Advertise on podcast: College Sports Communicators

For Symone Wright-Flowers, Director of Graphic Design and Creative Content at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, the work is about more than creating content. It’s about preserving memories student-athletes can carry with them long after their playing days. Hear Symone’s story in Episode 2 of the BCSC Podcast. Hosted by Sedric Granger of Wilmington College (OH).

College sports communicators work across a wide range of institutions, but share a common commitment to storytelling, service, and the student-athlete experience. Join representatives from different divisions of the college sports landscape for an inside look at the skills, experiences, and opportunities that shape the profession. Join us to hear from: Erin Locascio - SUNY Cortland, Creative Content CoordinatorShelby Scott - Allan Hancock College, Assistant Athletic Director/Sports Information DirectorJohn Stark - Syracuse, Assistant Director of Athletic CommunicationsSam Viebrock (Moderator) - Clayton State, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications

In this episode of CSC Voices, Beyond the Scoreboard, host Trip Durham converses with Division II athletic directors Kim Pate of the University of Indianapolis and Drew Howard of Florida Southern College about career growth, leadership, institutional branding and the value of athletics communicators. Both leaders reflect on their individual paths—Pate transitioning from student-athlete and coach to administration, and Howard navigating compliance and other administrative roles—before finding long-term fulfillment in Division II's balanced academic-athletic model. They detail how committee service on the NCAA Division II Management Council deepens institutional perspective and helps refine division-wide policies. Additionally, Pate and Howard emphasize the necessity of human-interest storytelling and intentional branding to stand out in competitive sports markets, urging athletic directors to empower sports information staff as vital strategic partners. Division II Alignment: Both athletic directors champion Division II's philosophy of balancing rigorous competition with student-athlete personal growth.Diverse Career Trajectories: Pate's career grew out of coaching and a non-traditional student-athlete experience, while Howard advanced through compliance and multiple administrative roles.Human-Centric Storytelling: Standing out in crowded media markets requires highlighting individual student-athlete stories over scoreboard results.Empowering Media Teams: Athletic directors must actively cultivate creative freedom and empower athletics communications staff as key brand stewards and strategic partners.Brand Guardianship and Culture: Communicators serve as primary culture bearers and brand caretakers, shaping public perception and institutional values before fans or recruits ever arrive on campus.Technical Expertise and Creative Autonomy: Because senior administrators often lack hands-on media skills, leadership must place trust in communicators to voice bold ideas, manage modern digital platforms, and execute without holding back.

CSC Voices: Why We Belong is provided by the CSC Inclusion Committee 10 years of the CSC Inclusion Committee Host Bridget Nash talks with Jessica Poole, former CSC president (2022–23) and founding chair of the committee, and Scottie Rodgers, vice president of communications for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and former chair, about the 10th anniversary of CSC’s Inclusion Committee.  They describe the “day zero” conversations that led to forming the first diversity and inclusion committee among NACDA affiliates, initially focused on Black representation, allyship, and candid problem-solving with a direct line to the board.  Key milestones include the 2020 racial and social justice initiative, updates to the committee’s mission/value statements, recognition from the Knight Commission, and the launch of the Inclusion Fellowship (now completing six years and entering year seven), plus Member Resource Communities introduced last year.  They emphasize lifelong learning, championing others, and creating spaces where members feel seen, heard, and valued. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:27 Meet Jessica Poole 01:47 Meet Scottie Rodgers 03:20 Day Zero Origins 08:35 Early Vision and Challenges 13:12 2020 Turning Point 17:19 Partnerships and Fellowship Launch 20:40 Leadership Lessons Learned 28:53 Leading Through Pushback 31:44 Inclusion Fellowship Deep Dive 37:50 Future Hopes and Closing

Hear Maurice Williams, Deputy Athletics Director for External Affairs, discuss his career journey, his role & the evolution of his responsibilities at North Carolina Central in the inaugural episode of The BCSC Podcast. About BCSC Black College Sports Communicators (BCSC) creates a space targeting Black communicators and creatives at colleges & universities, conference offices and associations & organizations at all levels and communicators and creatives at historically Black colleges & universities, conference offices and associations & organizations to fellowship, further their professional goals and cultivate ways to raise the profile and standards of the athletics communications profession in and around college athletics. Learn more at https://www.collegesportscommunicators.com/BCSC

