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CSC recognizes the following six honorees on day two of our 2023 Special Awards announcement: past presidents Larry Dougherty, Temple (Arch Ward Award) and Gallaudet’s Sam Atkinson (Warren Berg Award); and Rising Stars Award winners Tyler Cady (Syracuse), Tommy Chasanoff (University of the Cumberlands), Katie Ryan (USC) and Donnie Smith (Southeastern).
Honoree information complied by CSC Special Awards Committee Chair Jeff Hodges (University of North Alabama) and Barb Kowal, CSC Director of Professional Development and External Affairs.
The College Sports Information Communicators (CSC) organization continues its weeklong announcement of its 2023 Special Awards by recognizing six more outstanding members for top university division and college division honors Friday. These honors are presented for distinguished contributions to the profession.
The 2023 recipients of the CoSIDA Warren Berg, Arch Ward and Rising Star honors are below. On February 16, the six-member 2023 CoSIDA Hall of Fame Class
was announced.
Larry Dougherty, Temple University Senior Associate AD/Strategic Communications and a CSC past president, will be recognized with the 2023 Arch Ward Award, while
Sam Atkinson, Associate Athletic Director for Communications at Gallaudet University (D.C.) and also a CSC past president, will receive the Warren Berg Award.
Both honors are presented annually to a CSC member who has made outstanding contributions to the field of athletic communications, and who by his or her activities, has brought dignity and prestige to the profession. The Berg Award is exclusively a college division honor.
Tyler Cady, the Assistant Director of Athletic Communications at Syracuse University, and
Katie Ryan, Director of Football Communications at USC, are recipients of CSC Rising Star Awards in the university division.
Tommy Chasanoff, University of the Cumberlands Assistant Athletic Director - Sports Information and
Donnie Smith, Southeastern University (Fla.) Assistant Athletic Director for Communications at, are the CSC Rising Star Award winners in the college division. This marks the first time in CSC history that both Rising Star honorees in the college division are from the NAIA. They are the third and fourth NAIA members to earn this honor.
The Rising Star Award, begun in 2006, honors a CSC member with 10 years of service or less whose work, service, dedication, energy and enthusiasm to the profession make that individual a “rising star” in athletic communications.
All CSC Special Award honorees will be recognized during the 2023 CSC Convention which takes place June 11-14 at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Fla. In conjunction with NACDA and Affiliates Convention Week.
A closer look at these award winners:
ARCH WARD AWARD
Larry Dougherty – Temple University, Senior Associate AD/Strategic Communications
A member of the CSC Hall of Fame and a past president of the organization,
Larry Dougherty is in his 19th year at Temple, serving the last 11 as senior associate athletic director for strategic communications. He previously served four years as associate athletic director. In his position, Dougherty oversees all athletic communications of the University’s 19-sport Division I-A athletic program.
Numerous communications professionals have stemmed from Dougherty’s “coaching tree,” some of whom started as student workers and interns, and have risen in the professional and collegiate sports field due to his mentoring.
Dougherty served as the president of the College Sports Communicators during 2010-11. He was inducted into the CSC Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2017, he was CSC’s Bob Kenworthy Community Service Award recipient and also was honored with the ECAC-SIDA Pete Nevins Award for Distinguished Service. He was the recipient of the ECAC-SIDA’s 2011 Irving T. Marsh Award for outstanding contributions.
Dougherty joined the Owls’ staff after serving 15 years in the media relations office at Saint Joseph’s, the last eight as the school’s assistant athletic director for media relations. Prior to SJU, he served as the SID at Nicholls State for one year and as the information director of the East Coast Conference for two years.
A second-generation SID, Dougherty’s father Andy also served as the SID at SJU from 1972-81.
Larry was the founder of Philly-SIDA in 2004, which brings SIDs together from the 30+ Philadelphia area universities to promote academic achievement and networking.
He earned both his bachelor’s (1982) and executive MBA (1994) degrees from Saint Joseph’s.
Arch Ward Award
Presented annually to a current CoSIDA member who has made outstanding contributions to the field of college sports information, and who by his or her activities, has brought dignity and prestige to the profession. Voted on by the Special Awards Committee.
WARREN BERG AWARD
Sam Atkinson – Gallaudet University, Associate Athletic Director for Communications
Having already been honored as the recipient of the College Sports Communicators’ Bob Kenworthy Community Service Award in 2014 and the Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award in 2020,
Sam Atkinson will receive his third CSC major award at the Orlando Convention this June.
A former CSC president, Atkinson enters his 13th year at Gallaudet University, the world’s only university in which all programs and services are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students. In April 2017, he was promoted to associate athletic director for communications after four years as assistant AD for communications after being hired as sports information director. Under Atkinson’s leadership, the Gallaudet Athletic social media platforms were ranked No. 1 by a Division III social media tracking website for four consecutive years (2014-18) for its posts and engagement, and @GallaudetBison remains one of the top brands in Division III due to its social media activity. Several national coaches associations have honored Atkinson for his outstanding media relations and social media skills for promoting Gallaudet Athletics over the years.
