The on-site SID will be responsible for all media relations at the event and will ensure that necessary information from the championship (results, tournament brackets, statistics, game notes, etc.) is made available to important news outlets not in attendance via fax, telephone or other electronic means.
This is the first time in the history of California Community College athletics that the COA has provided support in this area. In the past, state championships relied on volunteer efforts or on coaches of participating teams to inform the public of event results. Often times, this vital aspect of championship operations was overlooked. The new service will be funded by the COA's development budget.
"We want to make our championships as great as we possibly can," said COA Commissioner Dr. Joanne A. Fortunato. "This is one more step in that direction."
"Previously, we've relied on our event managers to provide media relations, but now we'll have specialists handling that aspect," noted Fortunato. "Thanks to the success of our corporate partner efforts, we're in a position to give this our full support. We think it will pay off. We know we have a great product and we want the public to have the opportunity to be aware of what we have to offer. Along with the television network we launched last year, a full time sports information director and our successful web site, we are steadily moving in that direction."
In seven of the eight fall/winter championships, the advance publicist and on-site SID will be the same person. Because of the large number of championships being held in Northern California, where there are few sports information directors, it is rare that the SID/publicist will be from the host college, however.
The following on-site SID/advance publicists have been appointed for the fall and winter (basketball): Women's Golf (Desert Willows Country Club, Palm Desert, Nov. 12-13), Robert Schmidt, Riverside; Cross Country (Woodward Park, Fresno, Nov. 18), Woody Wilk, Fresno City; Water Polo (Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, Nov. 16-18), Jerry Hannula, Saddleback; Wrestling (Golden West College, Huntington Beach, Dec. 1-2), Eric Maddy, Golden West; Women's Volleyball (San Joaquin Delta, Stockton, Dec. 1-3), Robert Lewis, Pasadena City; Soccer (Lemoore Soccer Complex, Lemoore, Dec. 2-3), Natalie Driggers, West Hills; Football (Sunkist Stadium Visalia, Dec. 9), Glen Haller, Antelope Valley; Basketball (University of Pacific's Spanos Center, San Joaquin Delta, Stockton, March 8-10), Schmidt, Riverside (advance publicity), Hannula, Saddleback (on-site SID).
