A longtime College Sports Communicators member and mentor to many fellow athletic communications in the Northwest,
Kelly Bird has demonstrated excellence in his writing, graphic design, photography, and media relations skills, mostly serving as a one-person athletic communications office at NCAA Division III member Linfield.
In 2025, Kelly started his retirement process, stepping away from his full-time sports information director role after 36 years. He is now in a hybrid role as the athletic marketing and events coordinator, and remains Linfield’s primary media relations contact for football, track and field and softball while continuing his roles as sponsorship coordinator, Athletics Hall of Fame historian, and department photographer.
Having participated in 23 CSC national conventions, Bird has produced 22 CSC nationally award-winning sports publications, including five that were judged “Best in the Nation.” He also has received national honors for video display award segments from the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA).
Bird is a three-time recipient of the Jack Saurealt Award (2008, 2015, 2021), given to the Northwest Conference’s top sports communication program. In 2007, he was honored as Linfield’s Administrator of the Year for the McMinnville campus. Bird also served for 12 years as a regional voter on the Associated Press Division III All-America football team.