University of North Carolina Athletics
Sports Information Director Earns Accolades
June 21, 1999 | General
May 25, 1999
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Rick Brewer, the sports information director at the University of North Carolina for 24 years, will receive the highest honor given by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) when he receives the Arch Ward Award during the CoSIDA Workshop this July in Orlando.
The award is given annually to a sports information director who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of college sports information and has brought dignity and prestige to the profession.
A 1971 graduate of North Carolina, Brewer is in his 31st year in the Tar Heel Sports Information Office. He was a student assistant at UNC for three years and was named the schools first assistant SID after graduation. He served in that capacity for four years before being becoming SID in 1975. He was named assistant athletic director in 1990 and associate athletic director in 1996.
Brewer was inducted into CoSIDAs Hall of Fame in 1991 and served as CoSIDA president in 1996.
At the 1996 Final Four he was named by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association as the ninth winner of its Katha Quinn Award. The award, named for the late St. John's SID, is given to recognize someone who has rendered a special service to the media in its coverage of college basketball. Brewer, Quinn and Roger Valdiserri of Notre Dame are the only SIDs who have been selected for the award at this time.
Twice he was appointed by the NCAA Council to serve terms on the NCAA Communications Committee.
In 1984 Brewer served as a press officer for the United States Olympic Committee at the Summer Games in Los Angeles. He has handled similar duties at two U.S. Olympic Festivals-- at Indianapolis in 1982 and in North Carolina in 1987.
He was a member of the Media Coordination Committee at the Final Four of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championships for 13 years. He also served as media coordinator when Carolina hosted 1988 first and second-round games in the men's basketball tournament. In 1982 he handled press arrangements at the NCAA Men's Golf Championships in Pinehurst.
At Carolina he has worked with 19 football bowl teams and 31 straight basketball teams which have reached post-season play. That includes 28 NCAA Tournament teams and nine which have made the Final Four. Altogether, he has now worked 22 NCAA Final Fours.
Brewer is a native of North Carolina, growing up in Winston-Salem and Greensboro.
