The Southwestern Athletic Conference Sports Information Directors Group recently named Kevin Manns, Southern University, the 2007-08 SWAC SID of the Year. The award is given annually to the sports information person during the Conference's Spring Meetings.
Kevin Manns is in his eighth season on "The Bluff" as sports information director at Southern University. As the director, Manns's office is responsible for the dissemination of information concerning Southern University athletics, which serves as the curator of the University's athletic records and as the liaison between the department, various media entities, professional athletic organizations, among other responsibilities.
In 2003, Manns was instrumental in promoting SU star baseball player and current Milwaukee Brewer, Rickie Weeks, for National Player of the Year.
Before arriving at Southern, Manns was instrumental in providing stability to the sports information office at Alabama State, while directing the school in the right direction with their athletic website and various media guides. He has also spent stints at Winston-Salem State University, where as SID, he worked alongside legendary basketball Coach, Clarence "Big House" Gaines.
Manns is a 1986 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, West Virginia, where he was a three-year letterman and two-year starter on the Eagle football team. He also was a two-time high school All-American in track. He continued his collegiate football play at Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C. In 1990, Manns earned his bachelor's degree in Accounting.
After graduation, he went on to do PR work for Craig Hodges, who was a member of the Chicago Bulls. Manns served as Assistant to the President of Pro-Exec Manage Group in Chicago.
Manns is a member of CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors Association), BCSIDA (Black College Sports Information Directors Association) and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.
