CLARION – Rich Herman, Clarion University Sports Information Director, received a 25-Year Award from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), recognizing his over quarter century of service to the sports information profession.
The award was given on July 2, during the organization’s annual convention in Tampa, Fla. CoSIDA President Charles Bloom presented the award during a special awards luncheon.
“I was really honored to receive this award in front of my peers in the profession,” said Herman. “Being recognized at your national convention is a very rewarding experience.”
Herman will begin his 29th year as Clarion University’s Sports Information Director on August 23.
In his 28 years with CoSIDA, Herman has won 19 citations for sports publications. He is currently vice-chair of CoSIDA’s Publications Contest Committee, having served on the committee since 1990.
Herman is also active with the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Sports Information Directors and NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors of America.
With the PSAC he served as football sports information director, 1985-93, and vice president of the PSAC Sports Information Directors, 1988-92. During the last 25 years, Clarion has had 81 football All-Americans, the most in the PSAC.
He is currently serving as the vice president of the NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors of America, a post he has held since 2006. From 1993-95, he served on the NCAA Division II East Region Baseball Committee. In 1999, he received the NCAA Division I Wrestling Sports Information Director of the Year award from the National Wrestling Media Association.
In the community, Herman is in his second elected four-year term as a member of Clarion Borough Council. He is chair of the borough’s public safety committee. In March, he testified before Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives Local Government Committee concerning HB 2018, the “Tax Exempt Property Municipal Assistance Act,” and participated in the June 25 rally for the bill in the capital rotunda in Harrisburg, which was televised on PCN. He previously served as a member of Clarion Borough’s Civil Service Commission from 1996-2001.
A 1976 graduate of Point Park College, Herman was a dean’s list student and received a B.A. degree in journalism and communications. He was a four year letterman at catcher for the Pioneers’ baseball team, which won three District 18 titles and place fourth in the NAIA College Baseball World Series in 1974.
From 1976-30, he worked in radio, public relations, and was the graduate assistant sports information director at Edinboro University. He joined Clarion University in 1980.
Herman was Clarion University’s head baseball coach from 1989-99. His players and teams won NCAA individual titles and set NCAA, PSAC, and Clarion records. He was an assistant baseball coach at Clarion from 1980-87.
Herman and his wife, Paula, reside in Clarion.
