BYU athletics media wing is evolving

PROVO — At the BYU Athletic Communications office, it's like one big, invisible family.

Also known as the BYU Athletic Media Relations or the BYU Sports Information, this department has experienced an evolution in the last 30 years and now houses seven full-time employees and 13 student interns, who combine forces to promote BYU sports behind the scenes not only to the local media but also to fans all over the world.

"The people here are a big family," said Norma Collett, who serves as the women's basketball sports information director and also supervises three student interns.

"If we all didn't get along, it would be a horrible place to work. I love that about my job, that we all get along," she said.

When Collett started working in this department 10 years ago, she concentrated solely on women's sports, since the office back then was split into two groups, men's and women's athletics under the supervision of Val Hale, former BYU men's athletics director.

Ralph Zobell could tell you about that time, too, and also go back almost two more decades when he started as an intern in 1976 under Dave Schulthess, the founding father of BYU's sports information department.

"Dave Schulthess is an institution," Zobell said "He was the first sports information director at this school. He was also inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame and served as president of CoSIDA in 1979."

Since then, Zobell has served in a full-time position and has promoted almost every sport at BYU. Now, he serves as the sports information director for the baseball team, oversees Web site operations since he first pioneered with sports statistics programs in the late 1970s, and also organizes the game programs for both football and basketball games.

Under the direction of Associate Athletic Director Duff Tittle, this department has tackled many projects including Legacy Hall, All-Access Pass for Cougar Club members and informing the public about the many recent changes in the athletic department.

"Legacy Hall has been a lot of work, but the fun part has been interacting with former athletes," Tittle said. "It's been very busy in the last few months. There's been a lot going on, a lot of changes and press conferences. It's been as busy as I have ever been in my career."