CSC Voices, Beyond the Scoreboard host: Trip Durham, 2D Consulting, LLC Guest:  • Matt Panto – 2026-27 CSC President Ivy League, Associate Executive Director, Strategic Communications & External Relations College Sports Communicators 2026-27 President Matt Panto shares insights on his career journey, leadership philosophy, and strategic vision for the organization. After entering athletic administration through an internship at Lafayette College, Panto has built a 13-year tenure at the Ivy League conference office, where he serves as Associate Executive Director. Accidental Career Entry: Panto discovered his passion for sports administration during a college marketing project, turning an internship at Lafayette College into a long-term career.Instinctive Storytelling: He champions continuous evolution over static routines, advising media teams to let authentic moments and gut instincts dictate content creation.Unifying Creatives and Communicators: Panto stresses breaking down silos between content creators and traditional public relations staff, noting that both roles serve as key storytellers and brand stewards.CSC Leadership Vision: As CSC President, he promotes a "we get to do this" mindset, aiming to highlight member accomplishments while proactively addressing industry challenges like standardized athlete eligibility reporting.Panto also emphasizes that industry challenges remain solvable through active collaboration, continuous learning, and maintaining perspective on the privilege of working in college athletics.

CSC Voices: Why We Belong is provided by the CSC Inclusion Committee Autism Acceptance, Belonging and Thriving Bridget Nash interviews Allison Hogue, assistant director of athletic communications at Alfred University, about belonging, autism awareness, and her path in college sports communications. Hogue shares being diagnosed with autism around age four, attending special education and a school for learning differences, and initially feeling uncomfortable disclosing her autism. In 2020, she connected with AJ O’Hagan, began openly sharing her journey, and became co-captain of Team Autism Awareness and Acceptance for the College Sports Communicators Fitness Challenge; the group later hosted an autism awareness panel at the Orlando convention and formed a committee that includes people with various learning differences and allies. Hogue discusses mentorship at Liberty University, her pride in covering Sacred Heart women’s basketball’s NCAA tournament run, advocating for accommodations, and supporting student-athlete mental health resources. She closes by encouraging listeners to be themselves, pursue goals despite disability, and not let others’ opinions define their journey. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions  00:31 Allison’s Journey Across States  01:10 Defining Belonging Through Autism  03:16 Finding Community in CSC  05:08 Creating Belonging for Athletes  07:03 Mentors Who Shaped Her Career  10:05 Writing Passion and WNBA Dreams  10:58 Advocacy and Mental Health Support  13:34 Accommodations and Workplace Success  14:46 Career Highlight March Madness Ring  16:39 Final Advice You Belong  19:45 Closing Thanks and Next Episodes

CSC Voices: Why We Belong is provided by the CSC Inclusion Committee Belonging, Representation, and Building Pride Host Dawnisha Franklin interviews Pearllan Cipriano, sports information director at Bard College, about her path into athletic communications, her understanding of belonging, and her advocacy work. Pearl describes belonging professionally as trust and confidence from administrators and coaches, and personally as feeling supported and able to be her authentic self as an Asian, bisexual, international woman. She discusses challenges in a male-dominated field, being misjudged for looking young, and the added pressure of H-1B sponsorship requirements. Pearl shares that Bard’s support, LGBTQ+ colleagues, and chosen family helped her feel at home, and explains how research, CSC connections, and grants helped her navigate barriers. She highlights inclusive storytelling, heritage-month features, theme games, and campus collaborations, and co-founding CSC Pride in 2024 to create a safe space, education, and resources. Her message: don’t shrink yourself to belong.   00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:16 Pearl Career Journey 01:20 Defining Belonging 01:31 Identity and Barriers 03:42 Finding Belonging Moments 05:02 Navigating Sponsorship and Bias 06:47 Supporting Student Identity Groups 08:26 Mentors and Leadership Style 10:11 Launching CSC Pride 12:34 Campus Impact and Inclusion Wins 14:47 Proudest Moments in the Work 16:04 Events That Build Belonging 17:55 Resources to Add Next 18:41 Final Advice and Closing

