Special Awards Salute: Chris Wenzler (John Carroll), 25-Year Award
College Sports Information Directors of America
by Ann King, The Sage Colleges Sports Information Director/CoSIDA Special Awards Committee member
In an age when change is part of everyday life, Chris Wenzler has been the constant presence for John Carroll University. A 1990 graduate of JCU, Wenzler was named to his present post just four months after receiving his diploma, and has been a fixture in the athletic department ever since.
Fast forward 25 years and Wenzler continues to be a role model for so many. He will receive a CoSIDA 25-Year Award for his longtime service at the annual June convention.
When Wenzler took over the department on September 15, 1990, the staff consisted of just three students and the office equipment included just one computer (An Apple Macintosh SE), a dot matrix printer, a typewriter and a phone. In his 20 years, he has built an office that now boasts of over 30 student employees, a graduate assistant, and the latest in multimedia and technological equipment.
Recent years have seen him help take JCU athletics into the realm of multimedia opportunities. In 2006, Wenzler became one of the first SIDs at the NCAA Division III level to implement a 40-event video webcast schedule for the internet. He was also proactive in securing a multi-sport broadcast schedule with the SportsTime Ohio network and has since taken JCU's video streaming to the next level starting a partnership with Boxcast for the streaming of athletic events.
The champion for the Blue Streaks, Wenzler’s involvement both on campus and within the community have been extensive.
JCU Senior Director of Atheltics Laurie Massa said, “Chris has served as the Director of Sports Information at JCU for 25 years, and I have been fortunate to work with him for the last eleven of them.”
Massa added, “Chris embodies our John Carroll Mission and Values which involves serving as men and women for and with others. Chris not only articulates this Jesuit mission but supports his word with actions each and every day. This is especially apparent in his work with students who he trains to help him in all facets of media relations and coverage of our sports programs.”
An active participant in service days on campus and off campus, Wenzler finds time to volunteer his skills for the South Euclid and Lyndhurst municipal swim teams and has served as the president of the two teams since 2011. He has also contributed time to the Jesuit Day of Service as well as to the John Carroll’s Relay for Life.
Sean Fagan, SID at Clarion University noted, “It’s difficult for me to put into words all of the things Chris has meant to me over the last 11 years. I could tell you about the long hours in the office, the endless weekends hosting conference swimming championships or baseball doubleheaders, or the way he wore his pride for his alma mater on his sleeve at all times.
"To me, though, the thing that makes Chris special is his willingness to sacrifice and devote his time to the people around him. Those that have had the privilege to work for him know the extraordinary lengths he goes to in ensuring that they get the most out of their college experience.”
Fagan added, “When one considers the care and concern he has for each and every one of his student assistants, as well as the countless hours he’s spent doing volunteer work on immersion trips in foreign lands, you see that no one embodies JCU’s Jesuit ideal of “men and women for others” quite like the 'Boss Man'.”
In speaking of his JCU experience, Wenzler noted, "Not only have I been fortunate enough to work a quarter of a century at my alma mater, but I have been blessed to work with amazing colleagues through the years as well as employ over 200 student workers who have gone on to do tremendous things in the world.”
“My experience has been a transformative one, something more significant than simply starting out as a young pup and morphing into a grizzled vet," he explained. "Evolving with the job has brought both expected and unexpected challenges, and discovering that a career in sports information could lead to service and mentoring opportunities has been one of the great joys of my life. My family and I are appreciative beyond words for the privilege of working for 25 years at John Carroll."
After graduating from JCU, he married Melissa Rettew -- a 1991 JCU graduate -- in 1992. The couple have two children, Madeline (18) and Oliver (15) and reside in South Euclid, Ohio.