CoSIDA E-Digest April 2013 • 1

By Ann King, The Sage Colleges
Sports Information Director
CoSIDA Special Awards Committee
Carole Grills served as the first
Sports Information Director at Smith
College until her retirement in January,
2010. For her long-time service to
the college sports communications
profession, Grills will receive a Lifetime
Achievement Award at the annual
CoSIDA Convention, taking place this
June at the Marriott World Center in
Orlando. The Lifetime Achievement
Award is presented to CoSIDA
members who have served at least
25 years in the profession (as of June
2013) who are retiring or leaving the
profession.
Grills was appointed to that position
in 1981 and was one of the original
members of the Athletic Department.
In addition to serving the media needs
of 14 Pioneer varsity teams, she also
performed numerous administrative
duties including serving as the liaison
between the Athletic Department
and the Office of Admissions and
administering the eligibility of studentathletes.
Lynn Oberbillig, Smith’s Director of
Athletics said, “Carole embodied the
30-year history of Smith Athletics. We
are saddened to lose her dedication
and expertise.”
Smith’s veteran tennis coach
Christine Davis added “Carole Grills
was always there for us in her ever
efficient style. She never let us miss
a deadline and she was our best
cheerleader. We miss her a great deal.”
Grills reflected on her career,
saying “When I began my career in
the Athletic Department I was asked
to create the position and become the
Sports Information Director, having
no knowledge of what the position
entailed. With the help of my many
colleagues in ECAC-SIDA, I learned
quickly.
“My decision to take early
retirement was not an easy one.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Carole Grills, Smith College
However, with both my position
and salary cut 25 percent, I felt the
exceptional amount of effort and
support that I have consistently strived
to provide this department, its athletes
and coaches, would be impacted.
Rather than allow the circumstances
to dishonor the position I worked so
hard to create, I decided to move on.
It has been a privilege to share in the
joys of the hundreds of athletes who
have crossed my path over the years,
to make a positive impact in their
lives, act as a ‘mom’ when they would
seek me out in that capacity, support
their efforts on and off the field of
competition, and maintain the lasting
friendships that I have made.”
Grills was the 2006 recipient of
the prestigious Irving T. Marsh Award,
presented by the Eastern College
Athletic Conference Sports Information
Directors Association (ECAC-SIDA).
The award recognizes dedication,
contribution and excellence in the
field of collegiate sports information
and media relations. First presented
in 1966, the award is named after
Irving T. Marsh, the ECAC Service
Bureau founder and director until his
retirement in 1973. The first woman in
New England in the college division
to receive this Marsh Award, Grills
also celebrated her silver anniversary
as the college’s Sports Information
Director in 2006.
CoSIDA E-Digest April 2013 • 61
“As a former Smith College
student-athlete, I can attest to the
positive role that Carole played in the
lives of many Pioneer athletes,” noted
Kim McNulty, Director of Advancement
at MMI Preparatory School. “She was
always nearby with an encouraging
smile or a kind word just when we
needed it most. I also had the privilege
of working for Carole in the SID office
during my time at Smith and it was
during that time on the bus to many
basketball games that I realized my
love of sports could be the basis for
a career. I was lucky enough to have
Carole as a mentor and my inspiration
during my nine years as the SID at the
US Merchant Marine Academy. Carole
Grills is an extraordinary “mom”,
boss, confidante, colleague and
friend who always demonstrated the
highest degree of professionalism and
innovation in her position at Smith.
CoSIDA has chosen a truly worthy
recipient for this award in 2013.”
Roger Crosley, ECAC Director of
Communications at the ECAC noted
this about Grills. “When I started at
MIT in 1986, the first phone call I
received was from Carole.” Crosley
added, “She simply wanted to
introduce herself and let me know that
if there was anything she could do to
ease my transition, I should give her a
call. At the time I thought it was simply
a future colleague being gracious. As
I grew to know Carole over the years
and learned of her background, I
began to realize just what an amazing
person and accomplished professional
she is.”
During her tenure at Smith, Grills
has captured eight CoSIDA Citations
for Excellence in Publications including
five for “Best in the Nation.” In 1986,
Grills hosted the first round and
quarterfinals of the first NCAA Division
III Women’s Soccer Championship
and in 1988, 1990 and 1996, the
NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s
Indoor Track & Field Championships.
She has helped host over 50 ECAC,