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. 

Tom Emberley — Farmingdale State College Director of Athletic Communications
 

"Receiving an award in recognition of my 25 years in intercollegiate athletics is humbling, to say the very least. The lifelong friendships, connections, mentors and experiences that I have been fortunate enough to have across my career in this amazing field are nothing short of excellent. In particular, getting to see student-athletes and administrators go on to amazing things is what makes this profession my colleagues and I have chosen so rewarding. Lastly, the unwavering support of my family — in particular my wife Jen, and son Tyler, has been exceptional and has afforded me the opportunity to have the great experiences that I have in this field." — Tom Emberley, 2026 CSC 25-Year Award recipient

Tom Emberley is a highly respected leader in intercollegiate athletics communications whose career spans more than two decades of dedicated service to collegiate sport and student-athlete development. He currently serves as the director of athletic communications at Farmingdale State College, a role he assumed in March 2022 after a distinguished tenure in athletic administration and conference leadership. Emberley has also served as an adjunct assistant professor in sport management at FSC since 2016.

A native of Fitchburg, Mass., Emberley attended Western New England University in Springfield, Mass., where he was a two-year member of the Golden Bears football team and student assistant in the sports information office under CSC Hall of Famer Ken Cerino. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sport management in 2001, before receiving an MBA in management and leadership from Dowling College in 2011.

Prior to joining Farmingdale State in a full-time capacity, Emberley served nearly seven years as associate commissioner of the Skyline Conference, where he oversaw publicity and promotion for the 12-institution Division III league, in addition to championship administration, financial oversight and scheduling. His broad professional experience also includes leadership roles at SUNY Old Westbury, Yeshiva University, Queens College, LIU-C.W. Post, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, La Salle University, the U.S. Naval Academy, and assistant commissioner positions with the City University of New York Athletic Conference and the NCAA Division II East Coast Conference.

Emberley has served on multiple NCAA Division III sport committees — including his present term on its Division III Women’s Basketball Committee, and previous tenures on the Division III Men’s Volleyball and Men’s Lacrosse (chair, 2019-20) Committees. He has served as a site representative at numerous NCAA championship events and served on the NCAA’s Regional Rules Seminar and Eligibility Center advisory groups. Emberley also contributes to the profession as treasurer of the Eastern Athletic Communications Association (EAST-COMM) and has served in CSC’s mentorship program.

In recognition of his achievement and consistent excellence in athletic communications, Tom was selected to receive the prestigious Irving T. Marsh Award from EAST-COMM, one of the association’s highest honors. He was on the winning team of CSC’s publications contest for best basketball program cover while at the CUNYAC in 2008 and led a team effort that placed second in the organization’s football game program contest at USMMA in 2004. Over the years, one of the things Emberley is most proud of is having mentored numerous individuals who have gone on to successful careers within the athletics profession.
 

Brian Granata, Arcadia University Associate Vice President of Athletics: “I have had the pleasure of getting to know Tom for the better part of 25 years. He is a consummate professional and has made a tremendous impact at a number of institutions and conference offices. Tom is a dedicated, hard-working, selfless individual who has held numerous leadership positions within college athletics. He values the student-athlete experience and strives to positively impact those around him. I can't thank Tom enough for his guidance, support, mentorship, and friendship over the last two-plus decades.”

Jay Jones, Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Commissioner: “Tom and I have worked together for much of the 25 years he has been in this business. Throughout that time, he has navigated change with remarkable ease while consistently delivering top-quality work — even as our industry has evolved dramatically, particularly in the communications space. Tom is an exceptional professional and an even better person.”

Darryl Konicki, Little East Conference Associate Commissioner: “Tom has been a trusted friend and mentor to me for nearly all of his 25 years in the profession. I cannot imagine where my own career would be had he not taken a chance on a "kid" with just one year of post-graduate work under his belt to be his assistant back in the day. Tom taught me then and preaches to this day that our profession is first and foremost about the people — this is why he has been such a tremendous success in our ever-evolving industry.”

Ian Schraier, former Adelphi University Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information (left in 2024): “Twenty-five years is an incredible milestone, but what defines Tom’s career isn’t the length of time; it’s the lives he’s shaped along the way. He leads with trust, he gives opportunity, and he never stops investing in the people around him. He cares first, always. And the legacy he’s built isn’t just measured in accomplishments, but in the countless professionals who stand where they are today because of his guidance."

John Ewen, Manhattanville University Director of Athletic Communications: “In my five years of working with Tom, first in his role in the Skyline Conference office and later as the SID at Farmingdale, he has been the embodiment of what it means to be successful and a role model in this industry. From day one, he welcomed me into a new landscape with open arms, always available to answer questions for a young athletic communicator navigating the field for the first time. Tom takes an incredible pride in his work and has constantly advocated for those around him and in the industry. Tom has helped me navigate five years in this industry better than anyone else, and I can only hope to leave as big of an impact on this field as he has.”