CSC Voices, Beyond the Scoreboard host: Trip Durham, 2D Consulting, LLC Guests:  • Greg Seitz – Jacksonville State University, Vice President for Athletics • DeWayne Peevy – DePaul University, Senior Vice President & Director of Athletics Recap: This episode examines how backgrounds in sports communications inform effective athletic leadership. Greg Seitz and DeWayne Peevy discuss their respective career paths, emphasizing that skills like clarity, timing, and audience understanding are essential for modern athletic directors. They share strategies for navigating major organizational shifts, such as Jacksonville State’s transition to the FBS level and DePaul’s positioning within the crowded Chicago sports market. Ultimately, the conversation highlights how strategic communication drives institutional alignment, revenue growth, and brand identity. Highlights: Seitz attributes his 33-year tenure at Jacksonville State to a deep sense of purpose and a strong connection to the local community.Peevy explains how DePaul embraces its identity as "Chicago’s team" by partnering with professional franchises to differentiate its brand.Both leaders agree that their communications background allows them to lead with empathy for staff while maintaining high standards for messaging.Jacksonville State’s move to FBS required transparent communication to manage expectations and build trust among donors and fans.The guests advise aspiring leaders to master their current craft while proactively learning about budgeting, compliance, and revenue generation.

CSC Voices: Why We Belong is provided by the CSC Inclusion Committee Balancing College Athletics Careers and Parenting: Support Systems, Schedules, and Being Present Kendrell Watkins hosts the CSC Voices “We Belong” podcast with inclusion committee members Hamilton Cook (MAAC associate commissioner, vice chair) and Drew Dickerson (Atlantic 10 assistant commissioner) to discuss managing family life while working in college athletics. They describe starting their careers with young children, relying on strong support systems (spouses, parents, extended family, neighbors, and colleagues), and adapting to long hours, travel, and constant communication demands. Key challenges include scheduling as children grow older and staying intentional about attending important moments, using technology like FaceTime when travel prevents being there. They share memories of involving kids in the job through Bring Your Child to Workday and tournament help. Their advice to young professionals emphasizes setting boundaries, valuing time with family, communicating, leaning on staff, and remembering most tasks can wait. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:31 Becoming a Dad in Athletics 01:51 Hamilton Early Parenthood 03:01 Drew Starting with Kids 04:05 Kendrell New Dad Reality 05:29 Managing Work Family Demands 09:09 Building a Support Village 13:42 Hardest Part Scheduling 18:51 Missing Moments Staying Present 22:29 Favorite Family Memories at Work 26:47 Does It Get Easier 29:01 Advice for Young Professionals 34:21 Closing Thanks and Wrap Up

CSC Voices, Beyond the Scoreboard host: Trip Durham, 2D Consulting, LLC Guests: Zach Greenwell – LSU The Brand, Deputy AD / Chief Strategy OfficerSarah Ramundt – LSU The Brand, Executive Director of Creative ContentThis episode explores the strategic unification of LSU’s external athletic units under a single initiative known as "The Brand". Zach Greenwell explains that the project was born from a desire to eliminate professional silos, physically moving diverse teams—including communications, video, and social media—into a shared workspace within Tiger Stadium. Sarah Ramundt discusses her transition to LSU and the philosophy behind her creative process, which focuses on providing deep context to student-athlete stories through video. A central theme of the conversation is the rapid evolution of college athletics due to NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness), requiring administrators to balance new revenue-driven content with the traditional roles of storytelling and historical preservation. Ultimately, the speakers emphasize that while the medium of communication is changing, the core mission of elevating the institution's identity remains constant. Highlights: Unified Vision: "The Brand" was created to unify external departments, moving staff from different buildings into a renovated space in Tiger Stadium to foster collaboration.Creative Inspiration: Sarah Ramundt sources content ideas from personal curiosity and the need to explain complex athletic concepts to a general audience.The Power of Video: Ramundt describes video as a medium that provides the "context" and "space" around a moment that still photography cannot capture.NIL Integration: NIL has become a dominant factor in daily operations, influencing how content is created, shared, and used in the recruitment process.Preserving the SID Role: Greenwell maintains that despite technological shifts, the core values of Sports Information Directors—acting as historians and storytellers—are more vital than ever.

