Doane SID wins GPAC SID of the Year honors

CRETE, NE — Doane University Assistant Athletic Director for Athletics Communication Rick Schmuecker has been selected as the 2021-22 Dave Rebstock/Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Sports Information Director (SID) of the Year presented by Hauff Mid-America Sports.  This is the second time Schmuecker has been honored as the winner of the "The Rebby" award. A vote of the league's sports information directors determined the winner. 

Schmuecker came to Doane in 2001 after graduating from Midland and started as Assistant Sports Information Director. He was promoted in 2006 to lead the department and now serves as Assistant Athletics Director for Athletics Communication. He has been tied to the GPAC every year since it formed in 2000, as a student, women's basketball assistant coach, and administrator.

Schmuecker oversees the promotion and publicity for 23 varsity sports at Doane which includes preparing media releases and game stories, gameday statistics, on-site video board content, content for all of the Tigers social media accounts.

In addition, he coordinates the Doane Sports Network and the athletics website.  

In the last year he also took on the role of overseeing that the NAIA Rules for NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) are upheld at Doane University. He also assisted in the planning for upcoming renovations for athletic facilities at Doane and helped the Student-Athlete Leadership team by providing publicity for events they had planned. For all of his efforts on campus he was nominated for the Thomas Doane Outstanding Staff Award.

Last season Doane played host to four GPAC Championships events (Indoor Track, Cheer/Dance, Baseball, Outdoor Track).

"Doane did an amazing job hosting numerous GPAC Championships this year and Rick's coordination on media efforts was incredible," said GPAC Commissioner Corey Westra.  He is a great resource for our league and Doane University"

Schmuecker will be the GPAC nominee for the NAIA Sports Information Director of the Year.