College Sports Information Directors of America

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Jason Bryden – Washington College, Coordinator of Athletics Statistics & Media Services

Achievement Award - College Division
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, Canadian/U Sports) – currently serving in the role of an associate or assistant director in the sports information field who have made outstanding contributions to the field of sports information and provided exceptional service to their institution, conference office or intercollegiate athletics affiliated association. A nominee must have 10-or-more years of experience in the sports information profession and must have not served in the lead role overseeing a sports information office. This award, introduced in 2014-15, is designed for an individual who has not been a recipient of any prestigious CoSIDA major award (Arch Ward, Warren Berg, CoSIDA Hall of Fame) in their careers. Voted on by the Special Awards Committee.

by Sam Atkinson – Gallaudet University, Associate AD for Communications

A chance encounter in high school at a summer camp led to a lifelong friendship and would change the career trajectory for Jason Bryden.
 
A career where Bryden has been a loyal employee at Washington College, a NCAA Division III school nestled in Chestertown, Md., on the Maryland Eastern shore on the banks of the Chester River.
 
Bryden joined Washington College in July 2006 as the assistant sports information director and has never left. A steward of Shoremen/Shorewomen athletic communications, a wordsmith on the keyboard, Bryden also has an uncanny ability to spout off random statistics or memories of Washington College athletic history or his favorite New York teams the Rangers, Mets and Knicks, his beloved Chicago Bears and his top side from England, Arsenal.
 
For his loyal dedication to Washington College, he was selected by CoSIDA to receive the 2022 Achievement Award (for the college division). This award is given to an associate or assistant director in athletic communications who has made outstanding contributions to the field for 10 or more years. 
 
“I am thankful to be chosen by the committee. It means a lot that they thought that highly of me,” said Bryden.
 
 
How did his career start? In June 1996, ten years prior to joining Washington College, Bryden attended a leadership conference in Oneonta, N.Y. He was heading into his senior year at Oxford Academy High School when he met (now former Washington College SID) Phil Ticknor at the conference. They became friends and later crossed paths when Bryden was at a crossroads of his early career.
 
Bryden graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a bachelor’s degree in public relations in 2001. It was at NCAA Division III New Paltz where Bryden got his start in the sports information field, serving as a student assistant after recording statistics at boys’ basketball games in high school.
 
“It seems like yesterday when Jason came into my office and was looking to work. He wanted to help me out. Jason was a real whiz with anything statistical related,” said Dave Hines, who was Bryden’s boss at SUNY New Paltz and is currently the Director of Publications of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. “I couldn’t have done all the work that we did at New Paltz without him. It is great to see him excel and expand himself over the last 20 years in the profession and flourish at Washington College.”
 
After graduation, Bryden spent two years in the banking industry but wasn’t fulfilled or happy with his work and decided to jump back into the athletic communications business. He landed at NCAA Division II Southern Connecticut State University as an intern under the direction of CoSIDA Hall of Famer Rick Leddy.
 
“It was an honor to work with Rick; he treated me like family,” said Bryden. “He still keeps in touch with me to this day. I learned a lot both work-wise and how to conduct yourself.”
 
The 2003-04 year at Southern Connecticut State left a big impression on Bryden and his supervisor.
 
“Jason was a terrific assistant that year. He was very reliable and dedicated. Jason is the type of guy that if I told him to meet one of our teams returning to campus at 2 a.m., he would be there at 2 a.m.,” said Leddy, who is the Senior Director of Communications at the National Association of Basketball Coaches. “I am glad he found a place to call home. To stay in one place for 10-plus years is a credit to him for the job he is doing at Washington College.”
 
Bryden next landed at the University at Albany as a media relations assistant, with the chance to get Division I experience. A career highlight was working with the Albany softball team during its 2005 NCAA tournament run, a memory that he still looks back on fondly.
 
Bryden had now worked at all three NCAA levels and was desperately searching for a full-time position to further his career when Ticknor reached out to his friend from the 1996 leadership conference.
 
“Before the job came open, I knew Jason worked in banking and wasn’t happy there. He had reached out to me for advice about getting back into the athletic communications business,” said Ticknor, who supervised Bryden from 2006-19. “So when my assistant position opened, Jason applied and the rest is history. It was a really good fit. Jason is very loyal to the job and people. He makes long-lasting relationships that he never wants to say bye to.”
 
While Bryden quips now that he thought he would only be at Washington College “two to three years tops” he has become a fixture in the Shoremen/Shorewomen athletic department. He was promoted to Coordinator of Athletics Statistics and Media Services in 2013 where he serves as the lead statistician for all of Washington College's 18 varsity sports, the chief statistical historian of the department, and as the primary liaison between members of the media and the College's coaches and student-athletes.
 
“Washington College is like a second alma mater to me. I have been fortunate to meet and work with a lot of special people from students to staff to even faculty,” said Bryden.
 
Bryden reflected on his career and the Achievement Award.
 
“I really want to thank everyone I worked with over the years. I have learned something from all of you I am better for it. To all the student-athletes and coaches, I have enjoyed covering all of your contests, moments and achievements over the years.  To my family, thank you for all your support. Special thanks to the two I worked with the longest - Phil and Conner Fleegle. We had a great ride together.”