CoSIDA names Lawrence’s Doug Vance new executive director

By Staff Reports     Sep 18, 2013

Former Kansas University associate athletic director Doug Vance has been named executive director of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), it was announced Wednesday.

Vance, who lives in Lawrence, has worked as executive director of the Kansas Recreation and Park Association (KRPA) since July 2004.

Vance is a member of CoSIDA’s Hall of Fame and a former president of the organization who has 30-plus years experience in college athletic media relations administration and association management.

In his CoSIDA position, Vance, according to the organization’s news release, “will provide strategic leadership, have oversight to CoSIDA’s initiatives, and manage the daily operations of the 2,900-plus member international organization. In its 57th year, CoSIDA is the national organization comprised of the athletic communications, sports public relations and media relations professionals throughout all levels of collegiate athletics in the United States and Canada.”

Vance served as KU’s sports information director during both the Larry Brown and Roy Williams eras of basketball. He also worked with six football coaches (Mike Gottfried, Bob Valesente, Glen Mason, Terry Allen, interim coach Tom Hayes and Mark Mangino), not to mention three athletic directors (Monte Johnson, Bob Frederick and Al Bohl).

As chief executive of KRPA, he worked with the board of directors while managing the administrative, sponsorship and fund raising efforts. He also coordinated external public relations, membership services, education programs, legislative, financial and public policy affairs of the association. Vance was named as the 2012 chair of the Council of State Executive Directors, an organization of parks and recreation state association executive directors from across the country.

Prior to his KRPA position, Vance worked 20 years as an administrator in KU’s department. He served 18 years as KU’s assistant athletics director for media relations and the final two years as associate athletics director for communications.

“We welcome Doug Vance home to CoSIDA to serve as our next executive director and eagerly look forward to the next chapter of his work with our organization,” stated 2013-14 president Shelly Poe of Auburn University who chaired the selection committee.

“Our search led us to meet with a number of excellent candidates who think highly of our organization and its members. It’s extremely satisfying to see so much enthusiasm for CoSIDA and its future.

“With Doug, he brings back to CoSIDA not only a decade of expertise in association management, but a long-standing love for the communications role in intercollegiate athletics. Having served as the president of two national organizations, Doug’s leadership and consensus-building prowess will benefit our members in all divisions as we continue to grow as the strategic communicators for college athletics.”

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