HILLSBORO, Ore. – For the first time, the Jack Sareault Award for the Northwest Conference Sports Information Director of the Year for 2014-15 has been presented to not one but two athletics communications persons, as the Linfield College duo of Kelly Bird and Katherine Brackmann share this year’s award.
Bird is in his 26th year as Linfield’s sports information director, making him the dean of NWC sports publicists. His areas of oversight include the Wildcats’ athletics web site, sports publications, radio broadcasting, video display board, video webcasting, athletics newsletter, and the Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame.
Brackmann is in her fifth year with Linfield in an enhanced role as assistant director for external relations and as the department's senior woman administrator. She provides leadership and support toward the day-to-day operations of the sports information office and coordinates annual events, such as the Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet and Wildcat Open golf tournament. She offers additional administrative support to the athletics office, including NCAA reporting, and oversees student engagement and service as the primary adviser to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
During the 2014-15 academic year, the two athletics communications professionals provided extended coverage of Linfield’s prolonged runs through the NCAA football, baseball and softball playoffs. In addition, Linfield served as host school for the NWC Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships in Sunriver, Ore., which Brackmann covered in person.
“Sharing the good news of Linfield Athletics with the media and our social media friends and followes really takes a team effort,” said Bird. “It’s been great to collaborate with Katherine throughout the year on the coverage of all Linfield sports teams. We enjoy working with all the sports communications professionals at our fellow Northwest Conference schools."
“This co-award represents the truly collaborative, team approach to sports information we enjoy at Linfield,” said Brackmann. “I am very proud of the way in which we are able to thoroughly promote our deserving student-athletes, coaches and programs. Sharing this award with Kelly is a true honor.”
Jack Sareault, who served for a number of years as sports information director for the Northwest Conference, was instrumental in documenting the league's entire sports history, going all the way back to its founding in 1926. In recognition of his invaluable work, the NWC SID of the Year award was named in his honor and is given annually to the top athletics communications officer as voted on by all the conference’s athletics communications personnel.
Previous Jack Sareault Award winners
2013-14 - Blair Cash, George Fox; 2012-13 - Steve Flegel, Whitworth; 2011-12 - Nick Dawson, Pacific Lutheran; 2010-11 - Blake Timm, Pacific;
2009-10 - Chris Thompson, Puget Sound; 2008-09 - Blair Cash, George Fox;
2007-08 - Kelly Bird, Linfield;
2006-07 - Blake Timm, Pacific;
2005-06 - Steve Flegel, Whitworth/Northwest Conference