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SID Ed Hill, Jr Named CoSIDA Trailblazer

30-year Howard veteran to be honored during CoSIDA Convention in June

STORY WRITTEN BY FORMER SCSU SID / SPECIAL AWARDS COMMITTEE MEMBER BILL HAMILTON, APRIL 7, 2014
COSIDA STORY LINK

In 1983, Edward (Ed) Hill Jr. gave up a career as a sportswriter to become the assistant sports information director at Howard University in Washington,
Ed Hill - group photo #1 - Trailblazer Award
Ed Hill, Jr. - group photo #2
D.C. Two years later, he was elevated to the top position. Good move for Hill. Great move for College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and the profession!

Hill is set to receive the 2014 CoSIDA Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award during the group's annual workshop June 8-11, 2014 at Orlando, Fla. The award is given annually to a member of the group who is a pioneer in the field of sports information who has mentored and helped improve the level of ethnic and gender diversity within the organization.

"It is truly a great honor to be recognized with the Trailblazer Award," Hill said. "I feel that it is especially noteworthy that I am being honored during the same time that the award is being named for a true 'trailblazer' in the profession, Mary Jo Haverbeck (former associate SID at Penn State and the first recipient of the award).

"As with an award of this magnitude, there are so many people who are responsible for this honor. I just happen to be the recipient. This goes to all the 
individuals who mentored and advised me over the years and all the outstanding young people who I have had the privilege of working with. I am deeply humbled."

During his long tenure at Howard – which has spanned nearly 30 years -- Hill has mentored numerous students who have gone on to careers in sports information, media relations, broadcasting and related fields. A big credit to Hill is that many of them have been women. Hill's influence can be seen throughout the country – at ESPN, on network television, in sports information and media relations offices, in NFL front offices and elsewhere.

"Mr. Hill has been a supporter of, and advocate for, my development both professionally and personally," said Chevonne Mansfield, Director of Media Relations at the American Athletic Conference. "He has a genuine interest in helping people and he didn't just go out of his way for me. Ed Hill has been devoted to mentoring minority students interested in working in sports communications for what seems like forever. It's only now as a part of his network that I can see how many minority students he's trained for careers in sports. 
Ed Hill Jr - group photo #3

"His reputation for extensively training and mentoring professionals is a well-regarded stamp of approval, one I'm proud to have earned. He finds ways to encourage and reward people and entrusts them with responsibilities that build up acumen and confidence."

In addition to Mansfield, Hill can count on his 'mentoring tree,' Teri Washington, Director of Communications and Marketing for DC Events and formerly of the NBA and Denver Broncos; Romanda Noble-Watson, SID at Claflin (SC) and a former assistant at Howard and South Carolina State; Kevin Paige, assistant SID at Morgan State and a former assistant at Coppin State; Bruce Speight, Senior Director of Media Relations for the New York Jets; Jim Trotter, ESPN and formerly of Sports Illustrated.com; Elena Bergeron, ESPN The Magazine; and Gus Johnson, Fox Sports, formerly of CBS Sports, and others.

"Ed has been an integral part my professional advancement from the time I was a student," Noble-Watson said. "As his first-ever assistant at Howard 
University, he helped me develop into a more prolific writer while encouraging me to get more involved in the organizations of the profession such as CoSIDA and BCSIDA. I owe the many advancements in my career to Ed as he instilled in me the confidence that I could stand on my own."
There are so many others who feel the same way, including Washington, who wanted to express her sentiments.

"It is difficult to quantify the impact that Ed Hill has had on his students through the years, but one thing is certain, his mentorship has helped countless young professionals live their dream by forging a career in the sports industry," Washington said. "The Ed Hill Public Relations/Media Tree is an impressive network, and his greatest legacy is the positive influence he has had on many lives. I feel blessed to have started my career under his tutelage."

"I couldn't be happier for Ed," said Trotter upon learning of Hill's pending honor. "Nationwide, the sports media are filled with graduates of Howard and Ed is a major reason. He provided us with practical experience that gave us a real taste of what it would be like in the real world. Beyond that, he was someone you could speak to about life in general. I feel comfortable saying that anyone who has worked with Ed will credit him with being a tremendous mentor and resource. This recognition is long overdue, in my opinion."

During his tenure at Howard, Hill has been on the sidelines or at courtside for hundreds of Howard athletic events, including more than 300 Bison football 
Ed Hill family photo
games. He has attended 10 NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments Howard has participated in, as well as NCAA tournaments in softball and men's soccer. He has also worked several NCAA men's regional basketball tournaments in the D.C. area.

Hill, a member of CoSIDA since 1983, has attended all but four workshops since joining. He has participated on and moderated several CoSIDA workshop panels. He was honored by the group in 2005 with the Bob Kenworthy Community Service Award and in 2009, received the CoSIDA 25-Year Award.  In addition, he has served on the CoSIDA Board and is a member of the Special Awards Committee.

He is also a member of the Black College Sports Information Directors of America (BCSIDA) and was inducted into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.

Before coming to Howard, the Wilmington, N.C., native and the University of the District of Columbia graduate, was a staff writer for the Winston-Salem Chronicleand the Black College Sports Page. A onetime freelance writer for theWashington Post, Hill has also written stories that have appeared in USA Todayand the NCAA News.
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