WICHITA, Kan. — Tim Hackett of Avila University
has been named the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Pearson-Swenson Sports Information Director (SID) of the Year, an honor voted on by his peers, the conference office announced Friday.
The name of the KCAC Sports Information Director of the Year award was changed to the Pearson-Swenson Sports Information Director (SID) of the Year award in Spring 2024 to honor two long-time and award-winning SIDs in the conference's history: A. John Pearson and Carol R. Swenson.
"I am incredibly grateful to be named the KCAC Pearson-Swenson Sports Information Director of the Year," Hackett said. "We have a lot of hard-working, talented communicators in the KCAC, and to earn this recognition from all of them is an honor. It may technically be my name on this award this year, but in a small department at a small college, I could not do anything I do without every single one of my teammates who share my commitment to celebrating our athletes, coaches and teams. From my top teammates who work with me every day, to our local pros that make up our game day team, to the volunteer students who help me make everything run smoothly, I am incredibly grateful to all of you."
"I have learned a lot and gained a ton of firsthand experience in my four years here at Avila, and I am eternally grateful to Shawn Summe for consistently supporting me and my department, and all of our staff, athletes, coaches and teams for their passion, patience and support," Hackett continued. "I am honored and grateful to receive this award from the KCAC, and am very excited for the next stage in my personal and professional journey."
Hackett directs and manages all external communications and front-facing operations for Avila's 14 varsity programs. That includes, but is not limited to,
- Serving as the Avila Athletics website webmaster and producing content for that website.
- Developing social media strategies and executing live and pre-planned content on social media platforms.
- Planning, staffing, and executing gameday operations for each Avila home event.
- Directing and producing live streams, while also being the on-air talent for those streams.
- Planning, hosting, and editing Avila's weekly coaches' show, "Eye on the Eagles".
“I feel fortunate that I have had the opportunity to see the work that Tim puts in on a daily basis for not only Avila University and our athletic department, but also the KCAC and anyone else that needs help," Shawn Summe, the Director of Athletics at Avila University, remarked. "Most people do not really understand or get to see how many hours a quality SID puts in to make sure our programs and student-athletes get the recognition that they deserve. Tim Hackett is the consistent force in our athletic department and the work he does, not only the work everyone sees but also behind the scenes to prepare for success, helps our coaches and student-athletes earn the rewards and honors that come their way.”
Outside of the standard responsibilities of a sports information director, Hackett goes above and beyond to serve the conference and others within the conference. When Avila does not have a home athletic event, Hackett can be seen at campuses across the KCAC, frequently helping out other SIDs in need of event staff. He also is frequently assisting with conference championship events, including play-by-play and color commentary for the KCAC Men's and Women's Basketball championships and the KCAC Softball Championship tournament.
"Tim is well-deserving of this honor, and stands out in the field of communications in small college athletics," Mark Hoffhines, Assistant Commissioner for Sports Information and Communications for the KCAC, said of Hackett. "He has elevated the standard of sports information at Avila since his arrival in 2020, and continues to push to elevate the standard across the conference. He not only does his job extremely well; he also helps others across the conference when they need help and is more than willing to help at conference-wide events. We at the KCAC conference office are proud to acknowledge Tim's outstanding work in 2023-24."
Previous KCAC Sports Information Director of the Year Winners
2022-23: David Toelle, Kansas Wesleyan University
2021-22: Katie Tooley, Ottawa University
2020-21: Trent Hinton, York College
2019-20: David Toelle, Kansas Wesleyan University
2018-19: Josh Booth, Bethel College
2017-18: Nick Morris, Oklahoma Wesleyan University
2016-17: Katie Tooley, Ottawa University
2015-16: Scott Nuss, Southwestern College
2014-15: Scott Nuss, Southwestern College
2013-14: Katie Tooley, Ottawa University
2012-13: Scott Nuss, Southwestern College
2011-12: David Toelle, Kansas Wesleyan University
2010-11: Alan Grosbach, McPherson College
2009-10: Katie Tooley, Ottawa University
2008-09: Carol Swenson, McPherson College
ABOUT A. JOHN PEARSON
Mr. Pearson was hired at Bethany College to first work as the Director of Public Relations and Alumni Affairs, under the Dr. Arvin W. Hahn presidency during a very challenging and, yet, a very rewarding era in college history. He continued in that position until 1992 when he became the Director of the Archives and Heritage Center and of Sports Information until 2004, when he retired. He served as the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) statistician, and was inducted into the Bethany Athletics Hall of Honor in 2004 and received the 2007 Clarence "Ike" Pearson Award from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Sports Information Directors Association. In 2011, he was honored by receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the College Sports Information Directors Association. Pearson also served as NAIA Great Plains, later Region IV, Information Director. Sadly, Pearson passed away in 2023.
ABOUT CAROL R. SWENSON
Mr. Swenson served as sports information director at McPherson College from 2000 to 2009, following a 30-year career in the McPherson school district. When an individual thinks of track and field in the state of Kansas, Swenson is one of the most notable names to come up. A virtual encyclopedia of cross country and track and field, Swenson as served as public address announcer at the KSHSAA Track and Field Championships since 1974, the Big 12 Outdoor Track Championships three times and the Indoor Championships once, and serves as PA Announcer at the KCAC Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He also served several times as the USA Track and Field Press Officer for USA National Teams at a myriad of competitions worldwide.
—KCAC—