College Sports Information Directors of America

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. 

David O’Brian — Binghamton University Assistant Athletic Director - Communications

David O’Brian has served as the Assistant Athletic Director - Communications at Binghamton University since 2018. He is the primary contact for the men’s soccer, women’s basketball, softball, golf, cross country and the track & field programs. He was recently promoted to his current position.

O’Brian serves on a number of committees in the athletic department and across campus, including the university’s social media task force..

Prior to arriving at Binghamton, O’Brian was a part of the Maryland athletic media relations department from 1995-2000. While at Maryland, he was the primary contact for the field hockey team, which won the 1999 NCAA championship, the swimming & diving teams and baseball squad. 

Over the years at the conference, national and regional levels, O’Brian has volunteered at numerous NCAA championships for sports such as men’s lacrosse, swimming and diving and field hockey.

Annette Acuff, Binghamton University Head XC/Asst. Track Coach: "I have had the pleasure to work with David over the past 25 years at Binghamton. His tireless work ethic, enthusiasm and passion for Binghamton athletics is exceptional. I couldn't have asked to work with a more dedicated colleague in sports information."

Alli Richmond, Binghamton Softball Student-Athlete: "David is easily one of the most sincere individuals I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. His enthusiasm and passion for his profession is something I admire, as he genuinely cares about each of the athletes he supports and consistently goes above and beyond. His dedication behind the scenes paves the way for the success of many. I could not be happier for him receiving this reward as it is a testament not only to his outstanding work over the years, but also to his exceptional character and the countless lives he has positively impacted through his efforts."

John Hartrick, Binghamton University Senior Associate Director of Athletics: "David has been the unsung workhorse in our office for 25 years. He epitomizes the essence of an SID with an unrelenting and humble approach to his job. He bleeds Binghamton Green and his passion for promoting our student-athletes, coaches and staff is second-to-none. David's memory of historical detail is uncanny and he remains a vital resource for me, our department and University. Personally, I am grateful for his loyal friendship and support and believe he is so worthy of this recognition and much more. We are fortunate he chose to stay at Binghamton and continues to shine, all while putting others in the spotlight."


 

On being inspired by (the late) CSC legend and Hall of Famer Bob Kenworthy to become an SID during 1991-92… 

As a 1992 alumni of Gettysburg College, I ran cross country and track and was the sports editor of our student newspaper. I wasn’t drawn to the sports information profession. Rather, I was drawn to an individual, Bob Kenworthy - the college’s legendary sports information director. It wasn’t because of what he did; it was because of the person he was.

Mr. Kenworthy, as I called him for over three decades, was both a consummate professional and a genuine person. During the 40 years he was the SID at Gettysburg (1959-99), Mr. Kenworthy had both a passion for his work and also for the students and staff he worked with. It is no surprise that he is one of the most beloved and respected professionals our field has ever known. 

Had I not met Mr. Kenworthy, I would not have even considered this profession. And I would not have kept trying to make it in the SID field without his support. I owe so much to him.
 

Discussing the supervisors and colleagues he worked with at the University of Maryland (1994-2000)...

In January 1994, I began to volunteer in the Maryland sports information office while I worked full time in retail and went to graduate school part time.

Over the next six years, I had three of the best athletic communications pros in the business as bosses - Herb Hartnett, Chuck Walsh and Dave Haglund. I also want to credit several assistant SIDs and SID staff members during my Maryland years who I also learned a lot from: Jason Yellin, Heather Czezcok, Dave Gell, Tricia Harris, Kevin Messenger and Stephanie Mociun each made time for working with me. My desk was in the front office with two great colleagues - Nicole Hawkins (1996-97) and Jennifer Mason (1999-00). And in my final year, Mark Fratto started volunteering in our office and has since gone on to accomplish great things in the sports industry.

Although my 25-Year Award is based on my career at Binghamton, my six years at Maryland continue to influence my work.

On working with John Hartrick at Binghamton (2000-present)…

It took eight years after Mr. Kenworthy inspired me to pursue a career in the SID field before I finally got my first full-time job - here at Binghamton University. I was hired by John Hartrick, who had been the head SID since 1991 and now is Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Communications.

Through the years, John has been not just a great boss but a trusted friend and the brother that I never had. He has given me both the trust and the latitude to grow my career, even though I am not the head of the office. I was honored to write John’s article in 2016 when he received his CSC 25-Year Award. He also asked me to be his presenter when he received the ECAC-SIDA’s prestigious Marsh Award in 2021, a role I gladly accepted.
 

The role his family has played in his career…

Beyond the professional scope, my mom and stepdad have had as much to do with my career since I graduated from Gettysburg. I’ve affectionately referred to them as “Mom and Herm” over the years. 

During the time I was balancing a full-time retail job, grad school and volunteering in the Maryland SID office, my number one inspiration was my mom. When I was growing up, she taught high school full time, went to law school part time and raised my sister and I - all at the same time. If she could balance so many things, so could I. And when people comment on how hard I work here at Binghamton - I think of how I got that trait from my mom.

Herm, meanwhile, has been a brilliant, yet humble and caring man. He was a successful college basketball player at Princeton - but you never heard him talk about it. He’s always been so inquisitive about wanting to learn more about what I do at my job. To this day, when I write articles, I always think of what questions Herm would ask me to make my pieces more complete.

I have had a great working situation at Binghamton - but the biggest reason I have stayed in my assistant role here is because I met my wife Lora, and her three children Natalie, Justin and Brandon, in 2002.  It takes a very special person to be the spouse of an SID. Lora is the most genuine, loyal, faithful, loving and trustworthy person I know. Simply put, she is the best person that has ever happened to me.
 

O’Brian’s advice to younger colleagues…

If you’ve read this far - I think my first piece of advice will be obvious. Learn something from every person in the business you come in contact with. Every SID brings something different to the table, and I have been honored to work with so many of them.

My other piece of advice boils down to a quote I got from Jim Norris, our former Athletic Director here at Binghamton. As he put it “People won’t care how much you know - until they know how much you care.”

The skill sets of writing and media relations work may not be as prevalent in the sports communications industry today as they were when I started in this business. But 25 years from now, social media and graphics may not be as relevant either. Times change. Yet as Jim put it to me, what is in someone’s heart will always be relevant - no matter what skill sets are sought after at the time.

I’d like to think Mr. Kenworthy would agree with that.