2023 Special Awards Salute: Geoff Hassard (SUNY Oneonta), Lifetime Achievement Award
College Sports Information Directors of America
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Geoff Hassard – SUNY Oneonta, Assistant Director of Athletics and Sports Information Director (retired)
CSC Lifetime Achievement Award
by Roger Crosley – 2010 CSC Hall of Famer (retired)
Upon Geoff Hassard’s retirement from NCAA Division III Oneonta (N.Y.) State in the summer of 2022, the college created the Geoff Hassard Commitment Award which is now an annual award given to a SUNY Oneonta student-athlete that embodies the traits of Geoff; hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to his/her team, the athletic department, and the community. The characteristics and traits shown by Geoff through his 23 years of serving the college.
Being the namesake of the award is a culmination of a 30-year career that was never expected, but one that indicates that whatever path one takes, the qualities mentioned in the award criteria will lead to great success. His career has also led to Geoff being the recipient of a CSC Lifetime Achievement Award.
“My journey into athletic communications wasn't a traditional one,” Geoff says. “I was looking to be a physical education teacher and coach, but that wasn't quite working. While I was working on my master’s degree at Springfield College, I had the opportunity to be a GA for (then-CoSIDA) Hall of Famer Ken Cerino. This was an introductory experience that allowed me to see another side of athletics.”
Geoff Hassard with SUNY Oneonta athletics department staff after 2022 awards ceremony.
Still pursuing coaching, Hassard took a position as a part-time assistant women’s basketball coach at MIT. During that tenure he volunteered in the MIT sports information office. He approached the position every day wanting to learn and willing to do anything that was asked of hm. The tasks may have been as trivial as folding programs, or as important as being a site administrator for a tournament. No matter what was asked of him, he took it as a learning experience and approached every task with gusto and confidence.
Geoff’s dogged determination to succeed in athletic communications led him to a position at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), a Division III institution in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he worked for six years. A life-long New Englander, Geoff then took a major leap of faith and accepted the first full-time SID position at Oneonta in upstate New York.
“Leaving New England was a tough decision,” Geoff says, “but one that had to be made if I was going to be able to grow in this profession. A full-time opportunity in Oneonta and being in charge of my own office made the decision a bit easier.”
It was at Oneonta that Geoff truly flourished.
He became involved in both regional and national organizations first as a member and later in leadership positions. In 2006, Hassard served as host to the Eastern College Athletic Conference-Sports Information Directors Association (now EAST-COMM) annual workshop, bringing 175 athletic communication professionals from throughout the northeast to Oneonta. ECAC-SIDA recognized his efforts and named him to its Board of Directors, a role in which he served through being named president of the organization for the 2012-2013 academic year. He was on the CSC (CoSIDA) Board of Directors from 2008-2011 and worked tirelessly in several positions in its Academic All-America program.
Oneonta’s Tracey Ranieri worked with Hassard as both a soccer coach who built a program that set the record at the time for all NCAA divisions, men, and women, for the longest conference unbeaten streak of 101 games, and as an athletic director who was the 2014 NACDA Athletic Director of the Year. She is a woman familiar with excellence.
“From a coaching standpoint, Geoff was committed to the stats and history of each program,” Ranieri says. “He wanted every game day to be perfect and he did that by attention to details, and showing full support for each program doing whatever it took.
“From an administrative standpoint Geoff was loyal, reliable, hardworking, always showed integrity first, and did the right thing 24/7.”
Committed to professional development for both himself and those who worked with him, Hassard’s dedication to and passion for the field spread to those who worked for and with him. Gettysburg College director of athletics communications Luke Stillson was an assistant for Geoff at Oneonta.
“I would not be in this profession if it wasn’t for the early mentorship from Geoff,” Stillson says. “He always did things the ‘right way’ and I certainly learned that from him during my early days. His professionalism in everything he did showed me early on the things that are truly important. Not only did Geoff always perform every task with the utmost professionalism but he knew that the single most important thing in sports information is relationships. That goes for both the coaches and staff you work for and your fellow professionals. He lived that every day of his career.”
Ranieri echoes Stillson’s sentiments.
“Geoff’s commitment to excellence is second to none. His work ethic is incredible and he doesn’t stop until it is done. He is a team player always thinking outside the box on how to make things better. He cares deeply for others, is always respectful and a true friend. The highest compliment I can give is he is someone that you would like to know.”
“There have been plenty of changes in the way this profession operates during my nearly 30 years of working in it,” Hassard says. “This job is not for the faint of heart. You have to be all in if you want to be successful.”
“Despite being “all in”, Hassard has always been a dedicated family man. He and his wife Irene raised their sons Garrett and Gunnar in Oneonta. Despite the demands of his position at Oneonta State, Geoff managed to coach the boys and their friends in various youth sports. Both of his sons competed collegiately, with Garrett in volleyball and Gunnar in track & field.”
Ryan Hooper succeeded Ranieri as Director of Athletics at Oneonta State in 2021. Upon announcing the creation of the Geoff Hassard Commitment Award, Hooper said, “I cannot put into words what (Geoff) has meant to this Athletic Department and to this campus. He has had an impact on so many individuals in his time at the college, including thousands of students. Geoff is the history of Oneonta Athletics.”
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M/W Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-America National Ballot Voting Deadline (NCAA, NAIA)
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M At-Large Academic All-America Announced (NCAA, NAIA, College Division)
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M Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-America Announced (NCAA, NAIA)
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M/W At-Large Academic All-District Released; National Voting Begins (NCAA, NAIA, College Division)
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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)
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, College Division)
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)
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M Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-America Announced (NCAA, NAIA)
06/07/26 / All Day
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06/08/26 / All Day
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06/09/26 / All Day
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