General | 1/12/2021 9:53:34 AM
Don Sherman is in his tenth season at Elmira College, serving as Associate Director of Athletic Communication and Business Development. He is in charge of publicizing all of Elmira’s 16 varsity sports in addition to oversseeing social media efforts, producing media guides for EC’s athletic teams and handling the maintenance of the sports portion of the college’s web site.
Sherman was the recipient of the 2013-14 Paul Brand Staff Member of the Year award, which is presented in recognition of one's positive impact upon the Elmira College athletic program as well as the college in general, both on campus and in the community. Sherman and his staff also received the 2014 ECAC Award of Appreciation. In his time at Elmira College, Sherman has served on the ECAC Men's Lacrosse Championship committee and the NCAA East Region ranking committee for women's lacrosse. He was also an NCAA site representative for the first and second rounds of the 2016 Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship Tournament, held at SUNY Cortland.
Sherman holds a bachelor's degree from fellow Empire 8 institution St. John Fisher College and a master's degree in general management from Elmira College.
Don Sherman - Today's Leaders
School: Elmira College
Title: Associate Director of Athletic Communication & Business Development
Year at Current Institution: Tenth season
College Attended/Class Year: St. John Fisher College (undergraduate, 2008), Elmira College (graduate, 2011)
Playing Career: St. John Fisher Men’s Tennis, 2004-08
Favorite Professional Team: New York Giants
Favorite TV Show: The Office
Last TV Show You Binge Watched: The Mandalorian
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Mint Chocolate Chip
How Does The Empire 8 Stand Out Among Other Conferences: I think the student-athletes of the E8 stand out, not just for what they do on the field of competition, but what they accomplish in the classroom and in their communities. I think the E8 Student-Athlete Summit is a great example of how the conference enhances the student-athlete experience and brings them closer together.
Favorite Athletic Memory from Your Time as a Player in College: I have so many great memories with the St. John Fisher tennis program, from our annual trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina, to long bus rides for various matches. Though, I think my favorite memory was during my senior year when we defeated our down the road rival Nazareth College in our second to last match of the season. That win clinched an E8 berth for us and it was our program’s first win against Naz in over 10 years.
Favorite Memory as a Coach/Administrator at Elmira: I think my favorite memory was our inaugural Hall of Fame induction ceremony during the fall of 2019. I served as the emcee and had the privilege to interview some truly amazing people, including my former boss, Pat Thompson, who gave me my start in collegiate athletics. That was a really special moment and I’ll always cherish my memories from that night.
Who Was Your Biggest Mentor and Why: The biggest mentors in my life have been my parents. The main message from them was that hard work pays off, be kind to others and you need to be able to work with others. My biggest professional mentor was CoSIDA Lifetime Achievement Award winner Tom McGuire. Tom was my boss at Bloomsburg University and he really helped me build a solid foundation as an athletics communication professional. He was always there to guide me, but he also granted me the creative freedom to grow in graphic design and in other areas that have helped me get to where I am today.
Most Rewarding Aspect of Being a Coach/Administrator: From my perspective, the most rewarding aspect is the impact you can have on people. We work so closely with coaches, administrators, other campus members, and in my opinion, most importantly, the student-athletes. To be able to provide a memorable experience for them and document their experience in a way that they can look back on fondly several years down the road is why I do what I do.
What Have You Learned About Yourself as a Leader and In Your Role: I think that what I’ve learned is that I try to lead by example. I’ll never ask someone who works for me to do something that I myself wouldn’t do. I think that’s so important in any leadership role.
What Type of Leader Are You: I’d like to think that I am a leader that doesn’t exist or work in a silo. I appreciate and encourage feedback from others. Although I may think my idea is best, I’m often humbled by ideas and proposals from those who have worked with me.
What Are Some Positive Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic You Have Experienced? Without having athletic contests to cover, I’ve certainly had more down time than I have had in my professional career. As such, I’ve been able to reconnect with people and become even closer to the people I love.
How Have You Had to Adjust as a Coach or Administrator to the Pandemic?
I’ve had to become more flexible than I previously was. COVID-19 causes changes to so many things on a daily basis. Once you think you know what’s going on, it changes a day later. So, I’ve learned to go with the flow.
One Thing Most People Do Not Know About You: Most people think I’m Italian, but I’m actually half Mexican. My mother came to this country from Mexico when she was very young.
Advice for First-Year Student-Athletes: I’d say soak in everything you can from the experience. Listen to your coaches and teammates, have memorable experiences with them, and most importantly, STUDY! You are there to get an education first and foremost, so hit the books, be eligible and work hard on the field of competition.
Advice for Graduating Student-Athletes: Leave it all out there, enjoy the experience, and finish strong. This is your last ride, last time you’ll be able to be around your friends in this sort of setting, and more than likely the last time you will play in an organized competitive setting. Lastly, solidify references prior to graduation by reaching out to your coaches, professors, and administrators.
The Empire 8 Conference's “Today’s Leaders Compete Here” Series features a coach or administrator from one of its member institutions who exemplifies leadership.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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