OXON HILL, Md. – The College of Idaho athletic communication office capped a banner 2017-18 season with 14 Top-10 finishes, including two "Best in the NAIA" awards in the NAIA-SIDA Publications and Media Contest, announced today by the national office at the College Sports Information Directors of America convention.
Led by Director of Athletic Communication,
Mike Safford Jr., C of I was recognized with the No. 1 Publicity Video of the Year, along with the No. 1 Season Preview/Review in the annual Dr. Jack W. Bell Writing Contest.
Safford produced the award-winning pregame video prior to the start of the Cascade Conference Men's Basketball Championships – tying the history of C of I basketball to the current team – which was played on the video board prior to team introductions the final three home games of the season.
His postseason recap of the C of I football season – including positional breakdowns and an updated record book – was recognized by his peers.
"It was a banner season for C of I Athletics, making it easy to tell our story," Safford said. "I am humbled that my peers recognized the work that my assistant, Elizabeth Kidd; photos from my wife, Liza; the entire C of I Marketing and Communications Department and I did to produce amazing content for Coyote fans near and far."
Safford, the 2016 Ike Pearson Lifetime Achievement Award winner for the NAIA, has recorded 59 career Top-10 finishes in the NAIA-SIDA Publications and Media Contest in his 20 years in the profession, along with six "Best in the NAIA" awards.
C of I was honored with the No. 2 athletics website in the NAIA – as YoteAthletics.com received high praise for photography, content, accuracy and historical data – while the 2017-18 men's basketball season preview was honored with the bronze medal in the Bell Writing Contest.
The honors were a part of an amazing year for the Cascade Conference in the NAIA-SIDA Publications and Media Contest – as members of the media relations staff at Northwest Christian, Oregon Tech, Southern Oregon and Providence all earned "Best in the NAIA" honors, combining for seven of the 16 first-place awards.
College of Idaho Honors in NAIA-SIDA Publications and Media Contest
No. 1 Publicity Video (Men's Basketball Pregame Video)
No. 1 Season Review (2017 Football)
No. 2 Athletics Website
No. 3 Season Preview (2017-18 Men's Basketball)
No. 4 Brochure (2017-18 Men's/Women's Basketball Media Guide)
No. 4 Schedule Poster (2017 Football)
No. 4 Game Highlights (Football vs. Montana State Northern)
No. 5 Game Notes (Football vs. MSU-Northern)
No. 6 Game Notes (Men's Basketball vs. St. Francis)
No. 6 Game Highlights (Football vs. Montana Western)
No. 7 Radio/TV Call of the Year (Men's Basketball wins CCC title)
No. 7 Publicity Video (Football Intro Video)
No. 8 Game Notes (Women's Basketball vs. Oregon Tech/Southern Oregon)
No. 8 Game Highlights (Men's Basketball vs. Warner Pacific)
