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. 

Scott Flanders — UC San Diego Assistant Athletic Director for Communications

Scott Flanders is finishing his 15th year as the assistant athletic director for communications at UC San Diego and is celebrating a quarter-century in athletic communications with the CSC 25-Year Award.

Flanders is the primary contact for the Tritons’ golf, men’s volleyball and water polo teams. He helped coordinate media relations efforts as the Tritons transitioned from Division II to Division I membership and was part of a team that promoted the Tritons’ run to the NCAA Division I Championship in both men’s and women’s basketball for the first time.

All but three years of Flanders’ college athletic communications career have been spent in the Golden State, with stops at institutions in all three NCAA divisions. Prior to San Diego work, Flanders spent four years as the associate athletic communications director at Division I UC Santa Barbara, as the department’s publications coordinator and primary contact for the Gauchos’ nationally-ranked men’s volleyball team. He also spent four years as the director of athletics media relations at Division III California Lutheran University and one year as the assistant director of athletics media relations at Division I Cal Poly.

Between his stints at Cal Poly and Cal Lutheran, Flanders fed his passion for snowboarding with a three-year stint as a media coordinator with United States Ski & Snowboard, the nation’s governing body for the sports. He worked with Team USA at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Prior to moving on to UC Santa Barbara in 2006, Flanders spent a month in Turin, Italy, covering the Olympic Winter Games for the organization.

Flanders began his career at the University of New Hampshire, spending three years at his alma mater, moving from student assistant to assistant director of athletic media relations. He received his bachelor’s degree from New Hampshire in sociology.

Flanders is involved in CSC’s Mentorship Program and served as the West Region Representative to the D2SIDA Board from 2015 to 2017. When not in the office, Flanders pursues his passions for skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing.


 

Danielle Melman, UC San Diego Senior Associate Athletics Director: "Scott’s dedication to the industry has truly made a lasting impact on our team at UC San Diego, as well as with sports communicators across the nation. From cross-functional collaborations to building communications streams between all units, he has been a driving force behind the success of many Triton teams and student-athletes.

Personally, I cherish the countless hours we’ve spent together with the water polo teams, specifically at the Triton Invitational. Despite the long days and countless games, his commitment and devotion to the tournament, the 18 participating teams, and to UC San Diego athletics always shines through. There is no other person who I would rather hunker down in the small ‘media room’ with."

Andy Macdonald, 2024 Olympic skateboarder & friend Of Flanders: "Scott approaches any job with a certain brand of determination and tenacity that I would expect from a fellow East Coaster. His quick-witted sarcasm only complements his kind heart, goodwill and friendliness toward all he meets."

Tom Kelly, former U.S. Ski & Snowboard Vice President of Communications: "Scott Flanders is a great example of using your passion to build a career doing what you love. His career began a quarter-century ago, working in Olympic sport under my mentorship. Since then, I have watched his career with great pride as he has become a leader in collegiate sports information."

John Sudsbury, Allstate Sugar Bowl Vice President of Communications, classmate of Flanders at the University of New Hampshire, CSC 25-Year Award (2025): "Scott has been one of the hardest-working professionals in this business for many, many years. While he is always focused on doing whatever it takes to get the job done, he also remembers that we’re dealing with people and he treats everyone with respect. Scott has also done an amazing job of being involved in things away from the workplace. We both had that balance back in the 1990s when we were together at UNH and I’m glad to have him as a friend who can still remind me of the importance of balance."



Flanders on what has kept him In athletic communications for 25 years…
"I have really enjoyed the diverse range of work we do — no two days are the same. Event management, travel, writing, graphic design, media relations, social media, and much more."

How working at all three NCAA Divisions has made him a better professional…
"Each division certainly presents its own challenges and nuances. That being said, the one constant across the board is the passion and dedication shown by student-athletes, coaches, communications and marketing professionals, athletic trainers, creatives, administrators and more. Everyone is working towards specific goals, no matter the level."

The biggest influences In his professional journey…
"Fellow University of New Hampshire alum John Sudsbury (now at has played a pivotal role in my career. He helped get me into a business that I didn’t know existed at the time. He has taught me a lot over the years, including saving me from having to wait outside in snowstorms to get into UNH hockey games.

Jason Sullivan, another UNH alum, gave me my first job in California, at Cal Poly, in 1998. I still live in the state. California offers so much more than just amazing weather and great colleges and universities. It has allowed me to continue pursuing my passions: skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing.

Tom Kelly, former head of communications at U.S. Ski and Snowboard, was successful in luring me to leave California and come to work in Utah. That did wonders for my snowboarding habit but, more importantly, I learned how PR, media and communications worked outside of a collegiate setting. I was fortunate to work with elite athletes and events, including two Winter Olympics."