CSC Voices: Why We Belong is provided by the CSC Inclusion Committee Host Dawnisha Franklin interviews Jalen Brandy, an athletic communications assistant at Buffalo State University, about belonging in college sports communications. Jalen defines belonging as feeling meant to be in an industry, discusses personal buy-in to the long, unorthodox sports schedule, and explains professionally adapting to different teams and keeping creativity alive. He shares challenges shifting from a public relations agency mindset and fan perspective to a broader, stakeholder-focused approach. Jalen describes how being a person of color in predominantly white spaces shaped his ability to navigate discomfort and make his voice respected, motivating his move from corporate PR to the college sports world. He highlights Buffalo State’s diverse culture, ways he signals representation through social media and writing, hopes to create a support group for athletes of color, values relationships with student-athletes, and advises listeners to trust their gut when making career changes.   00:00 Meet Jalen Brandy 00:44 What Belonging Means 01:59 Personal vs Professional Fit 04:45 Early Challenges Adjusting 08:15 Identity Shaping Career 11:43 Building Campus Engagement 13:35 Leading By Example 15:05 Visibility Through Culture 17:13 DEI Culture And Traditions 20:53 Support Group Vision 23:10 Proud Moments With Athletes 26:31 Trust Your Gut Advice 28:14 Closing Thanks And Wrap

Session 3 Creative content is a major part of modern athletic communications – but it doesn’t have to take hours to produce. This session will explore how sports communicators can use tools like Canva and Adobe to build consistent branding while also saving time. Learn tips for creating reusable templates, maintaining a cohesive visual identity, and producing eye-catching graphics quickly for social media, game day, and recruiting. Whether you’re new to design or looking to streamline your workflow, this session will help you expand your creative toolkit. Panel:  Ashley Robbins (Moderator) – UMass Lowell, Associate Athletic Director for Communications & Creative ContentMaggie Balderstone – Bryn Mawr College, Assistant Director of Athletic CommunicationsPatrick Murphy – Colorado School of Mines, Athletics Communications CoordinatorPeyton Thibault – Trinity University, Assistant AD for Multimedia

Session 2 Join fellow sports communicators for an open roundtable conversation about the parts of the profession that make the long hours worthwhile. From memorable game-day moments to the relationships built with student-athletes and coaches, this session will allow participants to share stories, reflect on what keeps them passionate about the work, and connect with colleagues across the profession. Whether you're early in your career or a veteran, the goal is simple: celebrate the rewarding moments that remind us why we do what we do. Panel:  Sammi Wellman (Moderator) – Riverside City College, Director of Sports InformationSophia Anderson – Oberlin College, Assistant Director of Athletics CommunicationsJordyn Rochon – UMass Lowell, Director of Communications & Creative ContentMike Williams – Illinois State, Associate Athletic Director for Communications

Session 1 When everything feels urgent, how do you decide what actually comes first? This session will focus on practical time management strategies for sports communicators – planning ahead for busy competition days, communicating priorities with coaches and administrators, and preparing for weeks where multiple events demand your attention. We’ll also discuss how to ask for help when you need it, from leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT for a starting point on projects to tapping into colleagues, campus creatives, and the CSC freelance network for support. Walk away with strategies to stay organized, reduce stress, and get through your busiest days with confidence. Panel:  Sedric Granger (Moderator) – University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Assistant Sports Information CoordinatorMadeline Cummings – Sewanee, Director of Athletic CommunicationsMatt Haufe – Marquette University, Assistant Director of CommunicationsClayton Messerle – Corban University, Director of Athletic CommunicationsIsaac Ray – Eastern Kentucky University, Director of Athletics Communications