In the GetSET2Connect model, the "E" represents Engaged, focusing on both short- and long-term goals. Prioritizing engagement through goal setting is a strategic necessity in athletic communications. In an industry where 60-hour workweeks can often lead to burnout, a structured career trajectory is what distinguishes those simply working a job from those building a lasting legacy.
Monday, March 23, 2026
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Stop Reporting History. Start Influencing It (March 21, 2026)
When I first started as an intern at the Naval Academy and later at Indiana University, my office was often a quiet place of deep contemplation—sometimes by choice, and sometimes by the sheer weight of a 25-year career still waiting to be written. In those moments, I wasn’t just thinking about box scores or media guides; I was pondering the trajectory of a life in college athletics.
Interestingly, it wasn't always my direct supervisors who helped me navigate those thoughts. It was the Assistant and Associate ADs who would wander in, lean against the doorframe, and talk to me. They didn't just discuss the "what" of my daily tasks; they shared the "why" of the entire department. Those conversations were my first real masterclass in administrative strategy, teaching me that the view from the SID desk is only as narrow as you choose to make it.
Friday, March 20, 2026
Articles of Interest (March 20, 2026)
Before returning to the GetSET2Connect series, I want to briefly pause and share a few pieces of reading that have been on my mind this week.
In my 25 years in collegiate athletics, the “how” of our work has evolved repeatedly—from mailing typed game summaries and calling in statistics to local newspapers, to today’s world of AI-generated recaps. What hasn’t changed is the “why.” Athletic communications remains grounded in mentorship, visibility, and intentional connection.
Whether you’re a veteran administrator or a student assistant just beginning your journey, these recent insights offer a practical roadmap for navigating the demands of modern leadership and an increasingly dynamic technological landscape.
The Highlights:
The AI Pivot: Inside Higher Ed reminds us that while machines can handle the rote tasks, they can't replace the human element. Our value in 2026 is found in critical thinking and student-athlete engagement.
The Visibility Trap: Ever feel like your hard work is invisible? It might be the "Performance Paradox." We discuss why translating "effort" into "impact" is a professional necessity, not just bragging.
Strategic Humility: Leadership feels harder because it is harder. We look at why "certainty theater" is failing and why radical honesty is the only way to rebuild trust with our teams.
The Power of Small: Ever heard of the Ringelmann Effect? It explains why individual effort drops as teams grow too large. The "Two-Pizza Team" rule might be the secret to a more efficient gameday staff.
Networking Pillars: A reminder from HERC Jobs that our careers are built on three specific legs: mentors, peers, and professional involvement (like our work with CSC).
As I prepare to share the next part of our series next week, I’d love to hear which of these hits home for you. Are you seeing "social loafing" on your gameday crews? Are you using AI to free up time for mentorship?
Drop a comment below and let’s connect.
Thursday, March 19, 2026
GetSET2Connect Series, Part 4: Strategy in Athletic Communications and the Sports Industry (March 19, 2026)
Strategy takes on a different level of importance in athletic communications and the sports industry, where the pace is fast and the expectations are constant.
Success in this space requires more than execution — it requires perspective.
Operating Proactively in a Reactive Environment
Athletic communications is built around deadlines, events, and results. The work is naturally reactive.
But the most effective professionals find ways to operate proactively within that structure.
That means:
Anticipating storylines before they happen
Planning content around key moments in a season
Aligning messaging with broader institutional goals
Strategy is what allows you to stay ahead, even when everything around you is moving quickly.
Moving Beyond Coverage
At its most basic level, athletic communications is about delivering information.
But strategic communicators understand that the role is much bigger than that.
The focus shifts from:
“Did we cover the event?”
To:
“Did we tell the story in a way that builds the program?”
That includes:
Positioning student-athletes for recognition
Enhancing recruiting visibility through content
Creating a consistent voice and identity across platforms
Every piece of content becomes part of a larger narrative.
Creating a Competitive Advantage
In the sports industry, visibility and perception matter.
Programs that consistently tell their story well and engage their audience effectively create a measurable advantage — in recruiting, branding, and overall growth.
In practice, that can look like:
Increased follower growth and engagement rates across social platforms
Improved media coverage and external recognition
Greater success in promoting student-athletes for postseason awards
That advantage doesn’t come from volume. It comes from intentionality.
Strategy is the difference between simply doing the job and elevating the entire program.
Final Thought
In athletic communications, strategy connects what you do every day to the long-term success of the program you represent.
It’s the difference between documenting moments and defining them.
And in a competitive industry, that distinction matters.
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
GetSET2Connect Series, Part 3: Turning Strategy Into Daily Practice (March 18, 2026)
In Part 1 of the GetSET2Connect Series, we defined what it means to be strategic — aligning your daily actions with long-term career goals.
In Part 2, we emphasized that strategy without execution has no value.
Now, in Part 3, the focus shifts to application — what it actually looks like to operate strategically in your day-to-day work.
Strategy Requires Honest Evaluation
At multiple points in my career, I’ve had to take a step back and evaluate whether my current role was positioning me for what was next.
At both the start of my career at Columbus State Community College and currently at Spartanburg Methodist College, that meant looking beyond my responsibilities and asking:
Am I growing, or am I just maintaining?
