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. 

John Sudsbury – Allstate Sugar Bowl Senior Director of Communications 

For 17 years, John Sudsbury has spearheaded the communications and media relations efforts at the Allstate Sugar Bowl, working on a full-time staff of 13 at the bowl’s headquarters (Caesars Superdome) in New Orleans. A long-time member of CSC, Sudbury was elected to a three-year term as an at-large representative on CSC’s Executive Board of Directors and served on the board from 2018-21.

In addition to his many duties surrounding the annual Allstate Sugar Bowl, Sudbury works with the Manning family to coordinate the Manning Award, an annual award given to the top college football quarterback in the USA. The Allstate Sugar Bowl presents the award to honor the accomplishments of Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning

Prior to his time at the Sugar Bowl, Sudbury served at five different institutions in athletic media relations roles. He was at the University of California (May 2006-October 2008) as associate director of media relations prior to moving across the country to join the Sugar Bowl staff.

Before his Cal role, Sudbury served at Tulane University (2000-06) as associate director of media relations, at both the University of Hartford and Adelphi University as director of sports information, with each stop for almost two years; and in a media relations role at the University of New Hampshire for four years.


 

Jeff Hundley, Allstate Sugar Bowl CEO: "John Sudsbury is a pro’s pro as a sports communicator. For 17 years now, John has spearheaded the communications and media relations effort here at the Sugar Bowl and has performed with tremendous professionalism, integrity, and grace. John has earned the respect of local and national media alike, and he’s a leader amongst his peers in bowl circles. We’re proud to have John Sudsbury as a member of the Sugar Bowl team, and we congratulate him on 25 excellent years in his profession."

Bill Hancock, College Football Playoffs executive director emeritus/ CSC Hall of Famer: "John is awesome, both as a practitioner and as a human being. He is a renaissance man and a total professional. Nobody doesn’t like and respect John Sudsbury."

Donna Turner, Northern Illinois University associate athletic director: "John Sudsbury remains one of the best hires I have ever made in my career leading communications departments at three universities. His work product is highly professional, but it is his ability to connect and develop relationships with coaches, media, student-athletes and colleagues that makes him a standout in our profession. There is also no better individual to have alongside you in a crisis. John is rock solid in every way, and I’m honored to call him a friend."




John Sudsbury on his career...
Many years ago, I was a college student with no clue what I wanted to do. I came across a marketing internship with the University of New Hampshire athletic department and figured that might be fun and interesting. Here I am now, 33 years later, still working in the same field. It’s often hard to believe.

His advice to fellow sports communicators…
I’ve had the opportunity to work at many different levels of athletics (D2, I-AA, I-AAA, FBS non-power institutions, FBS power institutions) and now for many years with a college football bowl game. No matter what your specific job duties are, the most important thing is to work with good people. There’s a reason my longest stay has been at the Sugar Bowl – we have an outstanding boss overseeing our staff and we have a group of people who work together to get the job done while remembering to enjoy themselves.
 
Working in collegiate athletics can bring a lot of challenges, but I’ve always tried hard to pause, take some deep breaths, and look around and realize that I’m “working” at a football game, or an awards banquet, or the Final Four, or some other event that brings great joy to a lot of people. That’s pretty cool.