College Sports Information Directors of America

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CSC Rising Star Award
Presented annually to College Sports Communicators members in the University Division (NCAA DI) and in the College Division (NCAA DII, DIII, NAIA, Two-year Colleges, Canadian institutions) – 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 athletics communications. Voted on by the Special Awards Committee.

Jordan Sarnoff – FDU Special Assistant to the Athletic Director

Jordan Sarnoff, currently a special assistant to the athletic director at FDU, is the definition of a rising star. He began his work with FDU as a high school senior, assisting on men’s and women’s basketball and softball gamedays in a variety of roles, including official replay review operator, timeout coordinator (TOC) and public address announcer.

A Message from Jordan Sarnoff, 2024 Rising Star Award Recipient – "My thanks to the College Sports Communicators Special Awards Committee and all those who played a part in the selection process for recognizing me as a 2024 Rising Star for the University Division. I’m honored to follow in the footsteps of those who’ve earned this award in the past and continue to make a positive difference in our field for hopefully many years to come."
   
FDU Senior Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics, Brad Hurlbut – "I can’t imagine a more deserving person to receive the CSC Rising Star award than Jordan Sarnoff. I have been in the collegiate athletics field for 30 years now and I have never met an individual who was more passionate about their job than Jordan … or as good as Jordan. What he has accomplished already is nothing short of amazing!  And let’s remember, he just turned 22 years old recently! The sky is the limit for Jordan."

FDU Senior Associate Athletic Director/Chief Operating Officer, Jason Young – "I'm extremely proud of Jordan and all he was able to accomplish at FDU. He showed the collegiate athletics community that age is just a number and when you follow your passion good things happen. The accolades are many but his lasting impact on FDU was the ability to highlight athletics as the front porch of our University. Congrats again to Jordan and thank you to CSC for recognizing him."



Sarnoff just graduated in December 2023 with his undergraduate degree. Beginning as FDU’s athletic communications manager, Sarnoff rose to his position as coordinator for athletic media relations, then as director of athletic media relations over the course of just three years - all as an undergraduate student. His work gained attention on a national stage in March 2023 when the FDU men’s basketball team orchestrated one of the great March Madness upsets with its stunning first round defeat of Purdue. Sarnoff was profiled nationally as the team’s men’s basketball contact while still an undergraduate college student, an absolute rarity not only in Division I athletics, but in collegiate athletics as a whole. He also was invited to participate on the NCAA Division I Men’s Final Four Media Coordination Committee at the 2023 Final Four in Houston.

Even before coming to FDU, he served as the sports information director for nearby Fort Lee, New Jersey public schools while in high school. The prior experience paved the way for him to serve as a primary sport contact for several Division I programs immediately upon entering college.

Sarnoff was recognized in December as a member of the CSC 30 Under 30 Class of 2023. The honor recognizes emerging athletics communications professionals at all levels of college sports in strategic, creative and digital spaces.

Currently a member of the CSC Young Professionals Committee, the ECAC Voting Committee, and the NEC Sports Information Committee, Sarnoff’s involvement in the athletic communications industry already runs deep before the time that most enter the profession. He has twice been honored as a “Top 40 Power Player in North Jersey Athletics” by NorthJersey.com/TheRecord, and was named to the inaugural Meadowlands Chamber “50 Under 30” list in May 2023.