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. 

Kurt Svoboda — University of Washington Deputy Athletic Director for External Relations

Kurt Svoboda joined the University of Washington athletic department as deputy athletic director for external relations on June 7, 2024. 

He is responsible for external oversight in the areas of marketing, branding, creative, digital and social media, broadcast operations, and strategic communications. Svoboda is also the sport administrator for baseball. 
 
An accomplished athletics administrator with experience on the West Coast and also in the Big Ten Conference, Svoboda came to UW from the University of Michigan, where he spent nine years as associate athletic director of external communications and public relations. Prior to that, he spent two years as senior assistant athletic director for public relations and strategic communications at Stanford.
   
During his time in Ann Arbor, Svoboda oversaw Michigan's communications, digital and creative staffs, and digital marketing efforts. He also launched the Wolverines' NIL platform, the Victors Local Exchange. He also served as the department's primary liaison to the Big Ten Network and various campus groups while working directly with U-M's rights holder, Learfield, across digital and creative initiatives.
 
While at Stanford (2013-15), he served as the chief public affairs and departmental spokesperson, the Cardinal's primary football contact for media relations, and was the program's main contact for the Pac-12 Network.
 
Before Stanford, Svoboda served in several roles, including as Harvard University’s assistant athletic director for public relations (2005 to 2013). Svoboda launched Harvard's multimedia and production unit which continues to be recognized today among the nation's best. 
 
A graduate of Colby-Sawyer College (N.H.), where he was a four-year letterwinner on the baseball team, twice earning academic all-conference, Svoboda spent time as a baseball coach following graduation while also working in the communications field at Saint Anselm College, Franklin Pierce University and the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
 
Svoboda earned his B.S. in exercise & sports sciences and sport management and then a master's degree in finance and control from Harvard. In 2014, he was honored as a Colby-Sawyer Distinguished Alumnus.
 
He and his wife, Joanna, are the parents of a son, Jaxon.

Warde Manuel, University of Michigan Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics: "I want to congratulate Kurt on receiving his 25 year award. He has helped achieve success in every position he has served. He is a consummate professional and played a significant role in the success achieved at Michigan during his time in the department. From all of us at Michigan… CONGRATULATIONS!"

Bernard Muir, Stanford University Jaquish & Kenninger Director of Athletics (retired): "Kurt, heartfelt congratulations on this well-deserved honor recognizing your 25 years of service in this profession.  You have truly held the "student-athlete first" mantra throughout your career and have found countless and creative ways in which to tell the remarkable stories about what young people are achieving on our respective campuses.  Best wishes to you for continued success and I know that many of us are quite proud that we have had the opportunity to work with you."



Chuck Sullivan, American Athletic Conference Assistant Commissioner/Communications, CSC 25-Year Award: "The first college football game I worked with Kurt was a Division II game between Bryant and Saint Anselm in 2001. The most recent game we both worked was the 2023-24 BCS National Championship, when Kurt was at Michigan as they won the title. One of Kurt’s best qualities is that whether he was working with a startup program or one of the biggest brands in sports, he treated both with the same level of respect, attention and detail.
 
Kurt has contributed so much to his employers and to the sports communications profession as a whole. But I’ve always been so amazed at how well he keeps everything in perspective. He took advantage of his time at Harvard to get a master’s degree there, which is almost impossible when you’re managing communications for a 41-sport department. And as committed as he is to his work, there’s never been a doubt that his primary role is as a husband and father. We can all learn from his example about setting priorities and balancing personal and professional space."