College Sports Information Directors of America

Bud Nangle Award
Presented to a CSC member or an individual outside of CSC who embodies the ideals of intercollegiate athletics by showing ethics, integrity, compassion and/or bravery in a singular act or under an unusual or stressful personal or professional situation. Note: Voted on by the Special Awards Committee only when worthy candidates are nominated.

Anthony Avila – University of La Verne,  Assistant Athletic Director – Communications & Sports Information

“I am extremely honored and humbled to receive the Bud Nangle Award. I am so blessed that I was in a position to help my mother and feel extremely grateful that the transplant took and that she is doing well. Deciding to donate was the easiest decision I’ve ever made. I am extremely appreciative of the support of ULV Director of Athletics Dr. Jenna Pantier and the assistance from former assistant SID (now LMU assistant SID) Rachel Rubio, so I could take time away to recover without worrying about work. I am usually a very private person, so I didn’t plan on talking about this situation much, but I hope it inspires people to go out of their way to help others whenever they can.” — Anthony Avila, 2026 CSC Bud Nangle Award recipient 

Anthony Avila is in his second stint at the University of La Verne, where he returned in 2023 and was promoted to assistant athletic director in 2024. He previously served as director of athletic communications from 2017 to 2021.  Avila oversees sports information and media relations for all of La Verne’s intercollegiate athletic programs. He served as the media contact for the 2024 NCAA Division III Baseball Super Regionals and the 2025 Regionals hosted at La Verne. He led a comprehensive redesign of the athletics website and developed extensive online archives.

Between his stints at La Verne, he served as marketing manager for Legacy Youth Leadership and as the sports information director for the California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Association (3CFCA). He was the official scorer and media contact for the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) Softball State Championships and worked as the official scorer for the 2022 3C2A Men’s and Women’s Basketball State Championships, in addition to serving as a statistician for several Southern California community colleges.

He participated in the NCAA Institute for Administrative Advancement in Atlanta during the summer of 2018 and earned a grant to attend the 2019 CSC (formerly CoSIDA) Convention. In 2021, he served as a judge for the CSC District 3 Stabley Writing Contest.

Earlier in his career, Avila was the first full-time assistant sports information director at Pomona-Pitzer, assisting with major events, including early rounds of the 2016 NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Tournament. He also worked at his alma mater, Occidental College, from 2014 to 2016 as assistant sports information director, intramural sports coordinator, and club sports supervisor.

Outside collegiate athletics, Avila served as assistant athletic director for the Los Angeles Police Revolver and Athletic Club (LAPRAAC), the athletic arm of the Los Angeles Police Department, and spent six years as a youth development mentor with Play Rugby USA. A Glendora native and Azusa resident, Avila earned a bachelor’s degree in history and competed in football and rugby, serving as rugby team captain his senior year. He earned a Master of Science in leadership and management from La Verne.
 

Rachel Rubio, Loyola Marymount University Assistant Sports Media Relations Manager: "Anthony is truly one of the most impactful mentors I could have asked for at the start of my career. I began as his graduate assistant, knowing very little about the profession, and he met that inexperience with patience, encouragement, and a genuine commitment to helping me grow. He is endlessly competitive in the best way - always brainstorming, always innovating, always pushing to elevate the standard of our work. More than anything, he invests in people. His mentorship has shaped my professional journey and directly helped me get to where I am today at Loyola Marymount. This recognition is incredibly well deserved."

Mark Becker, SCIAC Associate Director: “Anthony goes above and beyond in everything he does. He has put together a fantastic team in the La Verne sports information office and consistently strives to improve their quality of service for student-athletes. His selflessness and genuine eagerness to help with anything are greatly appreciated and noticed by his colleagues. Anthony's selection for this award is a tremendous choice as it perfectly captures his willingness to lend a hand to anyone who needs it, without any expectation or need for recognition. But he deserves it, and I am thrilled to see him honored.”