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25-Year Award
Presented to College Sports Communicators members who have completed 25 years in the athletics communications profession.
Vetted and voted on by the Special Awards Committee.
Phil Stanton – Randolph-Macon College Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
Phil Stanton will receive a CSC 25-Year Award for his quarter century of service to athletic communications in June during the CSCUNITE24 convention. Stanton has served at Randolph-Macon, a Division III institution in Ashland, Virginia, for the majority of his career. He first held the positions of assistant professor of mathematics (1979-84) and as sports information director (1981-84) at the school.
Stanton then worked for three years with the Richmond Braves (Triple A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves) and for a year with a local sports agent before returning to campus sports information to work at the University of Richmond (1989-2001), primarily working with football, men’s basketball and baseball, and then spent time at Virginia Commonwealth University (2003-07).
Stanton returned to Randolph-Macon in May of 2013 as the SID.
He is co-founder and editor of
CollegeBaseballInsider.com, a website devoted to the coverage of Division I college baseball, which he and co-founder Sean Ryan started in 2002.
Randolph-Macon College Director of Athletics, Jeff Burns on Stanton: "The Collegiate Sports Communicators honor is a testament to the years of consistent dedication, professionalism , and leadership he has provided the industry. His value to Randolph-Macon, our coaches, players, and fan base is unmatched within our community. He is an unsung hero within our department; a first class professional and a better person."
Gallery: (3-29-2024) Phil Stanton, 25-Year Award
In the words of Phil Stanton:
On what led him to pursue a career in college sports communication...
I have always loved sports and numbers, so sports statistics were most enjoyable for me. I wasn’t a good enough athlete to have a long playing career, so keeping stats was the next best thing. When I started in sports information, stats were kept by hand and cumulative stats, including ERA, QB passer rating, etc., were computed by hand. It was natural for me.
The biggest changes he’s experienced in this profession in his 25 years of service...
Computers and social media have promoted the most changes in the profession. Stats are taken and kept on computers, generating game box scores and cumulative stats, and instead of mailing weekly releases to the media when I started, all information is now posted on the school’s website and emailed to media, alums and fans. And, social media, of course, has created a new outlet for disseminating information.
Advice for those folks entering the sports communication business now…
Work on all aspects of communication. You have to be a good writer, but make sure you can communicate verbally. That will be key in interacting with coaches, administrators, student-athletes, members of the media, alumni and fans. Have in-person interactions with fellow athletic communication members, especially in your conference, and with members of the media.
And enjoy the games you work. It might be stressful preparing for a home event, but enjoy watching your student-athletes compete.
