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This story is part of our CSC 360 package for September 2023, to view more stories, click here.
Nominations for the Class of 2023 open through Oct. 15
Young professionals spotlight: Three up, three down with Shelby Hild — Director of Communications at Baylor University
by Ryan Gallant – University of Utah, Associate Director of Communications // CSC Young Professionals Committee Chair
Shelby Hild has done a little bit of everything at the Division I level. Now entering her second year as Baylor’s director of communications, she leads related efforts for the three-time national champion Bears women’s basketball program along with Baylor women’s tennis.
Recognized in 2022 as part of CSC’s inaugural 30 Under 30 Class, she made the short drive to Waco on the heels of the 2021-22 season as Texas A&M’s primary contact for the volleyball and softball teams. It was Hild’s first stop at the Power Five level, after promoting a variety of student-athletes and teams in stints at Illinois State, Kansas City and Missouri State.
The Pekin, Illinois, native attended Maryville University in Missouri before earning her master’s degree at Missouri State. She chaired the CSC Job Seekers Committee beginning in Fall 2022 and completed CSC’s Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship in Spring 2022.
Hild on a trip to Italy and Greece with the Baylor women's basketball team.
Having started at the mid-major level, what skills you learned there have helped you at the Power Five level?
SH: I think at the mid-major level, it’s all hands-on deck for everything. You’re constantly being pulled in different directions. For me now at the Power Five level, it’s helped me be a better teammate. Being a better teammate to my friends in external or other departments, I think that’s just something I’ve carried on from before. We’re all responsible for a common goal.
You recently had the opportunity to travel to Italy and Greece with Baylor women's basketball — how was the trip, and how did it help you grow even closer with the coaches and players?
SH: It was awesome; it was the trip of a lifetime. I was supposed to go on a foreign tour when I was at Illinois State, but Covid shut that down. So this was the first foreign tour I’ve gotten to go on.
At the end of last women’s basketball season, I knew I wanted to get closer to the players. I felt like every time ESPN would call asking for cool stories, I didn’t have any to share. I started last year right before the season began, so it was all about getting integrated and getting going. My goal in year one was to get to know Coach Nicki (Collen) and develop a relationship with her.
Going into year two, I knew I wanted to be closer to the players, and know who they are as people outside of basketball — so when ESPN calls this year, I have interesting stories to tell. (The players) were here over the summer, so I made a goal to get to know them. I felt like my initial sit-downs and get-to-knows were good, but the foreign tour helped enhance that. You’re with the group for 10 days. I think building relationships over the Summer helped with this trip.
I don’t ever want my job to come across as transactional, or for people to think I only come around when I need something. The foreign tour enhanced that around the board with the new coaches and support staff. We had a lot of people on that trip, but it was so unique because we have a really good culture. It really enhanced the community aspect that Coach Nicki really is trying to build.
What’s a piece of advice you’d share with someone new to our field or just getting started?
SH: I have two. One would be to network. I think that’s obvious, but networking is huge. Somebody told me once that they didn’t need to network because they weren’t looking for a job. Networking’s not about needing a job, it’s just about staying in touch with people. It’s just getting to know people. Honestly, some of my best friends are people I’ve met in the industry.
The second is not being afraid of change. I think in our business, we can get so siloed into our every day job and what we’re doing. But I’m a firm believer that if you’re not being challenged, you’re not growing.
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