New SID Named to Replace Veneziano

After a month long search, the Harvard Athletic Department has selected Chuck Sullivan as its next sports information director (SID).

Sullivan, who begins his new job on Sept. 22, comes to Harvard from Bryant College, where he spent the past four years as the school’s SID and assistant athletic director.

“I’m obviously excited about coming to Harvard,” Sullivan said. “I view the Harvard position as an opportunity to work with some of the most talented student athletes, coaches and administrators in the country and serve a media market that is second to none in its appetite for sports.”

Sullivan replaces John Veneziano, who decided this summer to leave his post as Harvard’s SID after 14 years on the job.

The SID connects Harvard’s 41 varsity sports teams with the public by keeping statistics, publishing media guides and game-day programs and updating Harvard’s official athletic website. An SID is especially important to media outlets, which must go through his department in order to contact a varsity athlete for an interview.

“We did an extensive search to try and find a replacement for John,” said Steve Staples, the assistant director of athletics for external relations and chair of the replacement committee. “Our search committee was very impressed with Chuck Sullivan’s vision for the role of athletic communications at Harvard.”

Football coach Tim Murphy, basketball coach Frank Sullivan and Sheri Norred, the assistant athletic director for compliance, were also on the committee.

Sullivan will join a staff of three assistant SIDs—Jamie Weir, Cassie Lawton and Kevin Anderson—and one full-time intern Matt McCollester. The group is already at work on the autumn and winter sports seasons.

“I am eager to get started, primarily because the fall playing season is already underway,” Sullivan said. “When I factor in the incredible staff in place and the University’s continued support of a strong Division I athletics program, I can’t think of another place I’d rather be.”

Before his tenure at Bryant, Sullivan served as the head SID at UMass-Boston for four years. Before that, Sullivan spent two years as an assistant in the Office of Athletic Communications at Princeton. Sullivan is a graduate of Boston University and comes highly recommended.

“Chuck is someone I’m very comfortable handing the keys to,” Veneziano said. “He’s familiar with the Boston market and the kind of school we are. Harvard doesn’t put all its energy into two or three sports. All of our athletic teams are competitive and deserve coverage. I think Chuck will be able to tackle the job with energy and vitality.”

Veneziano was highly respected by players, coaches and the media as Harvard’s point man on issues regarding athletic publicity, but Staples is confident that Sullivan will step in as a solid replacement.

“We are very happy with the outcome of the search,” Staples said.

—Staff writer Alex M. Sherman can be reached at sherman@fas.harvard.edu.