PLUS: CAREER PLANNING IN UNCERTAIN TIMES CoSIDA FAMILIES SHARE THEIR STORIES OF ADOPTION SPORT SUPERVISION PROVIDING QUALITY STUDENT-ATHLETE EXPERIENCES DURING COVID-19 ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA® PLANS FOR 2020-21 CoSIDA RENEWS WITH NACDA AND MUCH MORE! VOL. 5 ISSUE 4 FALL 2020 CoSIDA.com Staying PowerStaying Power Tami Cutler of Wichita State with her children Claire and Brett Members give the secret to overcoming obstacles and Members give the secret to overcoming obstacles and enjoying a long career in athletics communications.enjoying a long career in athletics communications. CoSIDA 360 | NOVEMBER 2020 | 1 Contents FEATURES 1423 2829 VOL. 5 ISSUE 4 FALL 2020 View past issues Communications Love 16 Sport Supervisors 21 Four CoSIDA families share their stories of adoption. Athletics communicators show versatility and value by adding sport supervision responsibilities. Never Give Up 26 Beano Cook 30 Childhood cancer survivor Aaron Gaberman is living his hopes and dreams as the Communications Coordinator at Sacred Heart. An original CoSIDA member to be featured in a memoir released this November. COVER STORY Staying Power Members give the secret to overcoming obstacles and enjoying a long career in athletics communications. 6 DEPARTMENTS NEW MEDIA 24 Providing a Quality Student-Athlete Experience Staff reductions, hiring freezes, furloughs and budgetary constraints are challenging for communications staffs from DI to DIII. ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA® 25 Academic All-America® Program Updates CoSIDA will honor all 2020-21 Academic All- America® teams in the spring. DIVISIONAL LEADERSHIP 28 2YSIDA Finding Its CoSIDA Footing Where we are and where we are going. PARTNERSHIPS 29 The Decision that Gave CoSIDA “A Seat at the Table” CoSIDA renews agreement with NACDA through 2026. EXTRAS 2 Misc 3 President’s Message 4 CoSIDA Membership Recognition Week Moves to January 5 Perspectives from Outside the Profession 32 The SID Life On the Cover Tami Cutler of Wichita State “needed to figure out a way to do it all — be a mom and have a career that I love.” Advertising opportunities with CoSIDA: Print and digital advertising opportunities are available by contacting CoSIDA Executive Director Doug Vance at or (785) 691-7708. More information on becoming a corporate partner or convention exhibitor, or advertising on a CoSIDA platform can be found at Join the CoSIDA Slack Community! Go Keep CoSIDA strong in 2020-21! As on November 1, late fees kick in for CoSIDA dues but it’s never too late to renew or purchase a membership. Go to for all the details or reach out to a CoSIDA staff member for help. For SIDs: Professional Career Coaching for the W.I.N. Between positions? Need a career boost? Need to re-examine your professional branding? This year, CoSIDA is collaborating with former collegiate administrator Trip Durham for professional development coaching to examine your skills, set goals for achieving the next steps in your career, hold mock interviews, and so much more. For a $100 one-time investment you’ll receive: 1) An initial meeting, 2) Resumé evaluation + two revisions, and 3) Three additional hours of support. Learn more at CoSIDA Career Center Freelance Database and Peer Resumé Review Two new offerings have recently been added to CoSIDA.com under the Careers tab. Any qualified members, non-members, current or former SIDs, or others are welcome to request to be added to our Freelance Database. Also available are “Help Needed” posts for those in search of freelance help. The complimentary Help Needed posts are reserved for current dues-paying CoSIDA members. Many job seekers have already taken advantage of the new Peer Resumé Review provided by the CoSIDA Job Seekers Committee. Said one early user of the new service: “I really enjoyed it. It was definitely a positive experience, and the feedback she had for me was geared toward what employers want to see and how I can modify my resumé to fit that. We did the review over Zoom so it was really smooth. Would highly recommend to anyone!” CoSIDA Staff Executive Director Doug Vance (785) 691-7708 Associate Executive Director Will Roleson (317) 490-2905 Director of Professional Development and External Affairs Barb Kowal (512) 739-1234 Director of Membership Engagement Laurie Bollig (913) 707-0365 Director of Creative Services Beau White (913) 223-0594 Intern Danielle Potts (270) 227-7026 About CoSIDA 360 CoSIDA 360 is a quarterly publication of the College Sports Information Directors of America. Publication dates each year are in February, May, August and November. Any submissions, questions or comments can be directed to Beau White by emailing CoSIDA 360 is printed by of Lexington, Ky. Special thanks to Jai Giffin. CoSIDA 360 Credits CoSIDA Director of Creative Services Beau White serves as editor and designer of CoSIDA 360. Additional assistance provided by the CoSIDA staff. Contributing writers for this issue