College Sports Information Directors of America

Together, College Sports Communicators and its convention attendees experienced a journey like no other at CSC Unite 2026. A journey through the Mandalay Bay Resort and across the finish line of the CSC 5k Fun Run and 2 Mile Walk, a journey through the convention hallways and into the rooms where education, connection, development, and growth were being fostered; and a celebration of the journeys of remarkable award winners and hall-of-famers who received recognition for lives dedicated to collegiate athletics, all make up the path that CSC discovered in day two of the 2026 convention in Las Vegas.

Under the bright, warm sun, which beat hard on the Nevada desert, attendees of both CSC and NACDA’s conventions gathered poolside at the Mandalay Bay Resort for the 16th annual CSC 5k Fun Run and 2 Mile Walk. Not only did this year’s event, hosted by the Goodwill and Wellness committee, break a record for the most participants, but it also raised more than five thousand dollars for Special Olympics and other local Nevada charities. A seven lap expedition united collegiate communicators from across the country, each embarking on their own journey - with the support of colleagues and friends throughout.
 

Truly united by peers, CSC Unite 2026 provided opportunities for affiliated groups to meet in-person and discuss goals, provide support, and collaborate in highly effective ways. Monday morning’s sessions included a Canadian institutions meeting, business meetings within NAIA-SIDA and 2YSIDA groups, and strategic and informative meetings for both NCAA DII and NCAA DIII schools.

Mandalay Bay’s ballroom, which would be the setting for the journey of attendees, panelists, and award winners throughout the day, hosted its first event of the packed schedule: Best Practices in NIL. During this presentation, hosted by Sam Schwartz (Washington), Sean Kelly (INFLCR), Brian Mason (Wisconsin), Cory Spera (College Sports Commission), attendees learned how both student athletes and the media can collaborate to benefit each other’s brands through increased athlete media participation and creative storytelling.

Following the NIL presentation, a professional development panel took place to encourage professionals to set themselves apart from the rest of the industry. Panelists Courtney Day (DePaul), Keelyn Harkey (Richmond), Sam Knehans (Sun Belt Conference), Jordan Sarnoff (Omaha), Maria Slovikovski (Ohio State) shared that expanding your skillset and becoming a “Swiss Army Knife” is one of the best tools to advancing your career.

Throughout the day exhibitors showcased their products through the product theater series, which offered an opportunity for attendees to partner with companies that impact the coverage of college sports.

Additionally, an informative session was held to spread the word about CSC’s member resource opportunities. These community groups provide a space for members with similar identities to collaborate and discuss on-going issues they experience in college sports. Members are encouraged to explore CSC’s four member resource communities: CSC Women, Black College Sports Communicators, CSC Pride, and Autism Awareness and Acceptance.

In a packed ballroom, LSU’s The Brand shared their ascension into a marketing and student-athlete branding organization with over 50 full-time staff members. Through the perspective of professionals like Michael Bonnette, Jason Feirman, Zach Greenwell, and Sarah Ramundt, attendees were able to gain insight on the operations of one of Division I’s most coveted marketing teams, while also having the opportunity to ask for advice on how to replicate LSU’s product at a smaller scale, with a smaller budget.

The humility that our member population possesses was on full display at today’s service hour. In partnership with Special Olympics Nevada, CSC members participated in yard games with the Special Olympics athletes of Nevada. Due to the competitive nature of both the athletes and the college sports administrators, the intensity of corn hole and mini golf took over as teams of convention participants and Special Olympics members worked together to achieve success. 

Creative programming attracted many attendees of both CSC and NACDA convention as statistics roundtables and a NACDA Featured Session with Savannah Bananas head coach Tyler Gillum highlighted the afternoon’s slate of scheduled programming.

But it was the evening programming on this second day in Las Vegas that captured the eyes, ears, and tears of the convention community. CSC’s All-Star Night of Honors embodied the pinnacle of what it means to be a collegiate athletics communicator. For the second straight year, ESPN’s Holly Rowe hosted the event. She set the stage saying, “Without all of you, we are nothing in our jobs.” The award-winning broadcaster continued, “CSC stands at the intersection of athletics, media, and great storytelling, and tonight, we gather to honor those who represent the very best of our profession.”

Presented by ESPN, the All-Star Night of Honors was not just an opportunity to spotlight the professionals who have made the biggest impact in the field, but it provided a perspective on sports coverage that isn’t often experienced by sports information directors, creatives, or communicators. Typically, these professionals are behind the scenes, capturing and producing content to spotlight young athletes and uplift their scholastic and athletic careers. But tonight, our members were the star of the show, and felt the beam of the spotlight blind their eyes, as each special award winner received thunderous applause from the audience. For a full list of CSC award winners, visit this link.
 

In addition to special awards recipients, two Hall of Fame classes were inducted tonight. The Academic All-America Hall of Fame grew four members larger with the inductions of Sam Acho (Texas graduate 2010), Amy Acuff (UCLA graduate 1997), Dr. Jim Agre (Augsburg graduate 1972), and Therese (Dorigan) Cullen (Elmhurst graduate 1988). For more information on the 2026 Academic All-America Hall of Fame class, click here.

Tonight’s event, full of stories rooted in emotion, was the culmination of the careers of many CSC legends, including the six College Sports Communicators Hall of Fame inductees. Sam Atkinson (Gallaudet), Kelly Bird (Linfield), Jerry Emig (Ohio State), Dee Outlaw (West Alabama), Kevin Trainor (Arkansas), and Steve White (Western Carolina) make up the CSC Hall of Fame class of 2026. With each member having deep ties to CSC, the stories, reflections, and gratitude each inductee expressed exemplifies the personal output of a life dedicated to college sports.

While the professional journeys of our CSC Hall of Fame inductees conclude, the journeys of our CSC Unite 2026 attendees continue with two more days full of opportunity and growth.