CoSIDA Joins The Sports World In Mourning The Loss Of Dick Enberg, CoSIDA's Academic Program
College Sports Information Directors of America
CoSIDA joins the international sports world in mourning the sudden passing of Dick Enberg, iconic and beloved Hall of Fame broadcaster who served as the long-time ambassador and spokesperson for CoSIDA's signature Academic All-America® program.
Enberg passed away suddenly on December 21 at his home in La Jolla, California. He was 82.
Enberg (right) pictured with the 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame class.
His amazing and award-winning broadcasting career spanned six decades and he was internationally renown for his work in numerous sports and for his signature catchphrase "Oh my!" - his trademark exclaimation for a big play or amazing achievement.
Enberg had a long association with CoSIDA and our Academic All-America® program. Enberg led the annual selections for the Academic All-America Hall of Fame and also served as an emcee and special guest at each Academic All-America induction ceremony held annually during the CoSIDA conventions. Always the master storyteller, his passion for education and college athletics was clearly evident during each induction.
In addition, Enberg annually selected the recipient of the Dick Enberg Award. Established in 1997, the Enberg Award is given annually to a person whose actions and commitment have furthered the meaning and reach of the Academic All-America® Teams Program and/or the student-athlete while promoting the values of education and academics.
The award was created in part to recognize Enberg's passion and support of the Academic All-America® program and, more importantly, his dedication to education for more than four decades.
Enberg visiting with Academic All-America® Hall of Fame committee chair Bernadette Cafarelli and one of the vice chairs, Jim Seavey.
Bernie Cafarelli (American Athletic Conference), chair of the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Hall of Fame Committee, expressed her thoughts on behalf of the committee and the membership.
"Today's news on the passing of our dear friend, Dick Enberg, is simply heartbreaking. He was a giant in his profession and a kind gentleman whose passion and commitment to CoSIDA's Academic All-America and Hall of Fame® programs resonated for more than three decades. His unabashed love and dedication to the mission of the Academic All-America program will never be forgotten," Cafarelli stated.
"Dick was a treasure to CoSIDA and to the members of the Academic All-America committee. It is comforting for all of us to know that an award given out by our organization bears his name. He will forever be a part of everything that we do on behalf of the more than 800 student-athletes that are honored annually; his legacy always will be with us. On behalf of the AAA Committee, we extend our deepest sympathy to his lovely wife, Barbara, and their children," Cafarelli concluded. "They are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time."
A vice chair on the Academic All-America committee, Jim Seavey (Mount Ida) worked closely with Enberg throughout the years, particulary with the Enberg Award.
"Dick Enberg was the soundtrack of life for countless generations throughout his glorious career. He mastered his art by making the viewer or listener the most important person during any event he broadcast, and he never lost the little kid and fan inside of him," Seavey said. "Dick was one of the most caring, committed and compassionate people on the face of the Earth. He epitomized the "Golden Rule" of treating others as you wanted to be treated yourself. His passion for education and academic excellence was unsurpassed, and his love for the mission of the Academic All-America® program and CoSIDA was both unabashed and boundless. It was a privilege to rub shoulders with his greatness, but a bigger privilege and honor to call him a friend. The entire college sports information world joins together today to offer deepest sympathies to Barbara and the entire Enberg family."
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Important Dates
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) 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