include Roy Allen, Sam Atkinson, Mitch Blankespoor, Laurie Bollig, Rob Carolla, Dan Colleran, Jennifer Cross, Alex Falk, Bill Hamilton, Allison Hogue, Barb Kowal, John Lukacs, Danielle Potts, Will Roleson, Doug Vance, and Beau White. Photos provided by Jeff Hodges unless otherwise noted.President’s Message CoSIDA 360 | NOVEMBER 2020 | 3 Sam Atkinson | Gallaudet University, Associate Athletic Director for Communications | CoSIDA President 2020-21 | Life’s a marathon, not a sprint It’s a good practice to pause from the hustle and bustle of our day-to-day lives to remember that adage. Too many times working in the athletics communications field it seems like we are in a sprint. The end doesn’t seem to be in sight, deadlines and requests mount and the games go on whether we’re ready or not. While this has not been a typical fall or typical times, our focus remains the same. We’ve always been trained to promote our institutions, conferences, divisions, athletic departments, staffs and most importantly our student-athletes. While the core focus hasn’t shifted, the way we execute our jobs has. Many of us have had to switch gears and perform our duties remotely and juggle other personal responsibilities while at home. For some, we’ve been asked to take a furlough to help save the bottom line at an institution or conference office. Unfortunately, some of our members have been laid off or had their position cut during this COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a tough reality that’s impacting many different people in all types of professions across the country. Working through a pandemic is new to all of us. The pitfalls we’re navigating and dealing with are overwhelming at times, but we continue to plug away through our own life marathon. The same can be applied to CoSIDA as an organization. We stand with each and every one of you during these trying times. Our focus remains Advocate, Connect, Educate, Honor and Support our members. This year, more than ever, the “advocate” part has been leading the charge as we continue to champion the athletic communications profession, educate leaders about the value we bring to athletic departments and be there for our members. Here are some things CoSIDA, its executive board, staff and committees has been actively doing on your behalf: Executive Director Doug Vance penned a letter to every athletic director and conference commissioner who is a member of NACDA; there have been phone calls, emails and virtual conversations to allies and collegiate leaders to advocate and educate for the profession and dialogue with colleagues and members who are going through difficult times. That, along with the countless hours of servant leadership being done by our committees that directly impact our members and profession continues to be our focus, and will be our focus through these trying times. In this issue of CoSIDA 360, we learn the tricks and tips of several veteran CoSIDA members who have lasted a long time in the profession. CoSIDA Director of Creative Services Beau White dives into our cover story “Staying Power” as we learn how these members continue their life marathon in the athletic communications field and how to avoid being stuck in the sprint and getting burned out. One way some of our members have continued to thrive in the athletic communications field has been getting promoted and taking on more responsibilities. A select few CoSIDA members they have taken on senior athletic leadership roles and been tasked with sport supervision. CoSIDA Director of Membership Engagement Laurie Bollig highlights several of our members with that added role as it demonstrates the versatility and value sports information directors bring to an athletic department and how these responsibilities prepare them for future leadership roles in collegiate athletics like becoming an athletic director. As I mentioned, the pandemic has forced us all to do things differently and CoSIDA’s New Media Committee members Alex Falk (Manhattanville) and Dan Colleran (Notre Dame) compare their experience doing similar jobs during the pandemic at a Division III and a Division I institution. November is National Adoption Month and CoSIDA Past President Rob Carolla profiles four CoSIDA members who have adopted children and how that fits in with their life and career. As we head into the holiday season, let’s all pause a moment from the hustle and bustle and be thankful for the things we have and the people that are a part of our lives. Rest assured that CoSIDA is thankful for you, our members, and we will continue to work relentlessly on your behalf. I wish you all a happy, healthy and safe holiday season this year. 4 | Membership Recognition Week will move to January this year as CoSIDA celebrates the fifth anniversary of the special week honoring and advocating for athletics communications professionals. The event will be Wednesday through Tuesday, January 20-26. The event has traditionally been held