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. 

Blake Timm — Pacific University (Ore.) Associate Director of Communications

Blake Timm was named associate director of campus communications at his alma mater, Pacific University (Ore.) in July 2023. This is his second stint at his alma mater, having served as Pacific’s sports information director from 1999 to 2015.

Timm was inducted into the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Hall of Fame in 2020. He received the organization’s Bob Kenworthy Community Service Award in 2022 and the Warren Berg Award in 2017. Timm currently serves as the vice-chair of the CSC’s Special Awards Committee.

A 1998 alumnus of Pacific, Timm returned to his alma mater after spending 24 years in college athletic communications. He served eight years (2015-2023) as the assistant commissioner for communications for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, an NCAA Division II conference based in Portland. 

While the Pacific SID, Timm received over 30 awards in the CSC Publication Contest (now the Digital and Creative Contest), including eight “Best In The Nation” honors. He also received 15 Fred Stabley, Sr. Writing Contest awards, including two “Best In The Nation” honors. 

Twice, in 2007 and 2011, Timm was named the recipient of the Jack Sareault Award, honoring the Northwest Conference’s sports information director of the year.

Timm has been part of media operations teams for multiple world-class athletic events, including the 2022 World Athletics Championships, the Prefontaine Classic, the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Track and Field Championships, the 2008 & 2024 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials and seven NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball regionals. Timm was the media coordinator for the 2022 NCAA Division II Men's & Women's Soccer Championships, held in Seattle.

He is also an active member of the Rotary Club of Forest Grove and assistant governor for Rotary District 5100.

Kelly Bird, Linfield University Communications and Marketing Director for Athletics: "Above all, Blake is a people person. He is a sterling example of a professional who makes it a priority to establish and maintain relationships with fellow sports communicators, members of the media, coaches, student-athletes and community members. 

His commitment to connect and people serve others goes beyond his school and conference, extending to regional sports events, civic organizations and church activities. Amazingly, he still somehow finds time to be a great father and husband, spending quality time with his family. If ever there was a model for young sports communicators to emulate, Blake is it."

Jeff Oliver, TrackTown USA Senior Manager of Partnerships and Media Operations: "Blake has been an integral member of the media team for premier events at Hayward Field for several years. His extensive experience as an athletic communicator has been highly valued by media members from around the world during major events such as The Prefontaine Classic, the U.S. Olympic Trials, and the 2022 World Athletics Championships. Blake’s ability to anticipate the needs of media ensures they have an optimal working environment at these high-profile events. Additionally, he actively participates in our Media Races at Hayward Field, showcasing his passion for running on the track as well."

Steve Flegel, Whitworth University Assistant Athletic Director – Sports Communications: "It was a pleasure and honor to work alongside Blake Timm for many years in the Northwest Conference.  He has exhibited professional excellence throughout his career and is a role model for the next generation of athletics communicators."

Taking a look back at his career…
When I graduated from Pacific University in 1998, my goal was to become a news reporter or a play-by-play broadcaster. A year later, I was looking for an opportunity to move back to the Portland area to be closer to my now wife, Melissa. Pacific’s sports information director position opened up and I found that the position checked all of the boxes: working in sports, storytelling, chronicling and researching history, broadcasting, publication and graphic design. It was a perfect fit.

Looking back over 25 years, I am still in awe of the experiences that I have had. Being part of March Madness, where I have worked with the legends of the game. Working at the World Athletics Championships, the World Indoor Track and Field Championships, and the Prefontaine Classic and having a front row to seeing world records set. Overseeing media coordination for a Division II national championship and numerous conference championship events. And the hundreds of games that I worked at Pacific over the years. It has been quite a ride.

His role in university communications now and how his earlier work and skills transfer to his current role…
I find that the skills I honed in college athletic communications directly contribute to our success at Pacific in campus communications and media relations. My approach to media relations is the same for the campus as it was for athletics, and it has tangibly increased the university’s media mentions and coverage. In athletics, I learned to try and meet the media where they are and not to be afraid of going the extra mile to help meet their needs. In the campus role, the concept of being your own media, crafting a convincing story, and creating high-quality content is still applicable. 

They say once a SID, always a SID. That is certainly true for me. I continue to keep stats and do some public address work for Pacific football and basketball. I run the shot clock and announce basketball games for our local high school. I was the press conference moderator for the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball regional in Portland, and I was able to use my role to bring in some of our Pacific sports leadership and sports communication majors as volunteers. I was part of the media team for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials and will return to Eugene for the 2025 Prefontaine Classic. I also coordinate media and sports information duties for the Cascade Collegiate Conference’s Soccer Championships.

Those who have influenced him along the way…
I first learned about what a sports information director was from my high school athletic director, Barry Gottula, who thought it would make a good career for me. Like many typical high school students, I dismissed his advice. But he was right, so I have to thank him to first introducing me to the profession. I would not have my career if it wasn’t for Judy Sherman, my first athletic director at Pacific, who took a chance on an inexperienced 23-year-old. I hope I haven’t disappointed. My other bosses, Ken Schumann at Pacific and Dave Haglund at the GNAC, allowed me to take the opportunity to lead at the national level through both CSC and the NCAA, and gave me the latitude to grow as a professional. 

There are so many in the profession who have provided me their mentorship and friendship: Kelly Bird, Steve Flegel, Blair Cash, Nick Dawson, Dave Reed, Jay Stancil, Mike Safford, Rich Rosenthal, Judy Willson, Tom Di Camillo, Eric McDowell, Ed Carpenter, Joe Danahey, Barb Kowal, Cindy Potter…and so many more.

My parents, Ric & Connie Timm, have always been supportive of my career path. I think my dad, in particular, has enjoyed living vicariously through my experiences. Most of all, I have to thank my wife, Melissa, and my two daughters, Sydney and Hannah, for their love, support and understanding over the years. They have been my biggest cheerleaders, my sounding boards, my moments of reality, and the people I celebrate with the most.