Atkinson has been heavily involved on the national level with College Sports Communicators for more than a decade. Atkinson was appointed to the CSC Board of Directors in June 2015 for a three-year term. After two years on the board, he was elected as CSC’s third vice president in June 2017. He became the organization’s president in 2020-21, becoming only the second Division III member to become President in the 60+ year history of the organization.
On the national scene, Atkinison currently serves on the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Committee. Atkinson previously was named to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball National Committee (2016-20) where he served a four-year term, the last two as committee chair.
During Atkinson’s time on the CSC Board he served on the CSC Convention Programming Committee, CSC Appreciation Week Committee, CSC Diversity and Inclusion Committee, CSC’s Academic All-America Hall of Fame Selection Committee and was the board liaison with the Goodwill and Wellness Committee, Programming/Professional Development Committee.
Atkinson was the chair of the CSC Goodwill and Wellness Committee for eight years and still is an active committee member. Atkinson and his committee members established and orchestrated six national community service projects at conventions, beginning with in San Antonio (2009) with the San Antonio Food Bank.
In 2011, he helped to organize CSC’s first-ever 5K run/walk at Marco Island, Fla., where nearly 100 people participated and over $1,600 and hundreds of clothing items were donated to St. Matthew’s House in Naples, Fla. The convention 5K run/walks have continued, with CSC and NACDA participants and thousands of dollars raised for charity and community service projects based in those convention city communities.
Atkinson arrived at Gallaudet on July 6, 2009 from Salisbury University where he served in the same position for three years.
Warren Berg Award
Presented annually to a CSC college division (NCAA DII, DIII, NAIA, Two-year Colleges, and Canadian/U Sports) member who has made outstanding contributions to the field of college sports information, and who by his or her activities, has brought dignity and prestige to the profession. Voted on by the Special Awards Committee. (Note: Nominees can be an active or retired member.)
RISING STAR AWARD, UNIVERSITY DIVISION
Tyler Cady – Syracuse University, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
Tyler Cady joined the athletic communications staff at Syracuse in July, 2014 and currently is the media relations contact for football, men’s lacrosse and cross country/track and field. He also assists in the implementation and execution of the department’s digital and social media strategy and content creation. He took over as the primary football contact in 2020.
In his time at Syracuse, Cady has been a key factor in the growth of the social media accounts at SU. Syracuse’s men’s lacrosse account is consistently among the top men’s lacrosse accounts nationally in terms of engagement and is one of the most followed college lacrosse team in the nation. While in charge of the ice hockey, field hockey and cross country twitter accounts, each has experienced some of the largest growth in followers nationally in its respective sports. He also runs the Syracuse football program’s social media platforms and assists with the Orange men’s basketball and main department social media accounts.
Prior to his appointment at Syracuse, Cady worked as a graduate assistant at Canisius College, while earning his master’s degree. At Canisius, Cady oversaw communications efforts for women’s lacrosse, women’s soccer, cross country, track and field, swimming and diving, synchronized swimming and rowing, while assisting with men’s and women’s basketball, ice hockey and men’s lacrosse.
Before graduating from Canisius in 2014, Cady earned his bachelor’s degree from the University at Buffalo in 2012.
Rising Star Award
Presented annually to CSC members – in the University Division (NCAA DI) and in the College Division (NCAA DII, DIII, NAIA, Two-year Colleges, U Sports) – with 10 years of service or less whose work at their institution, conference office or intercollegiate athletics-affiliated association and service, dedication, energy and enthusiasm to the profession make that individual a “rising star” in sports information. Voted on by the Special Awards Committee.
RISING STAR AWARD, UNIVERSITY DIVISION
Katie Ryan – University of Southern California, Director of Football Communications
Katie Ryan serves as the Director of Football Communications for the USC football team.
After taking over USC’s football SID duties in 2022 from CSC Hall of Famer Tim Tessalone, who retired after a 43-year tenure, Ryan immediately had a positive effect on the Trojan football program, helping new head coach Lincoln Riley navigate the Los Angeles media market. She developed a successful PR and promotional plan to help quarterback Caleb Williams win the 2022 Heisman Trophy and he and four other players earn All-American first-team honors. She handled all PR efforts for the Trojans 2022 football team that won seven more games than the previous year, played in the Pac-12 championship game and then in the Cotton Bowl, and was in the running for a CFP berth. All of this on the national stage in her first year as primary football contact.
Ryan began her career at USC as a summer intern in the sports information office for the 2013 and 2014 summers, then continued as a full-time intern in 2014-15. She was hired on full-time with USC in the summer of 2015.
She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2014 where she founded a blog on the Mustangs’ football team. A former student-athlete, Ryan played volleyball at Cal Poly SLO and North Carolina State. She earned her master’s degree in strategic public relations from USC in 2022.