in November but has been moved this year in order to occur when there will be more games, events and media coverage of collegiate athletics which will provide more opportunities for sports information staff members to be recognized. “CoSIDA is composed of individuals that diligently work to showcase the outstanding student-athletes, coaches and institutions that are at the heart and soul of college athletics,” said Amy Yakola, deputy commissioner and chief of external affairs at the Atlantic Coast Conference and chair of CoSIDA’s Membership Recognition Committee. “Adapting to change is a quality that CoSIDA members know well, and celebrating CoSIDA Membership Recognition week in January provides us with another reason to look forward to positive things ahead.” The weeklong celebration is meant to show appreciation for athletics communication and sports information directors, to highlight their efforts and accomplishments; and to bring CoSIDA Membership Recognition Week Moves to January Fifth anniversary will celebrate SIDs January 20-26. positive recognition to them and to their work in promoting student-athletes and their institutions and conferences. “We are excited to celebrate the fifth anniversary of CoSIDA Membership Recognition Week and do so at a different time of the year. We understand the many different hardships our members have gone through or are going through at this moment,” said Sam Atkinson, 2020-21 CoSIDA President and associate athletic director for communications at Gallaudet University. “The shift in dates will hopefully provide a boost to our members in January as we begin the second half of the school year.” This year’s celebration will feature stories of CoSIDA members; outreach to athletic departments, campus communications offices, conferences offices, related professional organizations and student-athletes; national media mentions; and a social media blitz again centered on the hashtag #ThankYourSID. It’s CoSIDA’s hope that those who benefit from the work of SIDs — including athletics directors, coaches, student-athletes, campus communications staff and media — will take a moment to honor them during CoSIDA Membership Recognition Week. More details are available by Will Roleson | CoSIDA Associate Executive Director | CoSIDA 360 | NOVEMBER 2020 | 5 There are several important facets of career planning that will help you focus your energy appropriately and feel a greater level of job satisfaction. Here are four key areas and questions for personal reflection and planning. 1. JOB vs. CAREER These are not the same thing. A job is a place you go to work and perform duties in exchange for compensation that provides for you and your family’s needs. A job can be short- or long-term, hourly or salaried. People in “jobs” rarely take them home – either through working after-hours, or by thinking about the job outside of work. Successive jobs may or may not interrelate. A career typically stems from passion, interest or deep commitment to a professional field. It involves the creation and achievement of professional goals and can span multiple jobs – each building in scope, responsibility and authority. In addition to financial compensation, feelings of satisfaction, contribution, loyalty and responsibility to the organization and profession are common. Both jobs and careers provide you with experience, personal and professional learning opportunities, and of course, compensation. While neither is better than the other – it’s important to have clarity about which lens you have about your work. Ask: Is my current position a job or is it a step on my career journey? How attached am I to my profession and organization? Do I know what – if anything – is next? Is this the career for me? 2. KNOW YOUR GOALS What are your professional goals for the next two, five or 10 years? Goals need to be flexible (think the unexpected disruption from COVID-19) but targeted enough to provide you with a blueprint for what you are working toward. It is easy to get caught in a state of drift: you wake up one day and find you’ve been performing a job for years with no plan and diminished satisfaction at work. Goals should be realistic and achievable. For example, if your goal is to climb the ladder of responsibility/authority but you work in a small department with no prospect of upward mobility, you may have to relocate – changing your job, institution, geography or career path - to achieve that goal. Are you willing to do that? Your goals should be yours, not someone else’s or perceived societal expectations and benchmarks. Never set goals relative to someone else’s career path, industry ascent or salary. Remember, comparison is the thief of all joy. Ask: What are my professional goals? What are my personal goals? Do they complement each other or are they misaligned? Career Planning in Uncertain Times 3. STAY CURIOUS Life likes to throw curveballs. One of the best ways to succeed and hit the pitches that can buckle your knees is to stay curious and keep learning about new things both within and tangential to your industry Education can be formal with credentials and advanced degrees, but there has never been a better time to be a life-long learner. Many new skills are only a workshop, webinar or free YouTube video (and a little practice) away. Ask: What could I learn in the next month, six months or year that would significantly increase my value to my workplace and enhance my career prospects? By what deadline will I begin? 