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College Sports Communicators

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
College Sports Communicators
AbbreviationCSC
Formation1957; 67 years ago (1957)
Staff
5 (Erik Christianson, Executive Director)
WebsiteCollegeSportsCommunicators.com

College Sports Communicators (CSC) is a membership association for all strategic, creative and digital professionals working in intercollegiate athletics across all levels for colleges, universities and conferences across the United States and Canada.[1] CSC provides year-round leadership, community, professional development, recognition and advocacy for its more than 4,100 members.[2] The organization focused primarily on sports information directors before expanding during the 2022-23 academic year.

CSC offers awards, scholarships, and grants in support of its members and prospective members in the college sports communications industry.[3]

Founded in 1957 as the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the organization rebranded in 2022.[4] CSC hosts an annual convention each June called CSC Unite.[5] It also operates the Academic All-America program and Hall of Fame.[6]

Since 1952, more than 40,000 student-athletes have been recognized with Academic All-America status in all sports (through 2022–23).[7] CSC recognizes male and female student-athletes as Academic All-Americans in Divisions I, II, and III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)—covering all NCAA championship sports—as well as student-athletes from the NAIA, NJCAA, and other Two-Year Colleges and Canadian Institutions.

History

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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.[8] As of 2023 there are over 4,100 members in the United States and Canada.[9]

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).[10] 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.[11]

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.[12][13]

CSC's research on social media

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A 2012 study, conducted by G. Clayton Stoldt of Wichita State University, surveyed 529 CoSIDA members on how social media had impacted their institutions.[14] 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.[15]

Academic All-American selections

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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.[12]

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.[16]

Dick Enberg Award winners

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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.[17]

Presidents

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The following is a listing of past presidents:[18]

  • 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

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The following is a listing of past and future convention sites, including membership and attendance:[19]

Year Site Membership Convention
2029 Orlando (June 10-13)
2028 Las Vegas (June 25-28)
2027 Orlando (June 13-16)
2026 Las Vegas (June 14-17)
2025 Orlando (June 8-11)
2024 Las Vegas (June 9-12)
2023 Orlando (June 11-14 4,123 735
2022 Las Vegas (June 26-29) 3,076 855
2021 Virtual (Orlando canceled)

due to Covid 19

2,582 1,111
2020 Virtual (Las Vegas canceled)

due to Covid 19

3,255 1,727
2019 Orlando 3,153 975
2018 Washington, D.C. 3,064 1,062
2017 Orlando 3,047 949
2016 Dallas 3,023 926
2015 Orlando 3,071 884
2014 Orlando 3,056 886
2013 Orlando 2,954 852
2012 St. Louis 2,786 859
2011 Marco Island 2,862 727
2010 San Francisco 2,497 614
2009 San Antonio 2,563 553
2008 Tampa 2,397 832
2007 San Diego 2,216 920
2006 Nashville 2,143 726
2005 Philadelphia 1,946 783
2004 Calgary 1,961 496
2003 Cleveland 1,954 780
2002 Rochester 1,888 748
2001 San Diego 1,877 1,065
2000 St. Louis 1,855 980
1999 Orlando 1,839 1,195
1998 Spokane 1,812 609
1997 New Orleans 1,825 1,060
1996 Boston 1,803 1,056
1995 Denver 1,772 903
1994 Chicago 1,804 1,030
1993 Atlanta 1,810 987
1992 Lexington 1,706 989
1991 San Francisco 1,669 915
1990 Houston 1,627 947
1989 Washington, D.C. 1,467 1,122
1988 Kansas City 1,361 855
1987 Portland 1,426 701
1986 Nashville 1,360 836
1985 Boston 1,341 904
1984 St. Louis 1,304 714
1983 San Diego 1,170 610
1982 Dallas 1,077 651
1981 Philadelphia 984 639
1980 Kansas City 944 495
1979 Chicago 593 458
1978 Atlanta 510 415
1977 Los Angeles 550 312
1976 Cincinnati 671 335
1975 Houston 623 303

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Our Organization: What is College Sports Communicators?". collegesportscommunicators.com. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  2. ^ "Membership History". collegesportscommunicators.com. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  3. ^ "Our Organization". CoSIDA. 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  4. ^ "CoSIDA To Officially Rebrand To College Sports Communicators". collegesportscommunicators.com. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  5. ^ "Past & Future College Sports Communicators Conventions". collegesportscommunicators.com. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  6. ^ "Academic All-America". Academic All-America. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  7. ^ "About the Academic All-America® Program". academicallamerica.com. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  8. ^ Stoldt, Clayton (2015). College Athletics Communications. ISBN 9781351550451. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  9. ^ "About Us". College Sports Communicators.
  10. ^ Moore, Joe (2015). Strategic Influence and Sport Communication Leaders. ISBN 9781351550451. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  11. ^ Whiteside, Erin (2014). New Media and the Changing Role of Sports Information. ISBN 9781136292125. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Our Organization: What is College Sports Communicators?". College Sports Communicators. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  13. ^ "CoSIDA To Officially Rebrand To College Sports Communicators" (Press release). College Sports Communicators. September 1, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  14. ^ Stoldt, G. Clayton (2012). "The Impact of Social Media on College Athletics Communications" (PDF). CoSIDA. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  15. ^ Miller, Katelyn (2016). "The Impact of Social Media on Intercollegiate Athletics". Rutgers University Libraries. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  16. ^ "Academic All-America® At-Large Program". collegesportscommunicators.com. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  17. ^ "About the Dick Enberg Award". 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  18. ^ "CSC Past Presidents". College Sports Information Directors of America. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  19. ^ "Past & Future College Sports Communicators Conventions". College Sports Information Directors of America. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
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