University of Notre Dame Named First Recipient of SVG/NACDA Technology Leadership Award

The Sports Video Group and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) is pleased to announce that the University of Notre Dame is the recipient of the inaugural SVG/NACDA Technology Leadership Award. The award was formally presented at the SVG College Sports Summit in Atlanta on May 29.

University of Notre Dame is presented the inaugural SVG/NACDA Technology Leadership Award. From left: Fighting Irish Digital Media’s Dan Skendzel, SVG’s Paul Gallo, University of Notre Dame’s Jack Swarbrick, NACDA’s Julie Work, and FIDM’s Alan Wasielewski and Scott Rinehart

University of Notre Dame is presented the inaugural SVG/NACDA Technology Leadership Award. From left: Fighting Irish Digital Media’s Dan Skendzel, SVG’s Paul Gallo, University of Notre Dame’s Jack Swarbrick, NACDA’s Julie Work, and FIDM’s Alan Wasielewski and Scott Rinehart

The Technology Leadership Award is presented to the university athletic department that meets the outlined criteria of commitment to the investment in and execution of broadcast and video infrastructure and technologies.

Over the past two years, Notre Dame has established a strong presence in digital media and video production with the introduction of Fighting Irish Digital Media (FIDM), a state-of-the-art broadcast facility and university-wide media infrastructure.

“On behalf of Notre Dame and Fighting Irish Digital Media, we are honored to receive the inaugural Technology Leadership Award,” said Dan Skendzel, program director, Fighting Irish Digital Media. “We have a visionary leader in Jack Swarbrick and a digital-media team dedicated to using innovative technology to improve how we produce and present content to our fans. It is gratifying to be recognized for the progress we’ve made. We look forward to building on this momentum.”

Besides Skendzel, accepting the award on behalf of the University of Notre Dame were VP/Director of Athletics Jack Swarbrick, FIDM Lead Technologist Scott Rinehart, and FIDM producer Alan Wasielewski.

To learn more about Fighting Irish Digital Media:

WATCH: Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick’s Keynote Address at the SVG College Sports Summit: Five Keys to Success in the Digital Age

READ: Fighting Irish Digital Media Connects Notre Dame With Itself and the World

SVG/NACDA Technology Leadership Award
Official Award Criteria

The SVG/NACDA Athletic Administration Technology Award shall be awarded annually to a university athletics department in recognition of excellence in investment in and execution of broadcast and video infrastructure and technologies.

The recipient will have established a comprehensive workflow that enhances the fan experience through broadcast, digital, and in-venue technology and puts video production at the center of distributing the university or conference’s message.

The recipient will be judged in the following categories:

I           Innovation
The department has invested in significant video-infrastructure technologies for television, digital, and/or in-venue distribution. It has demonstrated an understanding of broadcast, streaming, and venue technologies that enhance the fan experience at the game, at home, or via mobile platforms. The department’s investments have also established a connected workflow that unites the department’s numerous venues.

II         Leadership
The department demonstrates an ability to develop and maintain strong relationships and working partnerships with television-network and other media partners, while effectively negotiating and navigating its various rights deals.

III        Vision/Culture
The department has committed to a long-term plan that demonstrates its understanding of the value of a strong video and technology infrastructure in both public and in-venue distribution. The department creates video content, in both live and postproduction environments, and uses the video medium across multiple platforms, be it on television, online, or in-venue.

IV        Performance
The department produces high-quality sports-video content for television, Internet, and/or digital/mobile distribution and demonstrates an excellence in the quality of its live and postproduction content. It has developed a workflow that maximizes its investments in telling the athletic department and university’s story through video.

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