4. DO YOUR HOMEWORK When you decide to make a professional move, know what you are getting into, as the grass isn’t always greener. Leverage your networks to find out about your prospective new role, the institution and your future colleagues. What is their budget situation? How stable is institutional enrollment, student retention, government support and endowment health? Use the data from the recent CoSIDA Compensation and Career Satisfaction Survey to research compensation and benefits relative to geography, work responsibilities etc. so data can inform your position negotiations. Ask: What are some things I dislike about my current job and how do I learn about those things relative to a new opportunity? Am I running toward an opportunity because it fits my goals and excites me…or am I running from my current situation? We are in uncertain times and there is no single way to chart your path. While the job market is tight right now, people will remember how you adapted, supported others and contributed your expertise during this challenging time long after the pandemic ends. Your future career always depends on your performance and attitude today. Be sure to show up each day with a posture of professionalism. Stay flexible, be intentional, be positive and open to the unexpected possibilities that life - and your career -have to offer. Athlete Viewpoint specializes in survey research and analysis for intercollegiate athletics. The Athlete Viewpoint student-athlete survey, daily COVID symptom screening tool, the AV Alert! any time reporting tool, and senior exit survey platforms provide departments with comprehensive information and timely data. Athlete Viewpoint partnered with CoSIDA on the 2020 CoSIDA Salary Survey. Learn more about Jennifer Cross or Athlete Viewpoint at Perspectives from Outside the Profession by Jennifer Cross | Athlete Viewpoint, Co-Founder | 6 | Staying Power Members give the secret to overcoming your obstacles and enjoying a long career in athletics communications. to move on because, most of the time, we think they had to make the difficult decision of choosing between doing what they love (being an SID), and having a life, and it doesn’t seem fair. We should be able to have both. For the eight people who responded to this story, they’ve been able to figure out how to have both. And, wouldn’t you know it, most of them have had all the same thoughts Passion. Relationships. Doing what you love. If you were trying to sum up as succinctly as possible what keeps people in the college athletics communications business, those six words mostly say it all. If only it were that simple. We know that each year our business loses great people. We hate it when good people choose that those who left had. They understand mom and dad guilt. They feel you on the long hours and unfair pay. They know what it’s like to see others getting that promotion and wonder if there is something wrong with them. They’ve dealt with health issues, self-doubt and other personal problems. And they stayed with their career passion. You can do it too. by Beau White | CoSIDA Director of Creative Services | “I needed to figure out a way to do it all — be a mom and have a career that I love.” Tami Cutler Staying PowerStaying Power Members give the secret to overcoming obstacles and Members give the secret to overcoming obstacles and enjoying a long career in athletics communications.enjoying a long career in athletics communications.CoSIDA 360 | NOVEMBER 2020 | 7 When you were in college or just getting started, what were your career goals? Have your goals changed as your career has progressed? Cutler: When I started college, I wanted to be a sports television anchor. After working in the sports information office for a year, I changed goals to being an SID. As time has gone on, those goals have changed to leading a sports information department, to leading a whole external department and wherever else that takes me. Meier: When I was on a recruiting visit at SCSU, I met with the athletic media relations director — now-retired Anne Abicht (a CoSIDA Hall of Famer) — and knew from then on working in sports information at the collegiate level was exactly what I wanted to do as a career. My goals haven’t necessarily changed since that visit. Worley: In college, I was stringing for a lot of newspapers in the area, covering high school basketball. I loved that and that was my goal. However, as the only female