College Sports Information Directors of America

Joe Soltys

by Owen Canfield Hartford Courant

It has been almost 20 years since Joe Soltys retired from his position as sports information director at the University of Connecticut.

"I can't get out like I used to," Soltys said. "But I did go to the men's basketball Senior Night and the women's Senior Night at Gampel Pavilion last week. Also, when the new football stadium, Rentschler Field, opened, I was there."

He's 83 years old, but people around the state, including many in the Northwest Corner, remember him and what he did for 25 years at UConn.

I met him when I was sports editor of The Torrington Register (now known as the Register-Citizen) in 1962. Soltys never missed a chance to publicize his university. I was young and knew little about sports writing, universities or public relations. But I was brand-new and I realized everybody was interested in UConn.

Joe called one day. "I've got a press ticket over here for you," he coaxed. I went - it seemed like an interminably long drive - and found myself in a real press box at Memorial Field, with big-time sports writers from Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury and a lot of little-timers such as me. There were sandwiches and coffee or soda for everyone. Bob Ingalls was UConn coach.

I can't remember the date or UConn's opponent but Soltys made an impression. He was quick with answers and statistics, knew everybody by their first names and was always there. His student helpers listened and knew what to do.

Two Sundays ago, Joe called me. "I have to correct something I just read in your column," he said. "You called Charlie Eshbach `a bright young University of Massachusetts grad.' Charlie was a bright young University of Connecticut grad and I know, because he was one of my guys."

As soon as he mentioned Eshbach, I remembered that Charlie was a native of Amherst, Mass., where UMass is located, but attended UConn. At 22, he became owner Joe Buzas' right-hand man and general manager of the Bristol Red Sox Eastern League baseball team at Muzzy Field.

Soltys remembered: "Charlie worked in the sports information department with me and was very good. When he was ready to graduate he told me he had a chance to get a job with Buzas in Elmira, N.Y., but that the pay was very low. I said, `You're young and full of energy and you love this work. Take the job.' He did."

Eshbach married a Torrington girl, Ann Marie Ficca. He stuck with baseball and is now part owner and general manager of the Portland, Maine, Sea Dogs.

Widowed since his wife, Betsy, died last fall, Soltys had a bit of heart trouble and said he still doesn't have a lot of pep. He relies on TV for his UConn sports. But he loves to remember the early days.

He grew up in Williamsburg, Mass., near Northampton and was a sports correspondent for the Northampton and Springfield newspapers.

After a hitch in the U.S. Navy, Soltys succeeded his brother Henry as sports editor of the Northampton Gazette. In 1959, he succeeded another brother, Frank, as UConn sports information director.

No, he didn't go to college.

"I think one of the best things I did at UConn was help Bill Rasmussen get ESPN off the ground," he said. "Bill came out to Storrs to try to convince a panel of educators and administrators at UConn that he had a really strong idea. He wanted to broadcast UConn sports on satellite but the board turned him down. I ran into him as he was leaving that day. He was really frustrated. He explained what he had to me and it sounded good.

"I went to see John Toner [athletic director]. I said, `Did anyone ask our coaches? This is a hell of a good deal and no other schools will have it.' John listened and said, `Give me his phone number.' Well, that started it. Bill, calling his new baby `Entertainment and Sports Programming Network,' began broadcasting 41 UConn sports. Look at it now."

Soltys' son, Mike, has worked for many years for ESPN. "He's vice president of communications," Joe said. He chuckled, "Mike used to borrow my car to get over to Bristol when he was a UConn student and an intern at ESPN," he said. "So I was left all day with no car."

Owen Canfield can be reached online at ocanfield@snet.net

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