2019 Special Awards Salute: Darrell Orand (Coastal Carolina)

April 2, 2019

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College Sports Information Directors of America

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2019 Special Awards Salute: Darrell Orand (Coastal Carolina), CoSIDA 25-Year Award

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Darrell Orand – Coastal Carolina University, Assistant Director of Media Relations
2019 CoSIDA 25-Year Award recipient

by Chevonne Mansfield. LEAD1 Association Communications Director

After nearly three decades in college athletics, Coastal Carolina assistant media relations director Darrell Orand has distinguished himself as an able and versatile administrator.

Orand will receive a 2019 CoSIDA 25-Year Award at the association’s annual convention taking place this June at the Orlando World Center Marriott.

Along the way during his 25-plus years in the business, Darrell had wide-ranging experiences from assisting in the creation of a new insurance policy for student-athletes to serving as the director of a university risk management program, to overseeing sponsorships, fund raising, marketing, promotions, event and game-day management.

“Following my first year at Dakota Wesleyan University, I reorganized the athletics department to include the role of Assistant Athletics Director-External Relations and hired Darrell in that position,” said Dr. Scott Gines, current Athletics Director at Delaware State University. “Darrell’s role during this time period included all elements of media relations and home events, and we enjoyed a great ride together.”

“Darrell camped out on press row as our coaching staff and women’s basketball team wrote history and advanced to the final days of three consecutive NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championships.” Gines elaborated. “While we do not always get to sit under the same tree that we help plant, I consider our time together at DWU a special blessing.”

At this year’s 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball first and second rounds held (in Columbia, S.C.).

Orand has mentored aspiring athletics communications professionals and has been active in CoSIDA during his time in the profession. He has served CoSIDA being a part of numerous committees, including the Academic All-America, Convention Programming and Investment Committees. Darrell has also volunteered at community services initiatives through the Goodwill & Wellness Committee.

“It all comes back to the people, and I hope to continue this opportunity and to continue to meet and make new friends for the next several years and to see what lies ahead," Orand said.

Jasher Cox, Assistant Athletics Director at Tuskegee University, started his career in college athletics under Orand at Alabama State University.

“Darrell is arguably the biggest influence in terms of me having a career to this day in athletics because he took a chance on someone to work in athletics communications who had not done so previously,” Cox said.

You could say that Darrell pays it forward, just as others did for him years ago.

In 1992, Orand gave up a career as a sports reporter and producer to work at Austin Peay State University. He spent time at WSMV TV, the NBC affiliate in Nashville, Tennessee, where he got his first taste of the sports industry.

“Darrell came out of college and started as an intern,” stated Rudy Kalis, former sports director at WSMV TV. “We had a sports reporter/producer position that we could offer to someone. He was there and doing good work, so we offered it to him.”

“Darrell was so much fun to be around because he was a tough, kind of a country kid,” Kalis added. He loved sports and was willing to do anything. He had a lot of integrity and stick-to-itiveness and still does that I really respect.”

“He’s as honest as the day is long and is one of those people that you like having around you,” Kalis added.

Orand’s work ethic was echoed by Dom Donnelly, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications at Tusculum University. Dom and Darrell worked in the same conference when Orand was at Newberry College in Newberry, S.C. as the Director of Marketing, Promotions and Sports Information.

“Darrell is a staunch supporter of his student-athletes and works tirelessly to support their successes and triumphs, both on the athletic field as well as in the classroom,” Donnelly said. “I always enjoyed working with him at South Atlantic Conference championship venues, especially during the Spring Sports Festivals in the early 2000s. I am very proud of him and his 25 years in the profession we both dearly cherish.”

Orand returned to South Carolina three years ago to work at Coastal Carolina as the men’s basketball, men’s soccer and women’s soccer contact. He has represented Coastal by volunteering at NCAA events, including the 2018 Division I Men’s Basketball Final Four in San Antonio and the 2019 Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds at the Columbia (S.C.) site. He has also been invited to work at this spring’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four in Minneapolis.

“I know we are in this business to promote programs and student-athletes, but I can honestly say the things I remember the most are the people in the business, the friendships that form and the stories that come from those friendships,” Orand said. "I am so appreciative of receiving the 25-year award. There are so many people I look up to in the profession that worked in the business for 30 or 40 years and now to be with them as a 25-year member is truly an honor."

Calendar

Important Dates

All Events +

06/23/26 / 11:59 P.M. M/W At-Large Academic All-America National Ballot Voting Deadline (NCAA, NAIA, College Division)

06/30/26 / 11:59 P.M. M/W Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-America National Ballot Voting Deadline (NCAA, NAIA)

07/07/26 / 12:00 P.M. W At-Large Academic All-America Announced (NCAA, NAIA, College Division)

07/08/26 / 12:00 P.M. M At-Large Academic All-America Announced (NCAA, NAIA, College Division)

07/14/26 / 12:00 P.M. M Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-America Announced (NCAA, NAIA)

06/07/26 / All Day 2026 CSC Unite Convention in Las Vegas

06/08/26 / All Day 2026 CSC Unite Convention in Las Vegas

06/09/26 / All Day 2026 CSC Unite Convention in Las Vegas

06/09/26 / 11:59 P.M. Baseball Academic All-America National Ballot Voting Deadline (NCAA, NAIA)

06/10/26 / All Day 2026 CSC Unite Convention in Las Vegas

06/16/26 / 12:00 P.M. Softball Academic All-America Announced (NCAA, NAIA)

06/16/26 / 12:00 P.M. M/W At-Large Academic All-District Released; National Voting Begins (NCAA, NAIA, College Division)

06/16/26 / 11:59 P.M. M/W Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-America Nomination Deadline (NCAA, NAIA)

06/23/26 / 12:00 P.M. M/W Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-District Released; National Voting Begins (NCAA, NAIA)

06/23/26 / 12:00 P.M. Baseball Academic All-America Announced (NCAA, NAIA)