sports writer in the area, I had to put up with some inappropriate behavior in the postgame locker rooms, coaches and from my sports writing colleagues. I have a high tolerance for bull**** and am very proficient at putting people straight either with humor or, if necessary, a straightforward assessment of their behavior. But it’s tiresome. I was offered a full-time job at the Hammond Times after I had worked two years in sports information and that made me realize I loved sports information. For my personality, it was a more natural fit to be the promoter of good news and positive portrayals rather than being adversarial as a sports writer/columnist. Zukerman: My long-term goal was always working in the sports world. I had a strong interest in professional sports and the related statistics but never really knew what I wanted to do for a career until my senior year of college. I answered a classified ad in the student paper seeking a statistician for the varsity hockey team and that led to my discovery of the varsity sports world on campus. I also had an affinity for listening to sports radio and reading What was your first year working in sports information and what year did you get your first full-time job? Tami Cutler – Wichita State University Associate AD/Strategic Communications My first year working in sports info was 1996 as a freshman in college. I worked for four years as an undergrad at Doane College (now University) in the sports info office and then for two years as a grad assistant at Wichita State before earning a full-time job at Wichita State in 2002. Sarah Meier – University of Colorado Colorado Springs Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator I began as a volunteer student worker with the St. Cloud State University Athletic Media Relations Department in 2000 following my senior season with the women’s basketball program, which then led to a two-year graduate assistantship with the Huskies. My first full-time job was at Fort Lewis College (Durango, Colo.) in August 2002. Nancy Worley – University of Louisville Associate Sports Information Director My first year of working in sports information was an internship in my senior year at Valparaiso. Valpo then hired me after graduation to be the SID and basketball recruiting secretary for the low, low price of $8,000 per year. That is not a typo. Earl Zukerman – McGill University Communications Officer, Athletics and Recreation I started working in the sports info office in 1979, during my senior year of an arts degree at McGill, and never left. I somehow managed to hang in as an intern, initially for eight years as a casual employee, through a series of nine-month contracts. I supplemented my income by working as a waiter in a restaurant and doing some freelance writing and reporting. In 1987, I was finally elevated to the SID level, although was still classified as a casual until a full-time appointment in 1991. Somehow, I managed to survive a lot of hurdles and am now entering my 42nd year at the McGill sports info office. Chad Jenkins – MidAmerica Nazarene University Sports Information Director I started in 2005 as an assistant SID at my alma mater (Bethel-Indiana) while also working as an assistant baseball coach. The head women’s soccer coach was the main SID and covered his own sport in the fall while I did the other sports. Then when soccer was done, he took over everything except baseball. This was when athletics websites were in their infancy, so I was learning as the tech was growing. In 2007, my college baseball teammate/ roommate/fellow assistant coach got the head coaching job at MNU, and he wanted an assistant. The university was also wanting to hire its first full-time SID, and my position at Bethel had recently been eliminated, so my wife and 6-week old first child moved from Indiana to Kansas 13 years ago. Jenny Elder – Georgetown College Sports Information Director I was hired as full-time SID at Georgetown College (located in Georgetown, Kentucky) in February of 2010 after spending eight years in the newspaper business mostly as a sports writer, editor and photographer. Kara Fisher – Michigan State University Athletic Communications – Assistant Director My intern season was the 1997-98 school year at the University of Florida, covering women’s soccer and ANYTHING else that came my way! An internship that paid overtime…WHAT? For my first full-time job, I stayed in the SEC and worked at the University of South Carolina from 1998-2001, doing men’s and women’s soccer and softball. E.J. Borghetti – University of Pittsburgh Executive Associate Athletic Director, Media Relations I first stepped into a sports information office at the start of my junior year at Pittsburgh. Incredibly, that was the fall of 1990. I absolutely loved it from the start. Upon graduation in 1992, I worked as an intern at Columbia University for two years before ultimately gaining my first full-time appointment at Carnegie Mellon in 1995.Next >