College Sports Information Directors of America

by Will Roleson – College Sports Communicators, Associate Executive Director  @wroleson

CSC Unite, the association’s first convention under the new association and convention names, is just over a month away.

If you haven’t registered yet, make plans now to join us June 11-14 at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando.

Advance registration at $435 for members will close May 12, after which the rate will increase to $495 through the convention. The undergraduate student member rate will increase from $270 through May 12 to $360, and the non-member rate is $600.

Here are just a few of the many educational sessions, awards ceremonies, and social events of this year’s convention...

Awards celebrations

CSC All-Star Night of Honors, presented by ESPN — June 12, 5:00 PM
A reception followed by the awards celebration honoring CSC Hall of Fame members, as well as Lifetime Achievement, Keith Jackson Eternal Flame Award, Jake Wade Award, Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award, Arch Ward Award, and Warren Berg Award recipients.

Academic All-America® Hall of Fame Celebration Luncheon — June 13, 11:45 AM
Honoring the Hall of Fame Class of 2023 including Andrew Cain (Rose-Hulman, Baseball), Rick Miller (Bentley, Soccer), Kevin Warren (Grand Canyon, Basketball) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota, Basketball), plus 2023 Dick Enberg Award recipient, Tamika Catchings (Tennessee).

CSC Special Awards Luncheon — June 14, 11:30 AM
Annual luncheon to honor 25-Year Awards, CSC Achievement Awards, Bob Kenworthy Community Service Award, Lester Jordan Award, President's Awards, and Rising Star Awards recipients, plus recognition for CSC 30 Under 30 Class of 2022 and Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship Class of 2022-23.

CSC 5K Fun Run / 2-Mile Walk presented by Levy Recognition and Gipper
Get up early with your friends and colleagues for a 6:30 AM start to this annual race and fundraiser for Frontline Innovation Studios in Orlando on the beautiful Hawks Landing Golf Course at the World Center Marriott. Registration is just $25 for the in-person race/walk, or you can do it virtually if not attending the convention. Register here

CSC Exhibit Hall & Product Theater
Stop by and visit CSC corporate partners and other exhibitors in our exhibit hall, located in the Sabal Ballroom. The hall will kick off with the #CSCUNITE23 Welcome Reception on June 11 from 5-7 pm and will also be open June 12 from 8 am-4 pm and Tuesday from 8-11:30 am.  On June 12, the Divisional Day breakfast and Grab-n-Go Luncheon will take place in the exhibit hall.  In addition, product demonstrations and best practices by partners and exhibitors will be held in the Product Theater on June 12 and 13.

Featured Sessions with NACDA Affiliates

CSC/NACDA Featured Session – Hear from the Pros: Social Strategy, Storytelling and Engagement — June 13, 9:00 AM
Hear from pro sports communicators and creatives, led by the Orlando Magic’s Jay Riola, a 2022 Sports Business Journal Forty Under 40 for Excellence in Sports Business recipient.

CSC/N4A Featured Session – Aspire Higher: Women in Athletic Leadership — June 13, 10:00 AM
This session brings together communicators, creatives and academic advisors and includes Patti Phillips of Women Leaders in College Sports, N4A President Jackie Nicholson of RIT, and CSC 3rd Vice President Mary Beth Challoner of Toronto.

CSC/ICLA Featured Session - Communications & Licensing: Strengthening Your Brand Story — June 13, 3:00 PM
Building upon the common branding goals of communications and licensing departments, this panel will feature Howie Burke of Getty Images, Deanna Cardillo of TCU, and CSC 2nd Vice President Kevin Trainor of Arkansas.

NACDA Featured Session

NCAA President Charlie Baker — June 13, 4:00 PM
New NCAA President and former Governor of Massachusetts Charlie Baker will address NACDA affiliates and CSC attendees on a number of topics in collegiate athletics.

Featured presenters have not yet been announced for another NACDA Featured Session on June 12 at 4 pm.

Other General Programming Highlights

The Value of Intentional Career Building To Increase Your Influence — June 11, Noon
Featuring Chris Werle of Padilla and Beth Goetz of Iowa.

Mental Health Session — June 11, 2:00 PM
Dive into a mental health discussion with Ivy Watts of Ivy Watts Speaks and Eric Poldroo of The Zone.

Diversity and Inclusion Is More than You Think — Two sessions: June 11, 3:00 PM & June 13, 2:30 PM
Two opportunities to take part in discussions regarding diversity and inclusion within collegiate athletics, hosted by CSC’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Emerging Trends in Technology and Leadership — June 13, 11:00 AM
With Jeff Rubin of SIDEARM Sports.

A Conversation with Jen Sabatelle, CBS Sports — June 13, 2:00 PM
A conversational interview with CBS Sports Executive Jen Sabatelle and CSC Executive Director Erik Christianson.

Storytelling Using Data and Analytics — June 13, 3:30 PM
Hosted by Genius Sports / NCAA LiveStats.

Social Strategy and Digital Design — June 14, 10:15 AM
Led by Joe Bosack and David Haney of Bosack & Co., which assisted with CSC’s recent rebranding efforts.

Divisional Day Programming

Take part in panels, discussions and training designed specifically by and for members of specific divisions throughout the day on June 12.

• Division I - Sessions include developing your strategic communications skills, NIL issues, and working with the media.
• Division II - Includes sessions on mental health, ascending the profession and the how-to’s of doing basic job duties as an athletics communicator.
• Division III - Sessions include preparing for big moments, collaborating with other staff in collegiate athletics, and a town hall discussion.
• NAIA - Includes sessions on video content, digital/social media strategy, training and promoting student workers, moving up in your career, and a tips and tricks workshop, followed by the annual Ike Pearson Reception.
• Conference Offices - Sessions on annual/weekly awards, conference tournaments, and telling the conference’s story.
• Two-Year Colleges - Programming for this division will be announced in the near future.

Other Programming

Career Development Job Seekers and Mentorship Forum — June 11, 2:30 PM

Speed Networking — June 11, 4:00 PM

For full details on this year’s CSC UNITE, visit CSCommunicators.com/2023convention