This story is part of our August 2022 CoSIDA 360 package, to view more stories,
"The Life" is a series surveying CoSIDA members for their thoughts on topics and issues in the athletic communications industry, plus personal insights into not-so-serious issues, too.
Kaho Akau enters his second year as Linfield University Assistant SID — his alma mater. As an undergraduate, Akau competed for two years on Linfield’s NCAA Division II baseball team and also served as a student assistant in athletic communications handling all aspects of the job (statistician, feature writer, camera operator and broadcast engineer). He graduated in 2019.
As TCU Director of Athletic Communications, Steve Schoon is in his sixth year at the Big 12 school where he serves as the primary contact for men’s basketball and men’s golf. He is a 2008 University of Kansas graduate who previously worked at South Florida (2013-16), Marshall (2011-13), Louisiana Tech (2009-11) and Florida International (2008-09).
La’Monica Scott is entering her ninth month at Harris-Stowe, a NAIA institution in St. Louis. She arrived at Harris-Stowe in November 2021 after serving as assistant SID at Grambling State and as head SID at both Mississippi Valley State and Tuskegee University (where she was the first female to hold the position). She received her undergraduate graduate at Mississippi Valley (2008) and completed her master’s in athletic administration at Grambling State (2011).
Serving as the director of digital media at the University of Lynchburg, TJ Wengert oversees the Lynchburg Hornets Sports Network's live webcasting and video production, is the primary play-by-play voice of the Hornets, and assists with other facets of Lynchburg athletics' strategic communications. Wengert does freelance broadcasting and also served as the play-by-play voice for two Coastal Plain League collegiate wood bat teams — the Tri-City Chili Peppers and Morehead City Marlins. He graduated from nearby Longwood University in 2020.
The best part of the CoSIDA convention experience for me was …
Akau: The best part of the CoSIDA Convention was seeing professionals who have made a career out of athletic communications. As a young professional who’s still finding his way through this field, it was inspiring to learn that I can work hard for my student-athletes while also setting time for myself and my family and friends.
Schoon: Seeing everyone that I’ve missed over the past two years. I always thought that having the convention in Las Vegas would be memorable, but the time away from one another made it more special.
Scott: For me, the best part was being back in person and networking with other athletic communications directors. It was great to fellowship with so many that I've met over the course of my career and to meet just as many new colleagues.
Wengert: This was my first time being at a CoSIDA Convention, so easily the coolest part to me was to meet so many SIDs and people who work in an athletics department in general. It's refreshing to hear from others who have similar issues or headaches, and I enjoyed catching up with someone you once crossed paths with on the job. And of course, the chance to talk "shop" and discuss strategies that worked or didn't work, all with the goal of improving ourselves and our work.
My top takeaways from #CoSIDA22 …
Akau: My top takeaway from #CoSIDA22 is that help is always around. Everyone is willing to give me advice or lend a helping hand, especially the sports information directors who I will be working closely with in the Northwest Conference.
Schoon: It takes a special person and a lot of coffee to work in college athletics and it takes seven laps around a swimming pool to run a 5K.
Scott: During the convention, I attended a lot of sessions. My favorite would be “Using Disruptions to Our Advantage” with Jennifer Davis. Honestly, disruptions happen and through our entire day or week off and it's hard to shake it. During this session, we were able to look at it from a different perspective. That made the largest impact on my 2022 CoSIDA experience.
Wengert: I went to a handful of sessions that Scott Day (Executive Director of Unlocke the Light) was leading or where he was a featured panelist. On top of the sessions geared toward improving our work, it was great to hear Scott and others emphasize the importance of taking care of ourselves as well. As Scott noted, we work in an industry that has us be “yes” people for everyone but ourselves and that has to change.
What’s something—big or small—that you’re really good at?
Akau: I believe I’m good at being a creative writer and forming compelling stories for our Linfield student-athletes and fans. I also take pride in my time management, which is critical when balancing my workload.
Schoon: I’ve been playing tennis since I could walk and still play pretty well today. Now, if only I started golf that early in my life …
Scott: I'm really good at research. I love reading and finding interesting facts. Professionally or personally, I love learning new things.
