PHOENIX, Arizona, May 13. SWIMMING World is proud to announce its seventh annual Sports Information Director of the Year award. Southern California's Paul Goldberg and Tennessee's Amanda Pruitt are the 2013 honorees for the distinction. The Swimming World SID of the Year is an “editor's award” chosen solely by General Manager of Media Properties Jason Marsteller, a former SID.
SIDs are the media relations professionals who can make life so much easier for media members within the sporting community. This type of public relations professional is even more necessary in sports like swimming that don't get the usual amount of media attention that football, baseball or basketball do at the national level. The great SIDs are the ones that are always finding ways to make sure that their constituents get the credit they deserve, and always work to help the media with their daily needs.
With these concepts in mind, Swimming World considered not only how well SIDs facilitated our own media requests throughout the year but also how they worked to promote their own programs in ways outside of Swimming World.
Southern California's Paul Goldberg
Vlad Morozov. The Sizzling Siberian truly pushed Paul Goldberg to new heights in promoting the USC Trojan program. While plenty of other swimmers put up some impressive performances for the USC men's and women's swimming and diving programs, Morozov tested Goldberg's ability to come up with the interesting tidbits that media members need to truly contextualize the greatness of a performance. Goldberg, however, passed with flying colors as Swimming World's inbox was filled with amazing information that truly helped the coverage of Morozov's jaw-dropping year.
Not only did Goldberg put his best foot forward in promoting his collegiate team, he also helped out when Swimming World came calling in support of the Trojan Swim Club. To be honest, a college-connected club team really isn't in the sphere of responsibility for a collegiate media relations person unless it is a currently NCAA-eligible swimmer competing in a club competition. Goldberg, however, proved to be an integral part of the process for Swimming World's cover shoot for the upcoming June issue that will feature Trojan's Jessica Hardy in an amazing cover feature. That's going the extra mile to help promote a program.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:
USC head coach Dave Salo
“Paul Goldberg is the consummate professional, committed to effectively promoting our sport through the media. He is usually ahead of the game and well versed in the dynamics of swimming and diving. It has been my great fortune for the past seven years to work with Paul.”
USC Sports Information Director Tim Tessalone
“All of us at USC are lucky to have such a valued professional as Paul Goldberg working on our staff. Since he started working at USC in the 1990s, Paul has done an outstanding job handling a number of our sports. He has taken a particularly exceptional hold on the publicity efforts for our men's and women's swimming program. He has tirelessly and creatively publicized USC's swimmers, including numerous Olympians and NCAA champions, and he has continuously kept the unparalleled tradition of the Trojan swim program in the public eye. His efforts are good not only for USC swimming, but for the sport itself. We congratulate Paul on this well-deserved honor from Swimming World and we at USC appreciate that Swimming World has recognized Paul's talent.”
Tennessee's Amanda Pruitt
Pruitt, who also serves as the primary contact for men's tennis at Tennessee, really caught our eye at the NCAA Division I Women's Championships as one of the most physically active sports information directors in the building. In a business where the bulk of work happens in front of a laptop with social media, blogging and recapping, Pruitt also served as the primary photographer for the Tennessee women's swimming and diving program.
With Tennessee pulling out some amazing relay performances, including three victories, along with a boatload of other All-American performances from the Lady Volunteers, Pruitt could be seen sprinting from the top of the stands to the deck to capture the podium celebrations with regularity. Then, sprinting all the way back up to the media seating area to be continually connected with her online constituency of Big Orange followers. Then, at the end of each night, she worked diligently with media members including Swimming World, to make sure that her swimmers conducted interviews. That's a tall order when most of them wound up being selected to do drug tests well into the night after finals.
And, that's just what Pruitt was able to accomplish at the big meet. Throughout the year, she consistently provided some of the top content available to promote a collegiate swim team on the rise.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:
Tennessee head coach Matt Kredich
“Amanda has done a remarkable job for us in being a voice for the newly combined program. She's been timely, creative and accurate and has done a great job reflecting the changes that have occurred in our team. She's cheerful, always on call and an absolutely tireless worker.”
Tennessee Assistant Athletics Director for Media Relations Jason Yellin
“Amanda is creative and innovative in her coverage of all of her teams here at the University of Tennessee. With our nationally-ranked swimming & diving programs, Amanda has taken our coverage to new heights with her video features and highlights, action photography and social media engagement. She has done a tremendous job providing in-depth coverage of our teams for our fans and supporters around the world.”
Other SIDs were named honorable mention for the award based on their strong professional work.
