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Divisional Day programming will be on Monday, June 12. Details will be added here when available. Last updated March 8.
NCAA Division I Divisional Day
- 9:00 AM - 9:10 AM – CSC Leadership visit
- 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM – Taking the Next Steps In Developing Your Strategic Communications Skills
Presenter: Chris Werle, Padilla Senior Vice President, Crisis and Critical Issues Management; Moderator/Host: Scottie Rodgers, Cotton Bowl Athletic Association Director of Communications
- 10:30 AM - 11:20 AM – NIL as we know it today, and looking ahead
Presenters: Jonathan Gantt, Founder and Consultant, Gantt C.S.; Terry Prentice, University of Arkansas Senior Associate Athletics Director/Athlete Brand Development & Inclusive Excellence; Moderator: Ryan Sakamoto, Patriot League Assistant Commissioner for Communications
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM – Getting back to basics: Trends working with media and enhancing awards program nominations
Join CSC members and media members for a discussion of the survey data that the FWAA sent to FBS communicators (128 responses) concerning media coverage, athletic communicators’ media relations and operations, and more. Presenter Ted Gangi will present data from this survey/audit of media materials. There also will be a discussion on best practices for national award nominations.
Presenters: Tyler Cady – Syracuse Assistant Director of Athletic Communications/2023 CSC Rising Star Award winner; Ted Gangi – USBWA/CollegePressBox.com; Brett McMurphy – ACTION Network reporter; Susan Lax – University of Kentucky Director of Athletics Communications and Public Relations/2023 CSC Achievement Award winner; Moderator: Amy Yakola – Atlantic Coast Conference Deputy Commissioner/Chief of External Affairs
NCAA Division II Divisional Day
- 9:00 AM – General Business / CSC Leadership visit
- 9:15 AM - 10:25 AM – Okay to not be okay: Tools for self-care and self-love (in conjunction with NCAA Division II governance)
Burnout, lack of staff leading to a heavier workload, difficulty managing work/life balance and difficulty finding time to take care of yourself - many of these issues may be areas in your life that are adding to the mental health challenges you may be facing in your demanding, pressure filled roles. In this session with Ivy Watts, a safe space will be created to normalize mental health challenges. You will learn hands-on, practical and efficient self-care techniques to manage the stress and overwhelm you might be feeling and to encourage you to prioritize rest to help you to rediscover your "why," your passion for the work and even find yourself again.
Presenter: Ivy Watts, Ivy Watts Speaks mental health empowerment consultant; Introduction: MIchael MacEachern, Young Harris College Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Communications/ D2 Cabinet and D2SIDA President
- 10:30 AM - 11:20 AM – D2SIDA Business Meeting
Presiding: Michael MacEachern - Young Harris College Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Communications, D2 Cabinet and D2SIDA President
- 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM – It's championship time! The basics of hosting a Division II championship.
There is nothing like hosting an NCAA Championships event on your home campus and seeing your team compete in the postseason at home. But it is also hard work. Our panelists will look at some of the basics athletic communicators need to know about hosting an NCAA Championship and best practices to make it a great experience for student-athletes and minimal stress for you
Panelists: Micaela Liddane, NCAA Assistant Director, Championships & Alliances, NCAA; Liz Wacienga, NCAA Assistant Director, Media Coordination & Statistics; Moderator/Panelist: Brian Henry University of West Florida Sports Information Director/ D2 Cabinet and D2SIDA Second Vice President
- 2:00 PM - 2:50 PM – Upon Further Review: Basics For Providing Basketball & Volleyball Video Replay
Officials video review is being adopted by more and more conferences every year and more sports adding it to the rule book. This session is designed to provide athletic communications professionals the basics of what is required in video review and includes a presentation by HUDL/Blueframe on their official video review system.
Panelists: Matt Krug, HUDL Senior Solutions Consultant, Maggie Tieman - NCAA women’s basketball official (multiple conferences)/Mindset Matters founder; Moderator: Travis Chell, King University Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications/External Affairs
- 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM – Athletic Communications 101
These “table topic” session roundtables are designed to hear from experts on these topics and provide for an exchange of ideas, best practices and to get questions answered. Whether new to the profession or a veteran athletic communicator, you can get something out of these sessions.
- Common Courtesies/Working With Other Professionals (John Jordan, Flagler and Joe Danahey, Stanislaus State)
- College Sports Communicators - Ask Me Anything (Presenter TBD)
- NCAA Statistics - Questions & Answers (Presenter TBD)
- We Made The Postseason - Now What? (Dan Ruede, New Haven)
- CSC Academic All-America Program (Michael MacEachern, Young Harris & Co-Director, Publicity, Academic All-America Core Program)
- How To Recruit Student Workers (Jon Holtz, Slippery Rock)
- NCAA Live Stats - Ask Me Anything (David Petroff & Kevin Ross, Genius Sports)
NCAA Division III Divisional Day
- 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM – Preparing for the Big Moments: interactive session with facilitators leading small-group discussions
Topics: Championship Events; Media Interaction; Student-Athlete/Coaching Milestone; Senior Days; discussing Special Olympics, others
Moderators: Amie Canfield – University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Athletic Communications Director/ D3 Cabinet/D3SIDA First Vice President; Tim Volkmann – Rochester Institute of Technology Director of Athletic Communications/D3 Cabinet/D3SIDA President
- 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM – D3SIDA Busines Session
Agenda: CSC leadership visit; discussion of open positions, exchange of the presidential gavel
Moderators: Amie Canfield – University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Athletic Communications Director/ D3 Cabinet/D3SIDA First Vice President; Tim Volkmann – Rochester Institute of Technology Director of Athletic Communications/D3 Cabinet/D3SIDA President
- 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM – Collaboration Culture: How the athletic communications staff interacts, strategizes and collaborates with other staff members, administrators, sports, again with facilitators
An interactive session that speaks to the way SIDs collaborate with our various constituents and elevate ourselves on our campuses.
