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Joe Hernandez – Ball State University (Retired)

CoSIDA Hall of Fame Class of 2022

by Matt McCollester – University of Richmond, Assistant AD for Communications

For many people, Joe Hernandez was synonymous with Ball State – his alma mater for both his undergraduate and master’s degrees. Having worked as a Cardinal for almost 40 years, it is easy to tell why so many people connect Joe with Ball State. His passion for his work, his dedication to the University and his ability to connect with people on a personal level are what has had an everlasting impact on those who came in contact with the 2022 CoSIDA Hall of Fame inductee.
 
What made Hernandez special though, were the relationships he built with every person he came in contact with. Whether you were the athletic director, head football coach, assistant SID or a student worker, Joe always had time for you and made you feel like you mattered. He cared about people and understood that building a strong connection with those you come in contact with, can have a lasting impact.
 
Hernandez also had longtime impact on CoSIDA with his engagement as a Board member, serving as CoSIDA’s first Hispanic president (2005-06) and being heavily involved in Convention activities and sessions over the years.
 
 
“Joe guided me on a path in athletics communications,” said Paula Haughn, assistant director of athletic communications at Ball State. “It was a dream of mine to work in collegiate athletics and Joe made that dream come true for me. His patience, honesty, resilience, and guidance allowed me to accomplish my dream. Joe helped me along the way with my internship at New Mexico State, my first job at Western Michigan and then hired me back at my alma mater Ball State. Over the years he became not only a father figure and a mentor to me, but also one of my best friends.”
 
Hernandez worked his way up at Ball State, beginning as a student worker before working as a graduate assistant, a sports information director and associate athletic director. He was privileged to learn early in his career from legendary Ball State SID Earl Yestingsmeier that college athletics at its core is a people business. He never lost sight of that, and he strove to preserve that perspective every time he came to work.
 
He was instrumental in so many careers in the CoSIDA profession. He developed and cultivated numerous former and current CoSIDA members that can point to their time with him as a pivotal moment in their careers. Hernandez understood his role in growing and expanding the industry by grooming and teaching those who have a passion for the industry.
 
“Joe’s love and passion for Ball State resonated in everything he did and was truly infectious,” noted Brad Caudill, associate director of athletic communications at Ball State. “He was a great mentor who encouraged creativity and always wanted our department to be trendsetters. Joe’s dedication to helping his staff, previous or current, was unmatched and helped the field of intercollegiate athletics communications flourish.”
 
Hernandez was a mentor to so many in CoSIDA. He always had time to help those he worked closely with in his own department and those across the field. It didn’t matter if you were from NCAA Division I, II, III or NAIA, he always made time to help. Whether it was giving advice, being a sounding board for ideas or just someone to listen, Hernandez always made time for people.
 
“Joe was instrumental in my career and the career of so many others,” said Matt McCollester, University of Richmond assistant athletic director for communications. “He taught me how to be a leader, how to treat those you work with, those you oversee and those you cross paths with. Joe’s ability to build, grow and maintain relationships is something I strive to achieve in my life.”
 
Hernandez experienced many exciting and pivotal moments with the Cardinals. He was part of the 1990 Sweet 16 run in men’s basketball and the 2008 football team that went undefeated in the regular season and rose as high as No. 12 in the country. Those milestones were great, but some of his greatest satisfaction came from maintaining contacts with former student-athletes, coaches, colleagues and media members. They would call often, visit his office when they returned to campus and seek him out at games.
 
“The one thing that stood out to me having worked closely with Joe is that it was always about Ball State University and the people,” Ball State men’s golf coach Mike Fleck said. “He has a true passion for Ball State and Ball State Athletics. It’s always about the relationships and how we are providing experiences for the student-athletes. I would say next to our former men’s golf coach, Earl Yestingsmeier, he was our biggest fan … and he is to this day, a great fan of all of our athletic programs. Joe cares about the people and values the relationships.”

Hernandez’s passion for Ball State might only have been rivaled professionally by his dedication to CoSIDA. He served a nine-year term on the CoSIDA’s Board of Directors, including his year as president, driven by the same desire to build relationships with others in the profession.
 
Hernandez had a special passion for the annual community service project at the CoSIDA convention. He was always one of the first to volunteer at the annual convention volunteer day and charity efforts coordinated by CoSIDA’s Goodwill and Wellness Committee.
 
A champion for the convention, Hernandez knew the importance it was for all in the field to attend. It was a chance to put names with faces you interacted with during the year but was also a place to share ideas and learn from peers in the industry.
 
“I learned the value of CoSIDA because of Joe,” said McCollester, who nominated Hernandez for the CoSIDA Hall of Fame. “He instilled in his staff the importance of our organization and the opportunities it provided him. He encouraged all of us to be involved in CoSIDA, take part in the community service opportunities and most importantly, to attend CoSIDA convention. It is because of him that I am an active member of CoSIDA, involved in two committees and an advocate for what the organization means to our industry.”
 
Hernandez was a forward-thinking CoSIDA president, encouraging the organization to move under the umbrella of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) along with most of the other areas in college athletics. Sports marketers, development officials and others already had a seat at that table. Sports information directors did not. Hernandez brought a group from NACDA to present at the 2006 CoSIDA convention in Nashville. It was not particularly well received at the time by CoSIDA members but after lots of discussion and education, three years later CoSIDA and NACDA formed their initial partnership. By 2013, CoSIDA was holding its convention in conjunction with NACDA.
 
“Joe was a transformational leader at Ball State and within our sports info industry,” noted Chris Taylor, Ball State Department of Media senior director of sports production and associate lecturer, and former BSU director of athletics communications. “He pushed us — and himself — to embrace technology before it was cool to do so. I learned not only how to publicize and promote our student-athletes, but more importantly, the value of relationships.  I’m grateful for Joe’s mentorship because it helped shape me into the person and professional that I am today.”
 
Joe Hernandez is Ball State to so many people. Yet more importantly, Joe had an impact on the lives of everyone he touched throughout his career and left his mark on CoSIDA that will not be forgotten.