College Sports Information Directors of America

• 2016 CoSIDA Special Awards general announcement/release • Special Awards feature story schedule

by Debbie Harmison White, Old Dominion University Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Relations

I first crossed paths with Debby Jennings at a College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) convention in

Clockwise, top, left to right: Jennings (left) serving as press officer at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles; at the White House with President George H. W. Bush honoring the NCAA National Champion Lady Vols women's basketball team; recognized during The University of Tennessee's Honorary Letterman Ceremony in 2008.

1979 after attending her breakout session on women’s sports. I found it rather ironic that she and I shared the same first name (although spelled differently) and were promoting successful women’s basketball teams coached by eventual Hall of Famers.

It was the beginning of a four-decade friendship that has included working side-by-side at National Sports Festivals, Final Fours, receiving similar promotions throughout the years, and supporting each other when we were diagnosed and survived cancer.

And, yes it is again “ironic” that we are both being recognized by CoSIDA - in the same year - with Lifetime Achievement awards in Dallas.

There have been just a fortunate few COSIDA members who attended and worked their entire career at their alma mater, and fewer who had a greater impact on the profession than Debby.

Clockwise, l to r: Jennings receives the 2008 CoSIDA Arch Ward honor from CoSIDA president Charles Bloom; presented the 2011 CoSIDA Trailblazer Award by CoSIDA president Larry Dougherty; with family and UT colleagues following her Trailblazer Award recognition.

while her publications for Tennessee’s women’s teams won over 400 awards from CoSIDA.

But aside from the awards and recognition, Debby’s greatest legacy may be in the number of student assistants who followed her tutelage and example to enter the sports communication field. From a one-woman office in 1977, to a nine-person staff in 2009, she helped advance the careers of 79 UT students/graduate assistants and mentored 41 into the full-time ranks as SID’s at colleges across the country.

Additionally, she gave back to her profession and her alma mater as an adjunct professor for 21 years in the College of Education, handling the supervision, grading and project coordination for graduate and undergraduate students majoring in sports communication, sports management and sport administration.

“I was lucky to come along at time when women participating in intercollegiate athletics were taking a foothold on the national scene,” says Debby. “I was even more fortunate to get the opportunity to start and end my career at the University of Tennessee, which was committed to excellence for its Lady Vols and women’s athletics department.

“For 35 years, I worked alongside so many great media experts in my CoSIDA family. You all helped me grow to become a sports information/communications professional. Please know it was my distinct honor and privilege to document the shining moments of 1,786 Lady Vol student-athletes as well as an incredible collection of Hall of Fame coaches and staff members over the course of my career.”

Debby Jennings has had a lifetime of achievements in a career and at a place she loved. Congratulations to my lifelong friend.

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Calendar

Important Dates

All Events +

• 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