Rising Star Award
Presented annually to CSC members – in the University Division (NCAA DI) and in the College Division (NCAA DII, DIII, NAIA, Two-year Colleges, U Sports) – with 10 years of service or less whose work at their institution, conference office or intercollegiate athletics-affiliated association and service, dedication, energy and enthusiasm to the profession make that individual a “rising star” in sports information. Voted on by the Special Awards Committee.
RISING STAR AWARD, COLLEGE DIVISION
Tommy Chasanoff – University of the Cumberlands, Assistant Athletic Director - Sports Information
Tommy Chasanoff is entering his fifth year as the sports information director at the University of the Cumberlands after being hired in September of 2016. Based on his campus successes and achievements, was elevated to an Assistant Athletic Director position in July 2020.
Chasanoff oversees the athletic communications department as well as serving as the main contact for a plethora of sports, including men’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s swimming, and women’s tennis this season. This year Tommy is also serving as an assistant SID for the Mid-South Conference.
Under Chasanoff’s direction, UC has seen tremendous success, record numbers of award winners, and has transformed into one of the premier sports information departments in the NAIA.
Chasanoff has garnered numerous honors and recognitions throughout his time at UC. In September 2020, he was named the NAIA Sports Information Director of the Year, becoming the first Patriot to earn that honor. He is a two-time Mid-South Conference Bill Sergent Sports Information Director of the Year (2018 and 2020).
Active at both the conference and national levels, he is in his third as an at-large member of the NAIA-SIDA Board where he is the liaison for the Stats, Records, and Honors Committee. Chasanoff is the CSC Membership Recognition Committee vice-chair, on the CSC Diversity & Inclusion Committee and participates in the CSC mentorship program.
Over the past five years, Tommy has served as the media coordinator for both the NAIA Swimming & Diving Championship and the NAIA Lacrosse Invitational multiple times.
A gifted athlete, Chasanoff is a member of the US Paralympic track and field team. Over the past four years he has competed in England, New Zealand, Australia, and Mexico. He won four medals at the 2011 ParaPan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Prior to Cumberland, Chasanoff spent two years as sports information director at Savannah College of Art & Design. During that time, he served as host SID for the NAIA’s national championships in women’s golf (2015, 2016), and served as the NAIA media coordinator for the 2016 NAIA men’s and women’s lacrosse Invitational. During his tenure, SCAD has had nine NAIA National Player of the Week honors.
Prior to SCAD, Chasanoff served as the assistant sports information director at the University of Tampa, in addition to working at Florida Southern College.
Chasanoff graduated with a duel bachelor’s degree in sport management and marketing from Webber International University and added a Masters in business administration from the Cumberlands.
Rising Star Award
Presented annually to CSC members – in the University Division (NCAA DI) and in the College Division (NCAA DII, DIII, NAIA, Two-year Colleges, U Sports) – with 10 years of service or less whose work at their institution, conference office or intercollegiate athletics-affiliated association and service, dedication, energy and enthusiasm to the profession make that individual a “rising star” in sports information. Voted on by the Special Awards Committee.
RISING STAR AWARD, COLLEGE DIVISION
Donnie Smith – Southeastern University, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
Donnie Smith currently serves on the CSC Executive Board as an at-large member and is first-vice president of NAIA-SIDA. Smith has been part of the NAIA’s sports information association board since 2017. He is also a member of the NAIA’s Council for Student-Athletes,
Smith was named sports information director at Southeastern before the start of the 2013-14 school year and immediately was recognized for his standout work. Chosen as The Sun Conference Sports Information Director of the Year in 2017 and 2021, Smith was also selected as the NAIA’s National Sports Information Director of the Year both years. He became the first person to win the NAIA award twice.
During the 2017-18 school year, he and his staff finished 10th in the NAIA in the Gary Spitler Excellence in Publications contest. They have won multiple NAIA-SIDA publications awards for writing, website presence, social media, and graphic design.
Smith has worked seven NAIA Football national championship games, assisting the national office and TV production teams, and was the media coordinator for the 2016 NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship in Delray Beach, Fla., the 2019 NAIA Men’s and Women’s Tennis National Championships in Mobile, Ala..
Before Southeastern, Smith spent 10 years at the Regional Radio Sports Network in Mishawaka, Indiana as a sportscaster. Smith has spent hundreds of hours behind the microphone as the play-by-play voice of high school and college sports and as host of talk shows in northern Indiana. He has also covered the NFL, MLB, WNBA, IndyCar, and NASCAR in addition to NCAA football and basketball.
In 2014, Smith received the Marv Bates Indiana Sportscaster of the Year Award from the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association, becoming the youngest recipient in the award’s 43-year history.
He is a graduate of Indiana University South Bend where he earned a degree in mass communications with an emphasis in journalism and received an MS in kinesiology from Southeastern.
Rising Star Award
Presented annually to CSC members – in the University Division (NCAA DI) and in the College Division (NCAA DII, DIII, NAIA, Two-year Colleges, U Sports) – with 10 years of service or less whose work at their institution, conference office or intercollegiate athletics-affiliated association and service, dedication, energy and enthusiasm to the profession make that individual a “rising star” in sports information. Voted on by the Special Awards Committee.