College Sports Information Directors of America

Related Content
CoSIDA.com/ThankYourSID

This feature is part of our series of profiles showcasing members throughout the CoSIDA membership during the celebration of CoSIDA Membership Recognition Week for 2018. See more features at CoSIDA.com/ThankYourSID.

Bill Stevens – Washington State University Associate Director of Athletics, Athletic Communications

by Barb Kowal – CoSIDA, Director of External Affairs and Professional Development

Stevens with his family on the set of ESPN's
College GameDay.

“I was particularly impressed with the (SIDEARM Sports) Leadership Forum at this past June’s convention. I felt the smaller groups provided for interactive panels with strategic discussions that were extremely relevant, insightful and very current with the issues we are facing today … In my case, it’s not always learning something that is new. Many of the topics I understand, and have dealt with many issues discussed, but it’s so good to have that reminder and see how others deal with same topics and to check yourself on what you are doing. You try to glean best practices from what people are doing. That’s the value of CoSIDA’s professional development initiatives.”
- Bill Stevens

We caught up with Bill Stevens on a very early Sunday morning when he arrived in his office in Pullman, Washington to work on all matters football for the Top 10 Cougars football team. Stevens, currently the Washington State Associate AD of Athletic Communications, arrived back at his alma mater in 2005 as an assistant director and was promoted to director of the department two years later. Below, he talks about the excitement in the Pullman community around football, the importance of professional development and why he is such an advocate of the CoSIDA Leadership Forum, managing expectations and building a quality staff.

What’s one trend in athletic communications that you are a fan of?

That we continue to put out great content about our student-athletes. Today, that takes on different forms, using short form video and moving away from long-form features, but as a profession we do a great job on telling the student-athlete stories. We need to use the most effective forms to tell these stories and always adapt to the new technologies.

What’s the Washington State project or campaign that you’re proudest of? Why?

This is not a project per se. One of the things that we take pride in, which started in the years under (former CoSIDA president and CoSIDA Hall of Famer) Rob Common’s guidance, is putting quite a few student assistants into the profession. It’s a testament to Rod and his assistants over the years who have mentored quite a few young people into the business. I can go back to mid-80s with me being one of them. I wasn’t the first and I’m not the last. Thinking quickly about past students or interns who continued in the field, there’s Marlene Navor (College of Charleston Director of Athletic Communications); Joe Nickell (Boise State Assistant AD/Media Relations); Jessica Holmes, who has returned to WSU as one of our assistant directors; Ashley Walker (Washington assistant director of athletic communications); and Mike Walsh, now Idaho’s Associate Athletic Director/Communications, Marketing & Tickets. Greg Walker, current Oregon associate director of athletic communications, was a student assistant and then an assistant director here.

Stevens on the sidelines of a Washington State football game.

You attended the 2018 Convention after a convention absence of a few years, and took part in the SIDEARM Sports Leadership Forum. What was your reaction to that programming, and how would you encourage others to participate?

There is much to be gained from the event and I thank the CoSIDA Board of Directors along with the countless volunteers who put on such a fantastic event.

From reuniting with friends, meeting new ones and sharing ideas during the sessions, it was a great four days that proved tremendously beneficial. I was particularly impressed with the (SIDEARM Sports) Leadership Forum at this past June’s convention. I felt the smaller groups provided for interactive panels with strategic discussions that were extremely relevant, insightful and very current with the issues we are facing today.

In my case, it’s not always learning something that is new. Many of the topics I understand and have dealt with many issues discussed, but it’s so good to have that reminder and see how others deal with same topics and to check yourself on what you are doing. You try to glean best practices from what people are doing. That’s the value of CoSIDA’s professional development initiatives.

Sum up your time at Washington State, your alma mater.

No question I’m a Cougar for life! I had four tremendous years as a Washington State undergraduate. I’m originally from Uba City, in northern California.

I was recruited to play tennis and was a student assistant for our former SID Rod Commons. I also met my wife Joni on campus. I worked in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings and wrote for College Tennis Weekly to start. When we had the opportunity to come back to Pullman with our young family in 2005, we jumped on it. Pullman is a great environment to raise a family, a great college town. I came back to work with Rod and the rest is history.

We love being here. Both our boys graduated from Washington State. Nick was a sports management major. Jake majored in international business and is getting his masters in econonics. He works for the Cougar Athletic Fund. Again, people around Pullman and on campus are second to none. I’m very fortunate to be in the spot I am in and the support of people like Rod and our former AD, Jim Sterk, who originally hired me.

Calendar

Important Dates