ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Chelsey Chamberlain, Associate Communications Director for The University of New Mexico has been named the College Sports Information Directors of America Rising Star award winner for Division I. She becomes just the fifth Division I female to win the award in the 12-year history of the award, and she is the first winner from a Mountain West school.
In July of 2016, she became the first female to lead the communications efforts for the men’s basketball program at New Mexico, and at age 26, she is one of the youngest Division I females in that role for a Division I men’s basketball program. The college division Rising Star award winner for 2017 is Megan Hardin of Southwestern University.
Chamberlain spent her first year in the Lobo Athletics department handling volleyball and softball before transitioning over to women’s basketball in June 2015. She also oversaw all of the department’s social media platforms during that year.
“This is a tremendous honor for Chelsey to be recognized by her peers in this way, and she completely deserves it,” said Frank Mercogliano, Assistant A.D. for Communications. “Working with the men’s basketball program means juggling a lot of responsibilities in terms of working with the student-athletes and coaching staffs as well as local, regional and national media. All the feedback from the coaches and media has been that she does a great job.”
Chamberlain started her SID career under former CoSIDA Board of Directors member Blake Timm at Pacific University, a Division III school in Forest Grove, Ore. She served as the primary contact for nine sports, including men’s and women’s soccer, women’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s swimming, softball and women’s tennis. Aside from updating Pacific’s social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter, she also developed the Instagram platform for the Boxers.
Chamberlain graduated with a bachelor’s of arts in literature from Pacific University in 2012. During her four years as an undergraduate she worked in the Sports Information office, under Timm, as an office assistant and statistician for football, volleyball and basketball.
While working towards her literature degree and working in the Sports Information office, Chamberlain was also a four-year member of the Pacific softball team. She became one of the most decorated players in Pacific softball history and the program’s top slugger. Chamberlain ended her career as a four-time First Team All-Northwest Conference selection and a three-time NFCA All-West Region selection.
Chamberlain holds Pacific’s single season home run record (13), career home run record (44), single season RBI record (63) and career RBI record (192). Not only did Chamberlain hit the long ball, she also pitched during her four years, holding a 29-25 record. Chamberlain was selected as Pacific’s Outstanding Senior Athlete in 2012.
Chamberlain will be presented her award at the CoSIDA Convention in Orlando, Florida, held June 11-14. She won’t be the only Lobo honored as Assistant A.D. Frank Mercogliano will be presented his 25-Year Award at the convention as well. Mercogliano is in his seventh year with New Mexico.