Moderator: Ali Paquette – Middlebury College Assistant Director of Athletics Communications
- 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM – DIII Day team building event
A World Marriott Scavenger Hunt for Division III members. List of items will be provided to participating members.
Hosts: Geoff Henson – Olivet College Sports Information Director; AJ O'Hagan – Yeshiva University Sports Information Director
NAIA Divisional Day
- 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM – Welcome and introductions; CSC Leadership Visit
- 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM – Simple Video Content
This panel will discuss some easy and budget-friendly ways to create quality visual pieces to use on social media and live video broadcasts. Presenter: Kristin Shaffer (Cumberlands)
- 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM – Digital and Social Media Strategy
Panelists will talk about the latest developments and trends in social media and branding.
Presenters: Robbie Lightfoot (BoxOut Sports); Jeff Myers (BoxOut Sports); Chris Charizopoulos (digital strategist and graphic designer)
- 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM – Training and Promoting Student Workers
A large portion of our office and promotional success relies on college students. Our panelists talk about recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting student professionals and creating opportunities for students in your department.
Presenters: Jesse Campbell (Cornerstone University); JD Campbell (Indiana University)
- 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM – Retention and Survival
Hear from some veterans in our industry on what keeps them coming back and gets them motivated year in and year out.
Presenters: Jay Stancil (Appalachian Athletic Conference); Ryan Wronkowicz (Lourdes)
- 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM - NAIA-SIDA Business Meeting
Annual business meeting which will include the introduction of our 2023-24 board of directors and honoring our publications contest winners.
NAIA National Office update with Brad Cygan, Katie Green and Jeff Melton
- 2:00 PM - 2:50 PM – Tips and Tricks Group Workshop: Discussion of hot topics, best practices, and "what would you do" scenarios as groups.
Presenter: Matthew Hicks (Southern States Athletic Conference)
- 3:00 PM - 3:50 PM – Moving Up: Hear from former NAIA SIDs that have moved up or have found careers elsewhere in college athletics. They'll share how their skillset transferred to their new position or location and how to go about finding your next opportunity and creating value for yourself and your position.
Presenters: Kassi Butcher (UNC Asheville); Sam Knehans (Sun Belt Conference); Steve Wilson (William Woods University)
- 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM – Ike Pearson Reception (by NAIA invitation only)
Canadian Divisional Day
There will be no official meetings or sessions for Canadian members attending #CSCUNITE23. You are invited to join any of the other Divisional Day sessions that are offered on June 12.
Two-Year Colleges Divisional Day
- 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM – Two-Year to Four-Year: What to expect
Panelists: Nick Huenefeld (UT-Arlington), Tim Slack (Fresno Pacific), Ian Applegate (American Athletic Conference); Moderator Roy Allen – Florida SouthWestern
- 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM – CSC Leadership visit
- 11:15 AM - 12:00 AM – College Athletics Through the Female Lens
Panelists: Maura Vizza (Moraine Valley); Candice Kelm (McLennan)
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM – 2YSIDA Meeting
Conference Offices Divisional Day
- 9:00 AM - 9:50 AM – Telling the conference's story
How to work with your membership to tell the story of your league; solutions suited for varying levels of resources
Presenters: Brian Hand – Conference Carolinas Associate Commissioner for External Relations; Jordan Stepp – Conference USA AssistantCommisioner of Communications; Lindsey Williams, Great Lakes Valley Conference Assistant Commissioner; Moderator: Cassie Langdon, NCAA Assistant Director of Media Coordination and Statistics
- 9:55 AM - 10:40 AM: Rock the Vote: Annual and Weekly Award
How to efficiently collect nominations and votes and pick winners for preseason, postseason, and weekly awards
Presenters: Stacey LaDew – Heartland College Athletic Conference Associate Commissioner; Nick Kornder – North Sun Intercollegiate Conference Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations; Matt Panto – Ivy League Associate Executive Director for Strategic Communications and External Relations; Moderator: Denis Archetto – UNC Greensboro Assistant Athletic Director, Communications
- 10:45 AM - 11:25 AM – In the Spotlight: Conference Tournaments
Planning, promoting, staffing, and running your marquee events; working with host venues, both member schools and neutral sites
Presenters: Danny Barnts California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Director of Communications; Andy Fledderjohann, Atlantic Coast Conference Assistant Commissioner/Communications; Jenna Jorgensen, Western Collegiate Hockey Association Assistant Commissioner of Strategic Communications and Brand Enhancement
Moderator: Harrison Baker, Marist College Associate AD, Director of External Affairs & Chief Diversity Officer for Athletic