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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.
Todd Anderson — Mercer University Assistant AD/Media Relations
Todd Anderson is concluding his first academic year as Assistant Athletics Director for Media Relations at Mercer, having officially joined the Bears family in July 2023.
At Mercer, Anderson oversees athletic media relations efforts for all 18 varsity athletic teams. His primary responsibilities are as the main media relations contact for football, softball, men’s and women’s cross country and track and field teams.
Anderson previously served 17 years (2006-23) as the Associate Athletics Director for Communications and Strategic Initiatives at UNC Pembroke. He was hired as the school’s sports information director in 2006 and was promoted to assistant AD for communications prior to the start of the 2011-12 academic year. His role and title moved to associate athletics director at the beginning of the 2014-15 season.
Among his outside activities and volunteer work, Anderson was the nine-year (2014-23) national coordinator for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division II Top 25 and all-America programs, and also served 10 years as an adjunct professor in UNC Pembroke's Department of Kinesiology.
Anderson got his start in athletic communications in the SEC Conference - as a student (1997-98) and intern (1998-99) at the University of Alabama. He also served seven years (1999-2006) as an assistant athletic media relations director at Mississippi State.
Gallery: (5-2-2024) Todd Anderson, 25-Year Award
Dick Christy, UNC Pembroke Director of Athletics – "Todd Anderson’s dedication and attention to detail became part of the fabric of who UNC Pembroke is over a nearly 20 year period. His communications accuracy and expertise was the foundation that UNCP’s award winning external operations unit was built on."
Dan Kenney, Former UNC Pembroke AD and Chief of Staff, Founder at Coach4aday LLC – "In 2006, Todd Anderson arrived at UNC Pembroke, initially intending to stay for two years to aid in the university's football program launch. However, his tenure extended to 17 years before he transitioned to Mercer this past July.
Throughout his time, Todd significantly enhanced every facet of UNC Pembroke Athletics' sports media landscape. From pioneering webcasting and conducting press conferences, to revamping the website and establishing standards still in place today, Anderson's influence is unmistakable. What began as a two-year commitment evolved into a two-decade leadership journey, during which he mentored coaches, student-athletes, and aspiring sports journalists. Todd Anderson's impact has undeniably enriched both our campus and athletic department."
Career Reflections from Todd Anderson
“The last 25 years have flown by. I got into this profession as a student assistant at Alabama in 1997 to make a difference, and I hope that the lives I have intersected with along the way feel that I have made that impact on them. I am forever indebted to all of the mentors I have met along the way, and am grateful that I was able to collect all the wonderful memories I have in my career.”
TODD ANDERSON Professional Development and Career Advancement Strategies and Tips
- Find your escape outside of the office. It’s incredibly easy to get burnt out in this profession, so find the thing that helps you clear your head and recharge. The work will still be there tomorrow.
- People will always remember the way that you made them feel, so exit every situation with that mindset.
- Make it a point to set aside time to learn something new, whether it be on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. find what you’re good at and keep discovering new ways to improve that skill.