College Sports Communicators

History

CSC began as a part of the American College Public Relations Association (ACPRA) in 1931. In 1955, a Sports Division of ACPRA began to form. It split and was established as a separate organization for sports information directors in 1957 as College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The organization holds an annual conference based around professional development. The first conference was held in Chicago in 1957, where there were 102 attendees. As of 2023 there are over 4,100 members in the United States and Canada.

In 2008, CoSIDA launched a strategic plan to change the image and focus of the organization. Part of the plan was to modify the traditional "Sports Information Director" job title to "Strategic Communicator". Along with this, CoSIDA changed its logo and began to work with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Another key point was to have members get better at effective communication strategy, specifically strategic communication. This change is in response to changes in media technology, namely social media.

The organization's name was changed to College Sports Communicators on September 1, 2022 to further change the image and focus of the organization to include creative communications professionals.

CSC's research on social media

A 2012 study, conducted by G. Clayton Stoldt of Wichita State University, surveyed 529 CoSIDA members on how social media had impacted their institutions. Some key results are:

• 92% said that social media changed how their institution communicates
• 89% said social media changed how they handle external communications
• 81% agreed that social media has in some way enhanced public relations practices
• 92% said that social media impacts mainstream media
• 92% also said social media has forced organizations to respond more quickly to crises
• 69% said that social media is less accurate than traditional media, 72% said social media is less credible than traditional media
• 75% said that social media impacts organizations' transparency
• Only 6% knew of any time their institution managed social media based on legality

A separate study in 2016, conducted by CoSIDA and researched by Katelyn Miller of Rutgers University, found that just 33% of institutions had implemented a social media policy and 50% of SIDs had, on at least one occasion, deleted a social media post from a coach or student-athlete.

Academic All-American selections

Since 1952, CSC has selected Academic All-Americans for NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. In 2018-19, two-year schools and Canadian institutions were made eligible for at-large All-American selections. The award currently has no corporate sponsor; past sponsors include GTE, Verizon, ESPN The Magazine, Capital One, and Google Cloud.

CSC is responsible for the annual selection of Academic All-Americans in men's and women's soccer, football, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, baseball, softball and men's and women's track and field/cross country. All other sports are grouped into men's and women's At-Large. The sports that CSC recognizes as eligible for at-large Academic All-American recognition included any that have a sponsored national championship by the NCAA or NAIA.

Dick Enberg Award winners

The organization presents the annual Dick Enberg Award to a "person whose actions and commitment have furthered the meaning and reach of the Academic All-America Teams Program and/or the student-athlete while promoting the values of education and academics." Tamika Catchings has been selected as the 2023 recipient.

• 2023: Tamika Catchings, Tennessee / Catch the Stars
• 2022: Patricia Melton, Yale / New Haven Promise
• 2021: Billie Jean King, Cal State LA / Tennis legend/Equality icon
• 2020: Amy Privette Perko, Wake Forest
• 2019: Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech
• 2018: Bill Walton, UCLA
• 2017: Dr. Robert Khayat, University of Mississippi
• 2016: Roger Staubach, NFL Hall of Fame
• 2015: Andre Agassi, Tennis Hall of Fame
• 2014: Ann Meyers Drysdale, UCLA
• 2013: Mike Krzyzewski, Duke
• 2012: Joe Paterno, The Pennsylvania State University
• 2011: Jackie Joyner-Kersee, UCLA
• 2010: Tom Hansen, Pacific-10 Conference
• 2009: Steve Smith, Michigan State
• 2008: Chuck Lee, Verizon
• 2007: Pat Summitt, Tennessee
• 2006: President Gerald Ford, Michigan
• 2005: Father Theodore Hesburgh, Notre Dame
• 2004: Ted Leland, Stanford
• 2003: Tom Osborne, Nebraska
• 2002: Alan Page, Notre Dame
• 2001: Donna Shalala, U. of Miami, Fla.
• 2000: Bill Russell, San Francisco
• 1999: Dean Smith, North Carolina
• 1998: John Humenik, CoSIDA
• 1997: Dick Enberg

Presidents

The following is a listing of past presidents:

• 2022-23: Jessica Poole, Chicago State/Minnesota Aurora FC
• 2021-22: Cindy Potter, Columbia College (Mo.)
• 2020-21: Sam Atkinson, Gallaudet
• 2019-20: Herb Vincent, Southeastern Conference
• 2018-19: Rob Knox, Towson
• 2017-18: Rob Carolla, College Football 150
• 2016-17: Andy Seely, Central Florida
• 2015-16: Judy Willson, Mountain West Conference
• 2014-15: Eric McDowell, Union College (N.Y.)
• 2013-14: Shelly Poe, Auburn
• 2012-13: Joe Hornstein, FIU
• 2011-12: Tom Di Camillo, Pacific West Conference & Central Arizona College
• 2010-11: Larry Dougherty, Temple
• 2009-10: Justin Doherty, Wisconsin
• 2008-09: Nick Joos, Baylor
• 2007-08: Charles Bloom, Southeastern Conference
• 2006-07: Doug Dull, Maryland
• 2005-06: Joe Hernandez, Ball State
• 2004-05: Rod Commons, Washington State
• 2003-04: Tammy Boclair, Vanderbilt
• 2002-03: Alan Cannon, Texas A&M
• 2001-02: Pete Moore, Syracuse
• 2000-01: Fred Stabley Jr., Central Michigan
• 1999-00: Max Corbet, Boise State
• 1998-99: Maxey Parrish, Baylor
• 1997-98: Pete Kowalski, Rutgers
• 1996-97: Jim Vruggink, Purdue
• 1995-96: Rick Brewer, North Carolina
• 1994-95: Hal Cowan, Oregon State
• 1993-94: Doug Vance, Kansas
• 1992-93: Ed Carpenter, Boston University
• 1991-92: George Wine, Iowa
• 1990-91: June Stewart, Vanderbilt
• 1989-90: Arnie Sgalio, Big Sky Conference
• 1988-89: Bill Little, Texas
• 1987-88: Bob Smith, Rutgers
• 1986-87: Roger Valdiserri, Notre Dame
• 1985-86: Jack Zane, Maryland
• 1984-85: Nordy Jenson, Western Athletic Conference
• 1983-84: Bill Whitmore, Rice
• 1982-83: Howie Davis, Massachusetts
• 1981-82: Nick Vista, Michigan State
• 1980-81: Langston Rogers, Delta State
• 1979-80: Dave Schulthess, Brigham Young
• 1978-79: Don Bryant, Nebraska
• 1977-78: Bob Peterson, Minnesota
• 1976-77: Bill Esposito, St. John’s
• 1975-76: Bob Bradley, Clemson
• 1974-75: Hal Bateman, Air Force
• 1973-74: Jones Ramsey, Texas
• 1972-73: Jim Mott, Wisconsin
• 1971-72: Dick Page, Massachusetts
• 1970-71: Elmore Hudgins, Southeastern Conference
• 1969-70: Harry Burrell, Iowa State
• 1968-69: Tom Miller, Indiana
• 1967-68: Bill Young, Wyoming
• 1966-67: Marvin Francis, Wake Forest
• 1965-66: Bob Culp, Western Michigan
• 1965-66: Val Pinchbeck, Syracuse
• 1964-65: Harold Keith, Oklahoma
• 1963-64: Warren Berg, Luther
• 1962-63: Bob Hartley, Mississippi State
• 1961-62: John Cox, Navy
• 1960-61: Marty Reisch, Air Force
• 1959-60: Wilbur Evans, Southwest Athletic Conference
• 1958-59: Fred Stabley Sr., Michigan State
• 1957-58: Ted Mann, Duke

Conventions

The following is a listing of past and future convention sites, including membership and attendance:

Notes

References

1. "Our Organization: What is College Sports Communicators?".
2. "Membership History".
3. (2019). "Our Organization".
4. "CoSIDA To Officially Rebrand To College Sports Communicators".
5. "Past & Future College Sports Communicators Conventions".
6. "Academic All-America".
7. "About the Academic All-America® Program".
8. Stoldt, Clayton. (2015). "College Athletics Communications".
9. "About Us".
10. Moore, Joe. (2015). "Strategic Influence and Sport Communication Leaders".
11. Whiteside, Erin. (2014). "New Media and the Changing Role of Sports Information".
12. "Our Organization: What is College Sports Communicators?". College Sports Communicators.
13. (September 1, 2022). "CoSIDA To Officially Rebrand To College Sports Communicators". College Sports Communicators.
14. Stoldt, G. Clayton. (2012). "The Impact of Social Media on College Athletics Communications".
15. Miller, Katelyn. (2016). "The Impact of Social Media on Intercollegiate Athletics".
16. "Academic All-America® At-Large Program".
17. (2019). "About the Dick Enberg Award".
18. "CSC Past Presidents". College Sports Information Directors of America.
19. "Past & Future College Sports Communicators Conventions". College Sports Information Directors of America.