Rich Herman, who has served as director of sports information at Clarion for more
than 35 years, will retire, effective today, Oct. 30.
Herman, a native of Ellwood City, came to Clarion in August 1980. He has been an adamant supporter of student athletes, having promoted 95 football players alone to All-American status. In 1999 he received the NCAA Division I Wrestling SID of the Year award from the National Wrestling Media Association. He was instrumental in the selection of Kristin Day selection as Capital One NCAA D-2 Academic All-America of the Year in 2015 and NCAA Woman of the Year earlier this month.
Herman has earned 19 citations from College Sports Information Directors Association for award-winning publications. He served as president of NCAA D-2 SIDA for two years (2009-2011) and was the organization's first vice-president from 2006 to 2009. He has served as vice chairman of CoSIDA's publications contest committee since 1990. In 2011 he was inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame.
That same year, Herman's peers voted him the top athletics media professional by naming him the winner of the Warren Berg Award, presented annually to a college division member who has made outstanding contributions to the field of college sports information and who has brought dignity and prestige to the profession. He also received CoSIDA's Bob Kenworthy award in 2012, honoring outstanding community service.
Herman is a charter member of Clarion University Sports Hall of Fame. He has served on the hall's selection committee since 1989. He will continue to serve on the committee after retirement.
From 1989 to 1999, Herman was Clarion's head baseball coach. His players and teams won NCAA individual titles and set NCAA, PSAC and Clarion records. He assisted with coaching the team from 1980 to 1987. He served on the NCAA Division II East Regional Baseball Committee from 1993 to 1995.
"People don't realize what he's done for both the athletic program and the university," said former athletic director Frank Lignelli, who hired Herman. "He's played an important role in the success of the athletic program with the publicity he has brought it. High school students and coaches became more aware of Clarion and the success we had ... He also helped in the recruitment of non-student-athletes who became aware of Clarion because of the success of our athletic teams."
Serving the Clarion community, Herman was elected to two, four-year terms on Clarion Borough Council (2001-2009), serving as chair of Public Safety and on the Borough Recreation Committee. He gave official testimony to the Pennsylvania House Committee on Government in reference to Pennsylvania borough non-taxable properties in 2008, and also spoke on PCN Network from the Capitol steps on the influence of non-taxable properties in Pennsylvania.
He was sports information director for PSAC football from 1985 to 1993; vice president of the PSAC sports information directors from 1988 to 1992; and a representative on Clarion Borough's Civil Service Commission from 1996 to 2001.
Herman graduated from Point Park College in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and communications. At Point Park, he was a four-year letterman as a catcher on the baseball team that won three District 18 titles and placed fourth at the NAIA College Baseball World Series in 1974.
"I have had the honor and privilege of being Clarion's SID since 1980. It is a position I have cherished," Herman said. "Working with administration, coaches and student-athletes has been so rewarding. I am grateful to all beyond words. I'd like to thank former athletic director Frank Lignelli and former vice president Ron Wilshire for giving me the opportunity to be part of this great university, and Chris Rossetti, who was my assistant for 16 years, for his dedication and work. Finally, to my parents who gave me my values, my brothers, and most importantly my wife Paula, who has been there for me every step of the way, I owe so much. Thank you just doesn't seem to be enough. I am and will always be Clarion proud."
Herman and his wife, who retired in 2014 from Clarion's financial aid office, live in Clarion. They have a dog, Lexi.