2013 Honorees:
SIDs of the Year: Paul Goldberg (Southern California), Amanda Pruitt (Tennessee)
Honorable Mention:
Collegiate Ranks:
Scott Ball (California), Dean Caparaz (California), Steven Colquitt (Georgia), Travis Feldhaus (Texas), Justin Kischefsky (Navy), Brad Marquardt (Texas A&M), Doug Meffley (Northwestern), Melanie Schneider (Indiana), Wes Todd (Auburn)
National Governing Body Ranks:
Ian Hepenstall (Swimming New Zealand), Karen Linhart (USA Swimming), Jennifer Lowery (USA Diving), Greg Mescall (USA Water Polo), Lachlan Searle (Swimming Australia), Nathan White (Swimming Canada)
2012 Honorees:
SID of the Year: Martin Richard (Swimming Canada)
Honorable Mention:
Collegiate Ranks:
Niall Adler (Stanford), Scott Ball (California), Jason Behenna (Seattle), Ben Blevins (Texas), Dean Caparaz (California), Steven Colquitt (Georgia), Susie Epp (Arizona), Paul Goldberg (Southern California), Justin Kischefsky (Navy), Brad Marquardt (Texas A&M), Doug Meffley (Northwestern), Jenn Mereby (Florida), Todd Mounce (Tennessee), Katharine Palmer (Virginia), Melanie Schneider (Indiana), Wes Todd (Auburn)
National Governing Body Ranks:
Jamie Fabos Olsen (USA Swimming), Ian Hepenstall (Swimming New Zealand), Karen Linhart (USA Swimming), Jennifer Lowery (USA Diving), Greg Mescall (USA Water Polo), Lachlan Searle (Swimming Australia), Matt Whewell (USA Swimming)
Click here for 2012 announcement.
2011 Honorees:
SID of the Year: Steve Colquitt (Georgia)
Honorable Mention:
Collegiate Ranks:
Niall Adler (Stanford), Jerry Emig (Ohio State), Travis Feldhaus (Texas), Paul Goldberg (Southern California), Blake Grimsley (Arizona), Justin Kischefsky (Navy), Kendra Lee (Auburn), Brad Marquardt (Texas A&M), Doug Meffley (Northwestern), Todd Mounce (Tennessee), Kyle Niblett (Florida), Katharine Palmer (Virginia), Melanie Schneider (Indiana).
National Governing Body Ranks:
Jamie Fabos Olsen (USA Swimming), Yana Ivanova (Swimming South Africa), Karen Linhart (USA Swimming), Jennifer Lowery (USA Diving), Greg Mescall (USA Water Polo), Taylor Payne (USA Synchro), Martin Richard (Swimming Canada), Lachlan Searle (Swimming Australia).
Click here for 2011 announcement.
2010 Honorees:
SIDs of the Year: Kelly Reynolds (Florida), Melanie Schneider (Indiana)
Honorable Mention:
Collegiate Ranks:
Niall Adler (Stanford), Steven Colquitt (Georgia), Jerry Emig (Ohio State), Travis Feldhaus (Texas), Paul Goldberg (Southern California), Blake Grimsley (Arizona), Justin Kischefsky (Navy), Kendra Lee (Auburn), Doug Meffley (Northwestern), Katharine Palmer (Virginia), Derek Satterfield (Purdue), Zach Stipe (Tennessee).
National Governing Body Ranks:
Jamie Fabos Olsen (USA Swimming), Erin Greene (USA Swimming), Yana Ivanova (Swimming South Africa), Karen Linhart (USA Swimming), Jennifer Lowery (USA Diving), Greg Mescall (USA Water Polo), Taylor Payne (USA Synchro), Martin Richard (Swimming Canada), Lachlan Searle (Swimming Australia).
Click here for 2010 announcement.
2009 Honorees:
SIDs of the Year: Chris Harrell, Texas A&M; Justin Kischefsky, Navy
Honorable Mention:
Collegiate Ranks:
Matt Crouch (Auburn), Travis Feldhaus (Texas), Paul Goldberg (Southern California), Brad Marquardt (Texas A&M), Doug Meffley (Northwestern), Kelly Reynolds (Florida), Derek Satterfield (Purdue), Melanie Schneider (Indiana), Zach Stipe (Tennessee), Gary Thorne (Auburn).
National Governing Body Ranks:
Jamie Fabos Olsen (USA Swimming), Erin Greene (USA Swimming), Ian Hanson (Swimming Australia), Yana Ivanova (Swimming South Africa), Karen Linhart (USA Swimming), Jennifer Lowery (USA Diving), Greg Mescall (USA Water Polo), Taylor Payne (USA Synchro), Martin Richard (Swimming Canada), Cameron Schuh (NCAA).
Click here for 2009 announcement.
2008 Honorees:
SID of the Year: Travis Feldhaus, Texas
Honorable Mention:
Collegiate Ranks:
Matt Crouch (Auburn), Paul Goldberg (Southern California), Chris Harrell (Texas A&M), Jeremiah Hergott (Michigan), Jeff Keiser (Minnesota), Justin Kischefsky (Navy), Kendra Lee (Ohio State), Chris Macaluso (Purdue), Doug Meffley (Northwestern), Jessica Raber (Washington), Casey Self (Tennessee), Jakob Skipper (William & Mary), Ryan Sosin (Michigan).
National Governing Body Ranks:
Jamie Fabos (USA Swimming), Erin Greene (USA Swimming), Ian Hanson (Swimming Australia), Yana Ivanova (Swimming South Africa), Karen Linhart (USA Swimming), Martin Richard (Swimming Canada).
Click here for 2008 announcement.
2007 Honorees:
SID of the Year: Doug Meffley, Northwestern
Honorable Mention: Travis Feldhaus (Texas), Paul Goldberg (Southern California), Chris Harrell (Texas A&M), Jeff Keiser (Minnesota), Justin Kischefsky (Navy), Kristie Le (Atlantic Coast Conference), Jakob Skipper (William & Mary).
Click here for 2007 announcement.