GetSET2Connect Series - "T" - Teamwork; Part 2: The Diehard’s Heart – Why Passion is the Ultimate Teamwork Multiplier (March 31, 2026)

In our first post, we looked at the structure of teamwork through the lens of a massive family. Today, we shift from the "how" to the "why." We’re talking about the spirit of the team.

Growing up, my father wasn’t just a spectator; he was a diehard. Whether the score was a blowout or a nail-biter, he was in the stands, leaning forward in his favorite recliner, or glued to the radio until the final whistle. He taught me that being a fan isn't about the wins; it’s about the allegiance.

In the world of Sports Information, we pride ourselves on being "objective" and "professional"—and we should be. But there is a massive difference between being a "clock-puncher" and being a "diehard" for your institution.

The "All-In" Professional

When my father cheered, he wasn't just rooting for a jersey; he was supporting a community. In our profession, teamwork fails the moment we stop caring about the outcome for the student-athletes.

• The Clock-Puncher: Records the stat, sends the release, and hits the exit.

• The Diehard Teammate: Sees the senior linebacker’s tears after a heartbreaking loss and writes the story that honors his four-year journey. They stay late—not because they have to, but because the "team" deserves the best coverage possible.

Teamwork is "Emotional Labor"

Real teamwork requires a level of commitment to your colleagues that goes beyond a job description. When the Basketball SID is underwater with a double-header, the "Diehard" teammate doesn't ask, "Is that my responsibility?" They ask, "How can I help the home team win today?"

Teamwork is the byproduct of shared passion. If you don’t care about the "logo" on the shirt, you’ll never truly be a great teammate to the person sitting across the desk from you.

Leadership in Action: Honoring a Legend

I saw this "all-in" spirit in action this past Saturday, March 28. I had the privilege of being part of the team that retired the number of Tim Wallace, the former head baseball coach at Spartanburg Methodist College. My time as his coworker was short, but the impact was meaningful because of the culture he helped build. You can read my full reflections on that experience [Read more].

For the Experienced Job Seeker

When you’re interviewing for a leadership role—like an Assistant AD or a Director—the search committee isn't just looking at your 25 years of service. They are looking for your fire.

Can you inspire a staff of young professionals to be "diehards" for their school? Can you show them that you still have the same "front-row energy" my father had? At the executive level, teamwork is about contagious commitment.

Reflection on Tim Wallace (March 29, 2026)

Photo above by Tim Kimzey

Yesterday, we had the honor of retiring the number of my friend and former colleague, Coach Tim Wallace, at Spartanburg Methodist College.

Our time working together wasn’t long, but his impact on me was lasting—and that’s something I’ve come to understand more clearly in this profession. The longer you’re in college athletics, the more you realize the job is never just about the scoreboard, the stat sheet, or the final recap.

It’s about people.

It’s about the standards you uphold when no one is watching. It’s about how you represent a program, an institution, and the countless individuals who poured into it long before you arrived. It’s about telling stories the right way—honestly, respectfully, and with the understanding that what we do becomes part of someone else’s legacy.

Coach Wallace built something that went far beyond wins. He built relationships. He built expectations. He built a culture that people are still proud to be part of today.

As someone who had the privilege to work alongside him, even briefly, I carry that responsibility with me. My hope—every day—is that I’ve done right by him, by his family, by his former players, and by everyone connected to that program. 

Not just in what I produced, but in how I went about it.

Because in the end, our work isn’t measured solely by what’s said on the scoreboard—it’s measured by the trust we earn, the stories we tell, and the respect we leave behind.

That’s something worth striving for.

GetSET2Connect Series - "T" - Teamwork; Part 1: The Kitchen Table Huddle – Lessons from a Family of 13 (March 30, 2026)

The "T" in the GetSET2Connect model is arguably the most foundational. While "Strategic" and "Engagement" get you in the room, Teamwork is what keeps you there. It is the bridge between individual talent and institutional impact.

GetSET2Connect Series - "E" - Engagement – Conclusion (March 28, 2026)

As we wrap up the "E" in the GetSET2Connect series, it is clear that Engagement is the bridge between having a strategy and building a lasting legacy. Over the last five posts, we have deconstructed what it truly means to be an engaged professional in the ever-evolving landscape of athletic communications.

Here is a look back at the journey we’ve taken:

• The Foundation: We defined engagement not as mere activity, but as the active pursuit of growth and the intentionality behind every professional interaction.

• The Sprint: We looked at the short-term—mastering the daily gameday grind, from Adobe Creative Suite workflows to the immediate demands of NCAA and NAIA media relations.

• The Endurance: We shifted to the long-term, discussing how to maintain passion and avoid burnout over a 25-year career by staying anchored to your "why."

• The Pivot: We explored the necessity of flexibility—learning when to shift your focus, whether that’s toward PA announcing, new digital storytelling tools, or leadership roles.

• The Connection: Finally, we closed the loop. Your engagement acts as a magnet, drawing in mentors and peers who align with your specific goals and allowing you to pour back into the next generation of SIDs.

Engagement is the difference between working in sports and influencing the future of the profession. When you are engaged, you don't just report history; you help shape it.

Let’s Connect:

This series is just the beginning of the conversation. If the GetSET2Connect model resonates with your journey, or if you’re looking to navigate your own career pivots with more intentionality, I’d love to hear from you.