That question forced me to think beyond task completion and focus on development. It led me to pursue opportunities outside of my defined role — expanding into areas like storytelling, digital strategy, and content development.
In doing so, those efforts contributed to measurable outcomes, including:
Increased social media engagement
Expanded digital reach across platforms
Enhanced visibility for student-athletes through award recognition and coverage
Those decisions weren’t always required, but they were intentional. And over time, they created separation in both skill set and impact.
Focus on Impact, Not Activity
One of the biggest traps in any profession — especially in communications — is equating being busy with being effective.
Early on, it’s easy to say yes to everything. But strategic growth comes from identifying what actually moves the needle.
In my experience, that meant prioritizing:
Storytelling that went beyond standard recaps
Content that enhanced visibility for student-athletes and programs
Initiatives that strengthened the overall brand, not just filled immediate needs
Those strategic shifts led to:
Growth in audience engagement and interaction rates
Improved performance across digital platforms
Stronger positioning of programs within conference and regional recognition
The shift is subtle but important: from completing tasks to creating value.
Relationships as a Strategic Asset
No meaningful career progression happens in isolation.
Some of the most impactful opportunities I’ve had came through relationships — mentors, colleagues, and industry connections who provided guidance, perspective, and opportunity.
That includes being recognized nationally, including receiving the CoSIDA President’s Award in 2020, which reflects the impact of both professional work and engagement within the industry.
Being strategic with relationships means investing in them consistently, not just when you need something. It means showing up, adding value, and staying engaged over time.
That approach builds trust — and trust is what ultimately creates opportunity.
From Motion to Progress
Talent and work ethic matter. But without direction, they can only take you so far.
Strategy is what ensures your effort is aligned with where you want to go.
It turns daily work into long-term progress.
And it creates a career path that is intentional, not accidental.
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
GetSET2Connect Series, Part 2: Putting Strategy into Action (March 17, 2026)
In Part 1 of the GetSET2Connect Series, we explored what it means to be strategic — aligning your daily actions with your long-term career goals and using intentional decision-making as your guide.
But understanding strategy is only the foundation.
The real differentiator is execution.
Too often, professionals acknowledge the importance of strategy but fail to operationalize it in their day-to-day work. Being strategic is not about overanalyzing every move or waiting for the perfect opportunity — it is about consistently acting with clarity and purpose.
So how do you actually put strategy into action?
1. Audit Your Current Position
Strategy begins with awareness.
Take an honest evaluation of where you are in your career right now. Look beyond your job title and responsibilities and assess the true value of your current role.
Are you building skills that align with your long-term goals?
Are you gaining experiences that will translate to your next opportunity?
Are you positioned in a way that allows for growth, or are you simply maintaining your current level?
Strategic professionals regularly assess whether their current situation is contributing to where they ultimately want to go. If the answer is no, that does not necessarily mean you need to leave immediately — but it does mean you need to identify gaps and begin addressing them intentionally.
2. Identify High-Impact Opportunities
Not all work carries the same weight.
One of the most important shifts in thinking strategically is moving from a mindset of activity to one of impact. Being busy is not the same as being effective.
High-impact opportunities are those that:
Increase your visibility within your organization or industry
Expand your skill set in meaningful, transferable ways
Connect you with leadership or key decision-makers
These opportunities are often not assigned — they are identified and pursued.
This may mean volunteering for projects outside your defined role, taking initiative on new ideas, or stepping into responsibilities that stretch your current capabilities. Strategy requires you to recognize which efforts will move the needle and prioritize those over routine tasks that simply fill time.
3. Be Intentional with Relationships
No career grows in isolation.
Networking, when done strategically, is not about collecting contacts — it is about building meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships.
Consider:
Who is already in your network, and how are you maintaining those relationships?
Who do you need to connect with to reach your next level?
How can you provide value to others, rather than only seeking it?
Strategic relationship-building means aligning yourself with individuals who challenge your thinking, support your development, and expose you to new opportunities. These relationships often become the catalysts for career advancement.
Moving from Motion to Progress
The difference between those who stay stagnant and those who advance is rarely talent alone. More often, it comes down to intentionality.
Being strategic ensures that your efforts are not just keeping you busy, but actively moving you forward.
It transforms your career from a series of reactions into a deliberate path.
As you continue through the GetSET2Connect Series, the focus will shift to additional components that build on this foundation. But without strategy, none of the other elements can reach their full potential.
Start where you are. Evaluate honestly. Act intentionally.
That is how strategy becomes progress.
Missed Part 1? Start here:
https://sidassistant.blogspot.com/2026/03/getset2connect-series-part-1-why.html
Monday, March 16, 2026
GetSET2Connect Series, Part 1: Why Strategy is Your Career’s North Star (March 16, 2026)
After celebrating my birthday on March 13, I’m shifting gears back to the core principles of GetSET2Connect. In this upcoming series, we’ll deep-dive into the framework, paired with fresh job leads, industry news, and a few surprises. We’re kicking things off with the S in GetSET: Strategic. We will explore what being strategic looks like by definition, from the perspective of a job holder, and through the lens of a job seeker.
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