The College Sports Communicators Hall of Fame honors those whose careers have shaped not only how our stories are told, but how our profession is defined. The 2026 Hall of Famers represent a standard of excellence, integrity, and service that inspires generations of communicators across all levels of college athletics. We look forward to honoring their career accomplishments, and the accomplishments of all our award recipients, in June.

I feel totally blessed to have worked within the sports communications field and at Linfield University for as long as I have. Being singled out for induction into the CSC Hall of Fame is a dream come true. Celebrating and promoting the accomplishments of so many exceptional student-athletes and teams for over 35 years has been an absolute honor and privilege. I would not have been able to elevate the profile of our programs and university without the encouragement and support of my family and the many colleagues whom I’ve worked with over the years.

The latest class of Special Award winners for College Sports Communicators showcases years of thoughtful leadership, groundbreaking successes and service to our profession. These individuals were able to not only diligently serve their institutions and organizations but also make significant impacts within our membership that stretches across all divisions and levels of college sports.

This recognition is incredibly well deserved. Kelly took over Linfield’s sports information department in its infancy, and in his 36 years established a standard of excellence that has shaped how our university and athletics programs are represented. His impact on Linfield Athletics has been lasting and profound, and we could not be more proud to see him honored at the national level.

In our profession, Kelly is the best there is. He has been a valuable mentor for me even before I arrived at Linfield. He's largely the reason I came to Linfield, and the reason why I strive to continue to build on the foundation of success that he has built. I feel blessed to be able to work with and learn from Kelly each day. There's so much work that Kelly does that most don't know about because they don't see it. It's a thankless profession, he doesn't search for recognition, and that's something I admire about him. There isn't a professional in the industry more deserving of this award than Kelly.

I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to learn from Kelly for almost a decade, as a student and as a professional, to see his expertise in athletic communications and his dedication to Linfield Athletics up close. He has always sought to constantly raise the standards of Linfield Athletics Communications to some of the highest in Division III and in doing so has helped the institution become one of the most well-known small colleges for athletic excellence both regionally and nationally. With nearly 40 years of service to Linfield, his dedication matches anyone's associated with the Wildcats. I can't imagine a career more worthy of an induction into the CSC Hall of Fame.

Kelly Bird has been both a colleague and a great friend to me for many years. He has shown a tremendous commitment to sports information and has been exceptional at balancing his work and family life. I fondly recall the times that we toured nearby sports facilities during sports information conventions and the times that we joined other SIDs for a meal at a restaurant during a convention. Kelly is very deserving as a new member of the CSC Hall of Fame.

For nearly 40 years Kelly Bird has exemplified collegiality, professionalism and excellence in the field of sports communications. I am proud to have been his colleague and friend and am so happy that he has been inducted into the CSC Hall of Fame. He is incredibly worthy of this honor.

When it comes to college athletic communications, Kelly is the gold standard. He has worked tirelessly for Linfield Athletics and its student-athletes over the last four decades. From The Streak to Linfield's many Division III championships, from videoboards to websites to stories to game programs to photography, there is little that Kelly can't do — and do better than anyone. Kelly has been a mentor and a treasured friend since my first day in the profession. To see him take his place among the greats of the athletic communications profession makes me so happy. It is so well-deserved.

If you look around Ted Wilson Gymnasium, or any of Linfield's athletics facilities, Kelly's fingerprints are all over. The Hall of Fame and all its murals. The press boxes at Memorial Stadium and Roy Helser Field, the championship banners lining the gym. You cannot look at anything related to Linfield Athletics and not see the exceptional work of Kelly Bird.

Kelly is one of the best in the business at any level of collegiate athletes. I can't think of a better honor for someone who has dedicated their professional life to Linfield. Kelly has been a leader within our conference. He's quick to help others and always have a positive attitude. Our profession is better because of Kelly's hard work.

Kelly has been a staple hold for NCAA Division III on the West Coast his entire career. He has helped put Linfield on the map through his creative marketing and promotion of the school. His kindness in the industry has made him one of the best communicators in the industry. I am honored to be a colleague of his and appreciate all he has done for NCAA Division III and College Sports Communicators. Congrats on such a great accomplishment.

Kelly Bird is a legend among NCAA Division III athletic communications professionals. He has set a standard of consistent excellence over the past four decades, and his work in promoting Linfield athletics is admired by so many of his colleagues at schools across the country. Even though the times we get together is mostly limited to CSC conventions in the summer, I'm proud to call him a valued friend in this industry. Kelly is truly a Hall of Famer in every sense of the word!