Let’s continue the dialogue and elevate this profession together. Connect with me on LinkedIn:

🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-kambel/

#GetSET2Connect #SportsCommunications #SID #AthleticCommunications #Networking #ProfessionalDevelopment #Mentorship #CollegeSports #Leadership

GetSET2Connect Series - "E" - Part 5: Connecting the Dots – The GetSET2Connect Conclusion (March 27, 2026)

In we’ve explored the "E" of GetSET2Connect through the lens of short-term sprints and long-term endurance. Now, we must address the final piece of the puzzle: how your engagement fuels your connections. In the athletic communications industry, your goals are the "why" behind your network. When you are engaged with clear objectives, you stop "networking" and start "connecting."

Intentional networking is only possible when you know where you are going. Whether you are navigating the landscape of NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, or the NAIA, your engagement with specific career goals dictates who you seek out at conventions and whose work you study on gameday. If your goal is to move into PA announcing or to master digital storytelling through tools like the Adobe Creative Suite, those objectives act as a magnet, drawing in the mentors and peers who can help you reach that next level.

Being engaged means being a contributor to the community, not just a consumer. This industry is built on the strength of its people—from those just starting out in post-graduate internships to veterans with 25 years of experience. When you set goals and achieve them, you create value that you can then share with others. This is where the model comes full circle. Your engagement leads to growth, your growth leads to expertise, and your expertise allows you to connect with others in a way that elevates the entire profession.

Don't just work in sports communications—be engaged in its future. Define your goals, embrace the pivot, and let your journey inspire the next generation of SIDs.

Let’s Connect: If you are interested in having a deeper conversation about the GetSET2Connect model and how to apply it to your unique journey, let's connect either via email or on social media, preferably via LinkedIn.

GetSET2Connect Series - "E" - Part 4: The Pivot – Adjusting Goals When the Game Changes (March 26, 2026)

In 25 years of college athletics, I’ve learned one thing for certain: the plan will change. Whether it’s navigating the complexities of a global pandemic, the shifting landscape of conference realignment, or a personal transition across the NCAA and NAIA, there will come a time when your current goals no longer fit your reality. 

Part of being truly Engaged is having the professional maturity to execute a "Goal Pivot."

Throughout my career—from the early days of internships at the Naval Academy and Indiana University to leading departments at six different institutions—I’ve seen that many professionals feel like a pivot is a failure. It isn't. In fact, staying engaged with a goal that no longer serves you—or the institution—is the fastest way to burnout.

A pivot is simply an "in-game adjustment." Perhaps you entered the field wanting to be a DI Baseball SID, but you discovered a passion for the administrative strategy and storytelling inherent in a leadership role.

Or maybe you realized that your true joy comes from the "Foundational Comfort" of a smaller, tight-knit community like Spartanburg Methodist College or The College of Idaho, rather than the bright lights of the Power Five.

My own journey from Columbus State to the University of Toledo and through various divisions has taught me that the mission of supporting student-athletes remains constant, even if the zip code or the division changes.

Regularly auditing your goals is essential. Every six months, ask yourself: "Am I still engaged with this objective because I want it, or because I’m afraid to change it?" By allowing yourself the grace to pivot, you stay fresh. You remain a student of the game.

Engagement isn't about being stubborn; it's about being aligned. When your goals align with your current passion and the evolving needs of the industry, your work becomes effortless.

Let’s Connect: If you are interested in having a deeper conversation about how to successfully navigate a career pivot or intentional networking, let's connect either via email or on social media, preferably via LinkedIn.

 

GetSET2Connect Series - "E" - Part 3: Long-Term Endurance – The “Off-Season” Vision (March 25, 2026)

While short-term goals keep us moving, long-term goals keep us grounded. In the #GetSET2Connect framework, the “E” can also stands for Endurance—and this is where engagement takes on a deeper, more strategic meaning.

In Part 2, we emphasized that engagement is not just about activity, but about intentional alignment and purpose. Long-term endurance is the extension of that idea. It’s not about doing more over time—it’s about doing the right things consistently to position yourself for where you want to go.

A career in athletic communications is a marathon, not a sprint. Yet too often, we operate in survival mode—jumping from event to event, deadline to deadline—without lifting our eyes to the bigger picture. Endurance requires a shift: from reactive execution to proactive career design.

Think in terms of “coaching cycles.” Where do you want to be two cycles from now? Not just in title, but in responsibility, influence, and impact. That perspective forces a different level of engagement—one centered on Strategic Positioning.

If your goal is to move into leadership—Assistant AD, Associate AD, or beyond—your engagement must evolve accordingly. That means stepping outside the comfort zone of content creation and game coverage and into areas that shape departments:

• Budget planning and resource allocation

• Compliance frameworks, including Title IX

• External relations and donor engagement

• Sport supervision and staff management

This is where intentional engagement becomes a differentiator. You’re no longer just executing tasks—you’re preparing for the next seat before you’re asked to fill it.

Equally important is how you think about your impact where you are right now. Endurance is not just about upward mobility—it’s about Legacy Building.

What are you creating that will last beyond your tenure?

These are your Legacy Projects—the tangible evidence of long-term engagement:

• A reimagined Hall of Fame process that elevates storytelling and recognition

• A structured student-intern pipeline that develops the next generation of professionals

• A fully digitized archive that preserves and promotes your institution’s history

• A content strategy framework that others can sustain and build upon

These initiatives require foresight, patience, and buy-in—but they separate professionals who “do the job” from those who transform the job.

When viewed through the lens of Part 2, this is the highest level of engagement: aligning your daily work with a long-term vision that benefits both your career and your organization. It’s the difference between being busy and being impactful over time.

Because ultimately, endurance ensures that you’re not just chasing your next opportunity—you’re building a professional identity that travels with you.

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Let’s Connect:
If you’re looking to think more strategically about your long-term path, legacy projects, or how to align your current role with future opportunities, let’s connect via LinkedIn or email.