EWC Henry Smith Named Inaugural GCAC SID Of The Year

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- Notch another one up for the Tigers. Topping off a banner year for the Jacksonville, Fla.-based athletic program, the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference today announced Edward Waters (Fla.) College Sports Information Director Henry Smith as the recipient of the 2018 GCAC Sports Information Director of the Year award. The distinction is awarded annually to the GCAC's most outstanding SID for accomplishment in the areas of athletic communication, sports information, promotion and service to the GCAC.

In his 18th year at Edward Waters as sports information director and director of gameday operations, Smith is the first sports information director to receive the SID of the Year distinction. At Edward Waters, Smith also oversees sport information, marketing and operations for the athletics division.

A native of Jacksonville and a graduate of William M. Raines High School, Smith has been an active member of the NAIA-SIDA, working as a presenter and table topics panelist at the National Association of College Marketing, and has served as the Coordinator for the NAIA Division I South Region as a Poll Rater. Smith was inducted into the Robert "Bullet Bob" Hayes Invitational Hall of Fame for outstanding community service.

Over the past year, Smith has overseen a complete overhaul of the Tigers' brand identity, revamping the athletic department's Web site and logo, strengthening the program's social media presence, and incorporating video content into the Tigers' overall sports information strategy.

GCAC Commissioner Steve Martin praised Smith's selection as GCAC SID of the Year.

"I'm pleased to announce Edward Waters' Henry Smith as the GCAC's first ever SID of the Year," said Martin. "Henry's hard work, vision and leadership in leading the sports information arm of Edward Waters has been transformative for the Tiger Nation. I'm excited to see what's next for Smith, Assistant SID Joshua Jackson, and for the Tiger Nation as they continue to enhance the Tiger brand."

Smith was voted the 2018 winner by a panel of the conference's sports information directors. He received 50% of the vote. Xavier University of Louisiana's Associate Athletics Director for Communications Edward Cassiere was second in the voting, with 33% of the vote. Tougaloo (Miss.) College's was third in the voting with 16.7% of the vote. Smith thanked his fellow sports information directors in accepting the distinction.

"Words can't begin to describe the feeling of gratitude I have toward my fellow SIDs on being honored as the GCAC SID of the Year," said Smith. "We've come a long way in athletics here at Edward Waters, and we will continue to tell the stories of our student-athletes and continue to promote our program in the best and most innovative ways possible."

As the conference's winner, Smith will now represent the GCAC in the national voting for NAIA SID of the Year. The NAIA SID of the Year winner will be annouced on National Awards Day in September.

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