ODU Athletics' Carol Hudson to Retire in June After Long ODU Career
February 12, 2015
Carol Hudson, left, is recognized for 30 years of service by COO David Harnage and Provost Carol Simpson.
Carol R. Hudson, Jr., Old Dominion University's Assistant Athletic Communications Director and sports information director since 1984, will retire from the University in June after a career spanning more than 40 years.
Hudson has been a fixture at ODU for two generations, beginning as a student manager for the Monarchs' baseball and basketball teams from 1972-76. He was a graduate intern in the sports information office under the late Joe Law, the university's first full-time sports information director (SID) from 1976-78. As an SID, Hudson has served as the primary media liaison for men's basketball, men's soccer, men's and women's golf and baseball, while providing oversight and leadership for the public relations needs of all 18 intercollegiate sports.
"ODU will forever be indebted to Carol Hudson and his tireless work and commitment on behalf of thousands of ODU coaches, student-athletes, and teams these last four decades," said ODU Director of Athletics Wood Selig.
"Carol is the gold standard by which other media relations directors will be measured in the future. A distinguished CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Hall of Fame member, Carol leaves a legacy that few within the industry are fortunate enough to establish over their professional careers."
Selig added, "On behalf of ODU and ODU athletics, I would like to personally say thank you to Carol for dedicating the heart of his professional career to our institution. As a result of Carol's sacrifice, ODU is a better institution."
Hudson was named Sports Information Director at ODU in 1984, following a three-year stint as SID at Hampton University, and promoted to Assistant Athletic Director in 2011. He was enshrined in the CoSIDA Hall of Fame in 2010, and recognized with a Distinguished Service Award from the Virginia SID (VaSID) organization in 2013. That same year, the media room in the Ted Constant Convocation Center was named in his honor.
He was a member of the CoSIDA board of directors for six years, and played a key role in the start-up of the Virginia SID organization, twice serving as president. Under the umbrella of VaSID, Hudson has coordinated the annual Virginia Division I institution all sport competition for the past 31 years, which recognizes the state university with the highest win-loss percentage. Thanks to his diligence, the all-sport winner is now recognized annually by the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
Hudson has served twice as the president of the Black College Sports Information Directors. He currently chairs the CoSIDA Scholarship Committee and was recognized for 25 years of service by COSIDA in 2009. A member of the ODU Sports Hall of Fame Committee, Carol has also been active with the department's Monarch Reach Out community service program.
"The coaches and student-athletes at Old Dominion have reaped the most benefit from Carol's dedication to service over the years," said Senior Associate Athletic Director Debbie White.
"Whether he has been pitching feature stories on player accomplishments or coaching milestones, tallying stats, breaking news stories, or driving coaches and athletes to speaking engagements throughout Hampton Roads, Carol has been the quiet advocate in the background, always promoting and publicizing ODU. And, his commitment doesn't stop with the athletes' graduation as his weekly emails, news clippings and phone calls are legendary with our alumni."
A 1972 graduate of Norfolk Catholic High School, Hudson was the manager of his high school basketball team, which was coached by Ed Fraim (ODU '64), Old Dominion's former Assistant Athletic Director for Fundraising.
He also served as a deputy sheriff, work release counselor and public information officer for the Chesapeake Sheriff's office from 1979-81.
Hudson earned his bachelor's degree in political science in 1976 from Old Dominion, and a master's degree in urban studies in 1979.