IOWA CITY, Iowa – Former University of Iowa Sports Information Director Phil Haddy has been elected to the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) Hall of Fame. The announcement was made Thursday by College Sports Communicators.
Haddy, a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, served as Iowa’s Sports Information Director from 1993 until his retirement in 2012. He was a CoSIDA member from 1971-2012 and previously received a 25-Year Citation and Lifetime Achievement Award from the organization.
Haddy began his career with Iowa Athletics as assistant sports information director in 1971 and was promoted to associate director in 1989. He earned two degrees from Iowa. He was just the third sports information director in the history of the department dating back to 1923, succeeding Eric Wilson (1923-68) and George Wine (1963-93). At the time of his retirement, he was the longest serving member of a Big Ten sports information office. Haddy worked under three UI Directors of Athletics, including Bump Elliott, Bob Bowlsby and Gary Barta.
Haddy was named to the Kinnick Stadium Wall of Honor in 2011. He received the Elmer “Scoop” Hudgins Lifetime SID Award from the All-America Football Foundation in 2001 and was named Wrestling Publicist of the Year by Wrestling Media of America in 1992.
During his tenure as Iowa’s sports information director the Kinnick Stadium press box was named one of the most efficient and best run in the country by the Football Writers Association of America. Haddy’s wrestling media guides were judged “Best in the Nation” three times by CoSIDA and Amateur Wrestling News.
While at Iowa, Haddy assisted or directed media operations at 23 Iowa football bowl games, worked over 24 NCAA basketball tournaments, including Iowa’s appearance in the 1980 Final Four. His volunteer duties included working 11 men’s basketball Final Four (2002-12), 15 Big Ten Conference men’s basketball tournaments (1998-2012) and assisting at the NCAA wrestling national championships for over 35 years.
Haddy championed Iowa’s student support staff, mentoring and empowering numerous interns who have gone on to have successful professional careers.
Haddy and the six members of the 2023 Hall of Fame Class will be honored at CSC’s 66th annual convention June 12 at the Marriott World Center in Orlando.
Haddy has maintained his residence in Iowa City since his retirement. He and his wife, Elaine, have two adult children, Jason (Audra) Haddy, and Jamie (Jason) Powers, and four grandchildren, Nick and William Haddy and Evelyn and Marty Powers.