College Sports Information Directors of America

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CSC 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.)

John Kean – Missouri University of Science & Technology Athletic Communications Director

Now in his 34th year as the athletic communications director at Missouri S&T, John Kean previously has been honored by CSC with a 25-Year Award (2016) and induction into the CSC Hall of Fame in 2021.

A Message from John Kean, 2024 Warren Berg Award Recipient – "To be the one selected for this award is a tremendous honor because I know what the Warren Berg Award stands for in our organization."
   
Kentucky Wesleyan Sports Information Director Emeritus/Special Assistant for College Relations/1999 CSC Hall of Famer, Roy Pickerill – "If you looked in the dictionary for the definition of a true sports communications’ professional, John Kean would be the answer. He is a man of integrity, commitment, and dedication with a thirst for knowledge and a burning desire to see others succeed. John’s an icon and mentor to our CSC family across America. He’s simply the BEST!!!!!"

Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) Assistant Athletics Director for Media Relations, Luke Rinne – "John Kean is one of the best in our industry and is deserving of the Warren Berg Award. He joins a distinguished group of people that have won this award. I’ve known John for over 20 years, starting when I was a student at Central Missouri. I then served later as his assistant for nearly a decade, and now I work as a colleague in the GLVC. I saw firsthand the dedication and commitment that he gave to not only our department at Missouri S&T, but also the extra time he put in running the Division II basketball website. I saw his commitment to all of his committee work and serving the D2SIDA board of directors and his board work for College Sports Communicators. One of the highlights of my career was when I got to call and tell him that he was this year’s winner (I was proud to nominate him). John has been a tremendous mentor to not only me but all who have assisted me. I’m proud of my friend and colleague!"



While in charge of the external communications and promotional efforts for Missouri S&T’s 17 athletic teams, Kean has earned recognition outside of CSC, at the conference and national levels: the 2023 Roy Pickerill Distinguished Service Award from the NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors Association (D2SIDA) and recipient of the Dr. Thomas Kearns Service Award from the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2018.

Kean served for four years as the president of D2SIDA before doing a three-year term on the CSC Board of Directors from 2018-21. He was also the president of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) sports information directors during the 1995-96 academic year.

Kean has served on various committees: on the former College Division Management Advisory Committee within CSC as vice chair; on the GLVC’s scheduling committee and on the programming subcommittee during the creation of the GLVC Sports Network.  He has also assisted with several NCAA regional and national events, including eight men’s basketball and two women’s basketball Elite Eight championships. In addition, Kean has been part of the Division II CCA All-America program, serving as the national coordinator for the softball program for 15 seasons and as a regional coordinator for the men’s basketball program.

Kean has earned two district writing awards from CSC, earning a first place award in the historical feature category for District Seven in 2006 and the second in 2022.

The native of Florissant, Mo., began his career in athletic communications as a graduate assistant in the department at Southeast Missouri State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in communications in 1986.