Colorado Mesa Named 2020-21 J.W. Campbell/Con Marshall Sports Information Department of the Year
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa sports information department has been named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s (RMAC) 2020-21 J.W Campbell/Con Marshall Sports Information Department of the Year, the league announced Thursday.
In an unprecedented year of collegiate athletics, the CMU sports information staff banded together to ensure that the student-athlete experience within the Mavericks’ athletic department and around the conference was of top concern. Throughout the 2020-21 academic year, Colorado Mesa Sports Information Director David Jahnke and his team hosted eight RMAC championship events, in addition to providing coverage of the Mavericks’ 29 NCAA-sponsored sports.
“We are extremely humbled to earn this recognition,” Jahnke said. “To be voted on by our peers, during an extremely difficult season for everyone, is truly an honor. We would like to thank President Tim Foster and President John Marshall along with Directors of Athletics Bryan Rooks and Kris Mort for their continued support of our office.”
“It is truly an honor to award David Jahnke, Chris Day and the entire CMU sports information staff this prestigious award,” RMAC Director of Strategic Communications Zack Chavez said. “In my short time with the conference, Jahnke and his team have been an incredible source of knowledge within a league that is riddled with experienced sports information staffers.“
In this year’s vote, Western Colorado (WCU) finished in second place, while Colorado School of Mines (CSM) came in third. In addition to CMU, WCU and CSM, each RMAC sports information department completed a unique academic year that presented obstacles in a variety of ways. Each of the league’s 15 sports information departments has made accomplishments through unprecedented times.
The J.W. Campbell/Con Marshall Sports Information Department of the Year award is named in honor of two RMAC Hall of Fame sports information directors. J.W. Campbell was a long-time SID at WCU. In addition to his SID duties, he also served as the assistant to the WCU President and an assistant professor, where he instructed seven disciplines. Campbell authored two books and wrote numerous articles for a variety of magazines and trade publications. He was inducted into the RMAC Hall of Fame in July 2007.
Con Marshall spent 36 years as the Sports Information Director at Chadron State College. The Chadron, Neb., native’s name was added to the award in 2007 and he was inducted into the RMAC Hall of Fame in July 2014. He has received a 25-year award from the College Sports Information Directors of America and has served on the Harlon Hill Award selection committee.
RECIPIENTS OF THE J.W. CAMPBELL/CON MARSHALL AWARD
2020-21: Colorado Mesa
2019-20: Colorado School of Mines
2018-19: Colorado School of Mines
2017-18: Dave Jahnke, Colorado Mesa
2016-17: Tim Flynn, Colorado School of Mines
2015-16: Jared Verner, UCCS
2014-15: Andy Schlichting, MSU Denver
2013-14: Alex Helmbrecht, Chadron State
2012-13: Colin Bonnicksen, Colorado School of Mines
2011-12: Anthony Sandstrom, CSU Pueblo
2010-11: Andy Schlichting, Metro State
2009-10: Peter Yazvac, Nebraska-Kearney
2008-09: Jeff Duggan, Colorado School of Mines
2007-08: Chris Day, Adams State College
2006-07: Doug Fitzgerald, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
2005-06: Peter Yazvac, Nebraska-Kearney & Chris Day, Adams State College
2004-05: Jason McCullough, Fort Hays State
2003-04: Greg Murphy, Colorado School of Mines
2002-03: Jeff Duggan, Regis University
2001-02: Chris Day, Adams State College