Story details courtesy of Barb Kowal, CSC Special Awards Committee member/former CSC Director of Operations and Professional Development

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Galluadet University's Associate Athletic Director for Communications, Sam Atkinson, has been named to the College Sports Communicators Hall of Fame class of 2026. Atkinson is one of six CSC members honored and one of two Division III members to earn the recognition.

With his upcoming induction to the CSC Hall of Fame, Sam Atkinson adds to his impressive award and leadership legacy within college athletics. 

The Associate Athletic Director for Communications at Gallaudet University, Atkinson is in his 16th year of service at Gallaudet, the world's only university in which all programs and services are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students. He was promoted to his current role in April 2017 after serving as assistant AD and sports information director. He began his career as Salisbury University’s sports information director, serving for three years.

Appointed to the CSC Board of Directors in June 2015 for a three-year term, he was elected as CSC's Third Vice President in June 2017 and became the organization's President in 2020-21. Atkinson became the second Division III member to become President in the 65-year history of CSC/CoSIDA.

Atkinson’s prior CSC honors include the 2014 Bob Kenworthy Community Service Award, 2020 Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award, 2022 President’s Award (for his service on the Executive Board of Directors), and the 2023 Warren Berg Award for outstanding commitment and contributions in the college division. Twice, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) has recognized Atkinson and his staff with regional Grant Berger Media Awards for outstanding promotion of the sport.

On the NCAA national scene, Atkinson has been an integral part of two Division III championship programs - men’s basketball and women’s volleyball. Named to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball National Committee in July 2016 to serve a four-year term, Atkinson was elected by committee peers to serve as the chair for the  2018-19 season and was re-elected to the chair position for 2019-20 - a first for an athletics communicator.

Atkinson concluded a four-year term (2021-25) on the NCAA Division III women's volleyball national committee and was chair in 2023 and 2024, another first for an athletic communicator on that committee.

Atkinson was the chair of the CSC Goodwill and Wellness Committee for eight years and was key in establishing new initiatives. In 2011, he helped to organize CSC's first convention 5K run/walk at Marco Island, Fla., where nearly 100 people participated and over $1,600 and hundreds of clothing items were donated to St. Matthew's House in Naples, Fla. Since then, the annual 5k run/walk has nearly tripled participants from CSC and NACDA and contributed thousands to charity. His committee also debuted the Volunteer15 program in the summer of 2014, designed to promote more philanthropy among CSC members and to recognize outstanding civic and volunteer work.

"I’m deeply humbled by this honor and profoundly thankful for College Sports Communicators, an organization that has been a constant source of support, opportunity, and community throughout my caree," stated Atkinson. "I still remember attending my first CSC convention in 2007, early in my professional journey, not knowing anyone — yet immediately feeling welcomed and encouraged to get involved. CSC gave me a professional home and reinforced my belief in service, leadership, and advocating for the athletic communications profession.

I’m incredibly grateful to Gallaudet University, Salisbury University, and the many student-athletes, colleagues, mentors, and friends who have trusted me and shared this journey. For me, this work has never been about individual recognition, but about lifting the profession and ensuring that voices too often underrepresented are seen, valued, and heard."

The members of this Hall of Fame class represent NCAA Division I institutions (Emig, Trainor, White), NCAA Division II (Outlaw) and NCAA Division III (Atkinson and Bird). Western Carolina moved from Division II to Division I during White’s tenure. Two former CSC (CoSIDA) presidents are also represented (Atkinson and Trainor). Outlaw and White were selected from CSC’s veterans/former sports information nominees whose professional and personal deeds and accomplishments helped make possible the stature of the athletics communications profession today.

Each of the six 2026 Hall of Fame inductees will join their predecessors on the CSC Hall of Fame plaques that are on permanent display at the NCAA Hall of Champions in Indianapolis.

“The latest class of Special Award winners for College Sports Communicators showcases years of thoughtful leadership, groundbreaking successes and service to our profession,” noted Patrick Crawford, 2025-26 CSC President and Purdue University Associate AD-Strategic Communications. “These individuals were able to not only diligently serve their institutions and organizations but also make significant impacts within our membership that stretches across all divisions and levels of college sports. For both our full grouping of Special Award winners and specifically the CSC Hall of Fame class, we are thrilled to be recognizing their efforts and careers at CSCUnite26 in Las Vegas in June.” 

In addition to the Hall of Fame, other Special Awards recognize emerging leaders, community service, lifetime achievement, organization trailblazers, outstanding media contributions, and 25-Year service honors. 

“The College Sports Communicators Hall of Fame honors those whose careers have shaped not only how our stories are told, but how our profession is defined,” said Jason Yaman, CSC Executive Director. “The 2026 Hall of Famers represent a standard of excellence, integrity, and service that inspires generations of communicators across all levels of college athletics.  We look forward to honoring their career accomplishments, and the accomplishments of all our award recipients, in June.” 

All honors will be presented at CSC's 69th annual convention, #CSCUnite26 at the Mandalay Bay Resort taking place June 7-10 in Las Vegas. The convention is held in conjunction with NACDA and Affiliates Convention Week. The six members of the Hall of Fame class will be inducted into the HOF on Monday, June 8, in ceremonies during a special CSC celebration award night.
 

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The United East boasts 14 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Harrisburg, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.