Wengert: Many people would tell you I'm too good at talking ... I certainly practice a lot! But jokes aside, a small skill of mine comes from me being a history minor as I have a good memory, specifically with dates. This has helped me be able to list all 46 presidents in order (and mostly give their time frames in office) and plenty of random anecdotes and dates of battles, etc.
Your best advice for young/new athletic communicators as we get ready to start the new academic/athletic year…
Akau: As a young athletic communications professional (I just finished my first academic year at Linfield), I would tell other young SIDs to learn as much as they can and soak it all in. The job can take a lot of energy out of you, but don’t get discouraged. I enjoy being a voice for my student-athletes, and it’s rewarding when athletes and coaches appreciate my work.
Schoon: Practice what the profession is called and communicate. Communicate with your coworkers, coaches and student-athletes. It’s easy to stay in our own lane and with our own sport, but if everyone shares ideas and egos are pushed aside, everyone will be better for it and so much more can be accomplished.
Scott: Plan as well as you can and get ahead of the academic year. You'll appreciate it when the seasons start.
Wengert: I have a bracelet that I got after a college internship where I worked 650+ hours for no pay … and it says ‘be here now’. I did a lot of complaining during that internship but yet I look back on it fondly and wish I embraced those moments more at the time. So. for newcomers to the world of college athletics, it's hectic. But don't let that prevent you from enjoying the here and now in front of you.
What would you sing at karaoke night?
Akau: "As Good As I Once Was" by Toby Keith.
Schoon: Whatever Kendall Farrell signs me up for and it’s always "All These Things That I’ve Done" by The Killers
Scott: I would sing "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" by Whitney Houston. It's just a fun song and NO I do not sound like her... at all.
Wengert: "Feels Like the First Time" by Foreigner!
What’s something you can’t go a day without doing?
Akau: Taking my dog, Millie, on long walks in the morning and evening.
Schoon: Anything active. Have to try and close those rings!
Scott: I literally read everyday on my kindle. I'm on almost a 1000-day streak! Reading is something I do daily.
Wengert: Lots of potential answers here, but I think coffee has to be my pick!
The last thing I recorded on TV was … ?
Akau: I surprisingly have never recorded anything on TV.
Schoon: America’s Got Talent
Scott: I'm not a big TV person but The Masked Singer because the show is really good.
Wengert: I think it was an episode of Saturday Night Live that had a host I wanted to see on the show but didn't want to stay up for it? Can't say for sure, but it feels plausible!
What's the most interesting thing you can see out of your office window (home office or campus office) …
Akau: My campus office, sadly, doesn’t have a window.
Schoon: Window?
Scott: When working remotely from home, my view is the Gateway Arch.
Wengert: On days where I'm lucky at least, one of the athletic training professors who works in the same hallway I do will bring her dogs with her to campus. And those pups never fail to improve my day!
This or that: Board/card games or video games?
Akau: I’ve always loved board and card games. My fiancé and I get pretty competitive with each other when it comes to a game of cribbage.
Schoon: Card games, unless there’s a Nintendo 64 laying around.
Scott: For a game night, board/card games will always win. In my down time, I'm on my PlayStation.
Wengert: Signs of me growing up ... definitely board games if you're in a group!
This or that: French fries or onion rings?
Akau: french fries
Schoon: onion rings
Scott: French fries!!! I do not like onion rings at all, not even the funyuns.
Wengert: I'll stick with fries (specifically if I can add cajun to the fries), but that's close one.
This or that: Would you rather be the oldest person in the office or the youngest and why?
Akau: I would rather be the oldest because that would mean I have the experience and knowledge to pass down to the younger people in the office.
Schoon: I’d want to be the oldest person in the office so I have more experience and can teach others.
Scott: I would rather be the oldest because with age usually comes wisdom.
Wengert: To quote a great James Bond movie, Skyfall, "Age is no guarantee of efficacy. Youth is no guarantee of innovation." That said, I've enjoyed being one of, if not the youngest member of our athletics department at Lynchburg so I'll choose the youngest. I do think it's helped students and student-athletes alike be able to talk to me about topics beyond what's happening on the field which I feel is really important in our line of work.