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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.
Brian Lucas — University of Wisconsin Director, Marketing and Communications, Department of Surgery
(Formerly Director of Football Brand Communications)
After a quarter century of service in college athletic communications at the University of Wisconsin-Madison,
Brian Lucas transitioned to a new career opportunity on the campus in October 2023. Lucas left his director of football brand communications position for the Badgers and moved to a new role as the University’s director of marketing and communications for the Department of Surgery.
Lucas had spent his entire athletic career working for the Badgers, first as an athletic communications intern (June 1999-August 2001), then as an assistant director of athletic communications August 2001-August 2008) before spending a decade as director of athletic communications. In June 2019, Lucas was named director of football brand communications and served in that role until he left the athletic department to work in Wisconsin’s medical community.
A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Lucas began his athletic career as a sports information intern at Marquette University in the summer of 1998.
Gallery: (5-21-2024) Brian Lucas, 25-Year Award
Justin Doherty, University of Wisconsin Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Communications /former CSC President: “When I think of my time working with Brian, I think of someone who was great at his job and had fun doing it. Brian never took himself too seriously and I think that’s one of his best traits. Whether it was road trips with the Badgers or road trips to see Bruce Springsteen, I always enjoyed having Brian around. And he did an outstanding job of promoting Wisconsin Athletics with professionalism and a great work ethic.”
Patrick Herb, Wisconsin Assistant AD of Strategic Communications: “There are a lot of skills that have helped Brian Lucas have such a long, successful career in communications, but his ability to relate and be a trusted expert for all kinds of people is among his best. Players, coaches, colleagues, counterparts, media … regardless of the audience he can connect and be counted on by so many. His loyalty and dedication to Wisconsin are admirable and he has been an integral piece of the Badgers success for the last two and a half decades.”
Cassie Arner, University of Illinois Senior Associate AD, Fan Engagement: “I feel so blessed to have had Brian as a friend in this business all these years. He has always done his job with great joy, and I’ve admired that about him. In an industry where there is great competitiveness, you could always find helpfulness and community in Brian and his staff at Wisconsin. College athletics has changed so much over the years, but there was something very special in the way we had each other as allies, as cheerleaders and sounding boards for professional development. And then of course, there was the fun!”
Brian Lucas reflections on his career:
I was very fortunate to work with terrific staff, coaches and student-athletes in my 25 years at Wisconsin. Their tremendous accomplishments allowed me to tag along on a great ride but it's the relationships that I'll remember most. And I'll always cherish the friendships I made within the profession, working with some of the most dedicated and humble people in college athletics, my communications colleagues.