BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Ben Blevins of the University of Michigan is the 2019-20 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Women’s Division I Sports Information Director of the Year.
Selected by the CWPA Director of Communications, the SID of the Year award is presented to individuals who “have achieved notable excellence in the field of water polo communications during the past academic year.”
A four-time SID of the Year selection following honors in 2016 and 2019 to surround co-recognition in 2017 with Josh Schur of Harvard University, Blevins joined the University of Michigan athletic department in September 2015 as the Director of External Communications and Public Relations. Responsible for the day-to-day management of the communications office, while also leading special projects, he is directly responsible for the coverage of water polo and women’s gymnastics.
Blevins came to Ann Arbor after working at Stanford University for two years as an Assistant Athletic Communications Director handling video for all 36 sports and working with the three rowing teams. He previously worked at the University of Texas (2011-12), Duke University (2007-11) and the University of Alabama (2006-07).
A 2004 graduate of Colorado State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration/Marketing, he earned a Master’s Degree in Sports Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 2012.
Blevins’ award marks the sixth CWPA Division I SID of the Year laurel presented by the league office since the merger of the Southern, Northern and Western Divisions into one format prior to the 2015 season.
The 13th year of Athletics Communications recognition by the CWPA dating back to the first awards following the 2008 season, Blevins’ recognition marks the ninth nod bestowed upon Michigan by the league office as Ryan Sosin claimed the 2008, 2009, and 2011 awards outright and shared the 2010 award with Doak Henry of Indiana University. Leah Howard shared the 2013 Western Division accolade with Samantha Dewig of Indiana University.
Further, Blevins’ moves him into sole possession of second place for the most Women’s SID of the Year awards in league history behind Sosin.
