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. CSC provides year-round leadership, community, professional development, recognition and advocacy for its more than 4,100 members. 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.
Founded in 1957 as the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the organization rebranded in 2022. CSC hosts an annual convention each June called CSC Unite. It also operates the Academic All-America program and Hall of Fame.
Since 1952, more than 40,000 student-athletes have been recognized with Academic All-America status in all sports (through 2022–23). 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 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:
Year Site Membership Convention2029Orlando (June 10-13)2028Las Vegas (June 25-28)2027Orlando (June 13-16)2026Las Vegas (June 14-17)2025Orlando (June 8-11)2024Las Vegas (June 9-12)2023Orlando (June 11-144,123735 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 National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
Notes
External links College Sports Communicators (CSC) official website