CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Paul Misner, the Director for Sports Information at the University of Dubuque, is proud to be a member of College Sports Communicators (CSC).
To celebrate CSC’s annual appreciation week, Misner reflected on his experiences and shared his thoughts on the athletic communications field.
Misner described his favorite part about being a member of CSC as the ability to learn from others while sharing the struggles and issues that come with the profession.
“The CSC is an organization that’s been around for nearly 70 years, and it’s an honor to be in the same group as so many other athletic communicators from all levels of college athletics,” said Misner. “Over the years, I’ve attended several conventions and met many great people who share similar interests and the same passion for their jobs.”
Inspired by the greats
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“I was fortunate to work with three individuals in Iowa who worked in the sports information profession for over 40 years,” said Misner. “Duane Schroeder at Wartburg, Larry Happel at Central, and Jerry Hansen at Briar Cliff and Clarke. They showed me it’s important to send out results immediately to other schools so we can all get our jobs done in a timely fashion.”
Misner has been in the athletic communications field for over 20 years, and he credits three legends in the industry for guiding him in his career.
“I remember many times in the early part of my tenure making calls to Duane and Larry for any question that I had, and they were always available to help,” Misner said. “I was happy to be able to work alongside them and learn.”
Advice to current students
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Misner has learned a lot from his mentors in the profession, and he wants current students to know that being an athletic communicator is a demanding but rewarding career.
“Understand that not everything is fun in what we do,” Misner said. “It’s the long hours, late nights, and busy weekends, but it’s all worthwhile when you’re allowed to promote student-athletes for national awards and see them succeed on and off the field.”
Misner added that it’s important to enjoy working with people and be comfortable interacting with student-athletes, staff, parents, and alumni on a daily basis.
“You must enjoy people and be comfortable interacting with student-athletes, staff, parents, and alumni on a daily basis,” he said.
Misner also emphasized the importance of writing skills and grammar in the field.
“Learn to write, read good writers, and develop other areas after you learn writing skills and proper grammar,” Misner said.
A passion for Division III
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Misner has been a part of the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) for over 20 years, and he credits the conference’s success to the student-athletes’ love for competition and their schools.
“The American Rivers Conference has provided over 100 years of competitiveness and is looked at as a premier conference among DIII,” Misner said. “Our student-athletes win national championships based on Midwestern work ethic while being good stewards of the A-R-C.”
Misner added that he enjoys the Division III level because it’s more about being a student-athlete.
“We have a niche where student-athletes still love competing on a personal level for their teammates and their school,” Misner said.
Looking ahead
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As Misner looks to the future of the athletic communications field, he acknowledges that technology will continue to play a significant role.
“Our work continues to evolve — some for the better and other ways not so much,” Misner said. “Artificial intelligence will remove the personal touch of writing in the future, and our time will be utilized in other areas.”
Despite the challenges and changes in the profession, Misner remains passionate about his work and the impact he can have on student-athletes.
“Working with student-athletes keeps you young, and it’s exciting to see the growth they make during their time on our campuses,” Misner said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of their journey and to promote their successes on and off the field.”
Don't forget to become a fan of the American Rivers Conference on Facebook @AmericanRiversConference, X (Twitter) @AmerRiversConf, and Instagram @AmericanRiversConference.
About the American Rivers Conference
The Conference dates back to December 8, 1922, when representatives from 12 colleges got together and formed the "Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association." Honoring its heritage in Iowa and its expansion outside the state, the American Rivers Conference brand was established on August 9, 2018, to build on the academic and athletic success provided by its legacy, the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The A-R-C has nine full-time members: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College.
