Ken Isaak, sports information director at Fresno Pacific University, received the 2003 Clarence "Ike" Pearson Award from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics-Sports Information Directors Association (NAIA-SIDA). The award, given to an outstanding NAIA sports information director, will be presented June 28 during the NAIA-SIDA Annual Awards Luncheon at the Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Named director of sports promotions in 1991 and director of sports information in 1992, Isaak was FPU's first full-time SID. Among his achievements are Sunbird Sportsline, a 24-hour source of FPU athletic information, and the school's athletic web page. He has also served as chief statistician and assistant producer for the university's many televised athletic events and heads FPU's Hall of Fame Selection Committee.
Isaak's print publications garnered 26 top 10 awards between 1994 and 2001, when FPU converted to the World Wide Web. Six publications won best in nation designations, including two from the College Sports Information Directors Association.
In addition to his regular-season duties, Isaak has been involved in 55 FPU postseason contests, numerous NAIA District 3 and Region II championship tournaments and 16 national championships.
"I have come to appreciate Ken's hard work, high standards and passion for intercollegiate athletics" wrote FPU President D. Merrill Ewert. "A man of great character, integrity and ability, he is also deeply committed to excellence—in life as well as in athletics."
On the conference level, Isaak has been president of the Golden State Athletic Conference SIDA since 2000. He spent five years coordinating the research and tabulation of the GSAC history, resulting in the GSAC Record Book in 1997, and is currently working on a policy and cooperation manual for conference SIDs.
Nationally Isaak is completing his second year as NAIA-SIDA president, and member of the NAIA Council of Presidents, after two years as first vice president. He chaired the NAIA Records Committee in 1998.
"In my 23 years in the profession, Ken has become one of my most trusted colleagues," said fellow GSAC SID Gary Pine of Azusa Pacific University. "He is a company man, loyal and faithful to Fresno Pacific, the NAIA, the Golden State Athletic Conference and the media that covers Sunbird athletics."
NAIA-SIDA is the professional association for sports information directors with the NAIA. The Clarence "Ike" Pearson Award is the association's highest honor and recognizes a career of accomplishment and service. Named for the former statistical crew chief for the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship, the award is now in its 25th year.