Related Content
•
CoSIDA names Doug Vance as new Executive Director (9/18/2013)
•
Understanding What CoSIDA Does Under the Heading of Advocacy by Doug Vance
•
Blog: Fond Memories of a Career That Has Touched Five Decades: Doug Vance (3/29/2019)
•
Doug Vance To Retire As CoSIDA Executive Director in Summer 2022 (10/26/2021)
•
Watch: A Tribute to Doug Vance (YouTube)
Retirement has arrived and so has the opportunity for me to share a few parting thoughts about this long career journey.
Saying goodbye has never been easy for me.
This will be my fifth and likely final time doing just that from a job and this instance is the most difficult of all. It’s a double-whammy as it represents the culmination of both a job and a career.
Nonetheless, I must concede the importance of doing it. Expressing farewell provides me an opportunity to take full measure of my time in this role and convey appreciation and express my debt of gratitude to those who impacted it.
My departure represents an end as well as a beginning. It serves as one last moment for me to reflect upon the exciting change that’s ahead for both CoSIDA and myself.
I spent 30 years working in a sports information office. The distinction of being named executive director of CoSIDA was literally the honor of a lifetime.
I depart this enormous responsibility with as much pride and honor as I felt when Shelly Poe, then the organization’s president, called to offer me the job.
This job provided me with a chance to team with a talented and dedicated staff, with nine different CoSIDA presidents and a new board of directors each year who were committed to making the organization and everyone it represents more relevant over the landscape of college athletics.
Furthermore, it positioned me as the primary advocate for the profession that was such an important factor in enriching the life of our family for many years. I gave the responsibility my best efforts every single day.
As college athletics continues to make its transition in these challenging moments, I urge everyone in a leadership role to understand the essential value of a communications office. Those who spend so many hours doing this job bring the skills, imagination and dedication that are clearly needed right now.
I’m grateful to our members for both your partnership in these endeavors and, equally important, the friendships that resulted as we worked together. I’m departing the executive director role, but those friendships will continue.
Be assured that the leadership of this organization recognizes the hard truths of the issues at hand for our profession. Our challenges are many but so are our strengths. As CoSIDA and the profession continue in the process of thoroughly reshaping a future, I remain optimistic that we are on the right path and building a concept which will renew and revitalize our value.
We all have a stake in the future of this organization and profession. I urge our membership to give my successor, Erik Christianson, the same level of support and inspiration you’ve provided to me. I have full confidence that the organization will be in good hands with Erik as he joins with Will, Barb, Laurie and Beau to form the national staff that will push the organization forward.
Over recent months I’ve been humbled with so many thoughtful expressions of congratulations upon retirement. Admittedly, I’m still coming to grips with the concept of not having a job and seeing nearly a half-century of going to work come to an end. I’m anxious to see what unfolds as I cross that retirement threshold.
Thanks for this joyride of a career and so long to all of you who helped create a cascade of memories for Sue and myself.
Doug