College Sports Information Directors of America

Download event photos, session documents and downloads from CSC Unite 2026

story by Colby Shannon, 2025-26 CSC Intern
video by Marlee Ressa, videography by Patrick Dieterlen, photography by Sofiia Briantseva

“The most energetic, passionate, strategic, technologically savvy, charming, and beautiful corner of the college athletics universe.” According to 2025-26 CSC President Patrick Crawford, the most talented individuals in college sports communications are all in one place. Today, this “corner” of college sports united in Las Vegas, as CSC kicked off its 2026 annual convention.
 

CSC members and affiliates in attendance of CSC Unite 2026, traveled from across North America to Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Resort, where CSC’s premiere event began at 8 am PDT, with registration opening.

A series of committee meetings occupied the schedules of committee members throughout the morning. And for the first time ever, CSC’s executive board, cabinet, committee chairs, and staff members assembled for a leadership meeting where developmental ideas were discussed in order to collaboratively foster the growth of the organization.

For newer audiences to CSC Unite, the Maximize Your Experience session provided an informative introduction to convention that gave advice to attendees on how to get the most out of their convention experience. Khalil Stewart of Alabama State said the event taught him that “being actively involved with CSC is essential for both personal career growth and helping to move the program forward.” The session concluded with a networking bingo activity that pushed members into their social stretch zones.

One of the afternoon’s most compelling sessions attracted an audience that bled into the hallways of Mandalay Bay’s convention center. A monumental development in collegiate athletics statistics tracking, Genius Sports introduced their new NCAA LiveStats baseball and softball software.

In an afternoon panel, Chris Aumueller (FanWord), Kyle Ferguson (Fresno Pacific), Hannah Foley (George Mason), Cole Helman (Palm Beach Atlantic), and Travis Rae (Tulsa) spoke about AI and the keys to harnessing its potential for personal professional growth. During the panel, speakers offered advice on ways to effectively apply AI to athletics coverage, and argued that understanding how to best use AI can increase your value to an athletics department.

CSC’s partnership with ESPN continues in 2026, as the production company endorses the convention as one of CSC’s flagship sponsors again. Additionally, ESPN gave a presentation on ways that universities can utilize their support team. On Monday night, ESPN will host CSC’s All-Star Night of Honors.

  

A fan favorite session brought together new faces, as the Speed Networking session created connections and tons of laughter. In a rapid paced social activity, attendees were prompted to move from chair to chair making introductions and answering questions.

In the south convention center, members were challenged to overcome difficult situations in a crisis management workshop titled, “Under Pressure.” Hosted by Mike Williams (Illinois State) and Amy Yakola (ACC), this session walked members through hypothetical scenarios and confronted attendees’ problem-solving skills.

The ceremonial beginning of CSC Unite 2026 took place during the Welcome Ceremony, where CSC Executive Director Jason Yaman began, “The convention is always a reminder of what makes CSC special: The people in this room and the shared commitment we all have to advancing athletics communications, intercollegiate athletics, and helping everyone here deal with the fast-paced changes of our history.” He was followed on-stage by CSC past president Kevin Trainor who, after a long-awaited anticipation, surprised President Crawford with a presentation of the presidential gavel.
 

Continuing the theme of starting strong, former NCAA DI collegiate basketball star Britt Hunter (Duke/UConn) led a conversation focused on managing subordinates with a non-authoritative style. She engaged the audience through a blindfolded paper folding activity, which resulted in attendees learning the importance of giving effective directions.

The vibes created during the day's programming continued through evening conversation. At the Welcome Reception provided complimentary food and drinks for all convention attendees while exhibitors showcased their products and distributed free merchandise.

The first day of convention rounded out with smiles, new friendships, and a test of college sports knowledge, as FanWord hosted a trivia night. The ball is officially rolling in Las Vegas (and not the one covered in LED lights), as the excitement of CSC Unite 2026 continues into Monday’s sessions!