun to get to work with Katie on projects because you know she’s going to bring a fresh and meaningful perspective. What elevates her in my eyes is that she is both a thinker and a doer. She will come with a new idea and then she will do the work to bring it to life.”
- Beau White, Director of Creative Services, CoSIDA
 
Colleagues who earned CoSIDA Rising Stars honors in the past also commented on Katie and her impact in athletic communications:
 
“From the time Katie Mucci burst on the scene as “Katie from Facebook,” she has contributed to this industry in many ways. She is a leader in helping others become better. She’s willing to share her knowledge or an idea to make something better no matter what she has on her plate. I can’t think of anyone more deserving to be named this year’s CoSIDA Rising Star than Katie. In a year that took its toll on our profession, Katie continued to shine.”
- Olivia Coiro, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, Syracuse University
 
“Katie is one of the most selfless people I know in this industry. She has helped pave the way for many young professionals in the SID/communications world with her leadership and energy. She brings a positive attitude everywhere she goes. Katie is so deserving of this honor and I am so excited to welcome her to the Rising Star club!”
- Chelsey Chamberlain, former Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, Louisiana State University
 
And, other long-time friends in the profession penned these thoughts:
 
“Katie has an infection personality that she brings to everything she does. Not only is she an incredibly talented professional, but she is someone that brings people in and gets them excited about whatever conversation, project, presentation, or is on the agenda. Always one to bring life to the party at the national convention, Katie is one that goes above in beyond to make folks feel included and also creates the best possible experience for the student-athletes and teams that she supports and covers.”
- Matthew Fenton, Director of Athletic Communications, Messiah University
 
“Katie's work in the digital/new media creative space - which includes her graphic design, video, and motion graphic work; social media strategies; and brand voice for the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) - are all top-level and rival any major D1 conference or pro sports organization in the country. Despite being uber-talented, Katie is modest, humble, and always puts others first. Katie is always willing to take newcomers under her wing from a learning perspective. Especially during the pandemic, she made sure everyone’s been included from a social standpoint too, in turn, building a better environment within our profession for all. There are standards in our profession, then there is Katie Mucci."
- Shawn Medeiros, Sports Information Director, Endicott College
 
And, Mucci also is an inspiration to young professionals. 
 
"I met Katie on Twitter when she reached out, noticing I was a new graduate assistant in the conference. She connected the small group of female SIDs in the Missouri Valley, and the group is the backbone to keep us going in such a strange 2021 spring season. Katie was incredibly welcoming and is the biggest advocate for SIDs I know. I'm grateful to call her a colleague and a friend."
- Cassie Buchholtz, GA Athletic Communications, Southern Illinois University
 
“I am so happy for Katie. She is absolutely a star in the profession and is so well-deserving of this award. She has been an amazing mentor and a great representation of the organization as a whole.”
- Cassie Kelley, Media Relations Coordinator, Abilene Christian University
 
As these thoughts indicate, Katie Mucci leaves a lasting imprint on anyone and everyone in the business. I am so thankful to call her my friend, and above all, to celebrate her as this year’s CoSIDA Rising Star in the university division. Few people exhibit the talent Katie does, and all of us in the industry are lucky to have her as a colleague.