CLEVELAND, OH - After more than four decades of service to Ohio Wesleyan University and the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), longtime Sports Information Director (SID) and Associate Director of Media Relations Mark Beckenbach has announced his retirement.
A 1981 Ohio Wesleyan graduate, Beckenbach’s career began as a student in 1978, when he and a group of classmates operated a student-run sports information department. By his junior year, he was serving as student SID, laying the foundation for a career that has spanned 41 years. After a brief stint as the SID at DePauw University, he returned to Delaware in 1984 and has been a fixture in OWU athletics ever since.
At OWU, Beckenbach publicized 24 varsity sports, producing thousands of game recaps, media guides, and record books while mentoring countless students and building relationships with local and national media members. He managed press boxes, compiled statistics, and preserved decades of athletic history, all while telling the stories of OWU. In a profession known for high turnover, he became one of Division III’s most respected and enduring voices.
Over his tenure, Beckenbach chronicled five national championships, 13 individual national champions, 165 NCAC titles, 48 NCAC Tournament titles, and hundreds of All-Conference and All-America performances. He was a constant presence at home and away contests, ensuring Battling Bishop student-athletes and coaches received recognition at the conference and national levels.
“Words can’t begin to express my gratitude for Mark’s 41 years of unwavering commitment to Ohio Wesleyan,” said Doug Zipp, Ohio Wesleyan’s Athletics Director. “His impact on OWU Athletics and our student-athletes, our university, and on all of us is impossible to measure. He has left a legacy that will outlast us all. We often reflect on the ‘Who told the OWU story best?’ We all have the same answer – Mark did! Through his career at OWU, he has taken us from hand-written stats to the World Wide Web. He was there at the very start of the NCAC, making sure OWU had a seat at the table as a proud founding member.”
Within the NCAC, Beckenbach was both a leader and a resource. He helped form the conference’s Sports Information Directors Association in 1997 and served as its president from 1999 until his retirement. His institutional knowledge, leadership, and willingness to assist colleagues across the conference made him an invaluable presence across the league.
“I don’t know an NCAC without Mark Beckenbach,” said Keri Alexander Luchowski, Executive Director of the NCAC. “I started with the conference in the fall of 1999, and Mark was so kind and patient with me as I transitioned to college from professional soccer. He put up with all my wild ideas – and has continued to do so over our years together. He has always been a valued source of information, never failing to share his honest opinions, but also his care and concern for those around him. He has been dedicated to not just the student-athletes, coaches and staff of OWU, but he expanded that care to all of us in the NCAC. He will be missed tremendously.”
Nationally, Beckenbach’s influence was equally significant. He joined the College Sports Communicators (CSC; formally known as the CoSIDA) Academic All-America® Committee in 1990 and went on to serve as district coordinator, national coordinator, vice chair, associate chair, and eventually co-chair, guiding the program through major transitions, including the move to an online nomination system and the expansion to separate NCAA divisions.
His service was recognized with some of the profession’s highest honors: the Lester Jordan Award (2006), the CoSIDA 25-Year Service Award (2008), induction into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame (2011), and the Warren Berg Award (2014). With those honors, he became just the third person in CoSIDA history to achieve the organization’s “triple crown” of recognition.
He was also one of the most decorated publication editors in Division III, earning more than 60 CoSIDA awards, including 17 “Best in the Nation” citations and multiple “Best Cover” awards across several sports.
"Mark's contributions to CSC and the success of our Academic All-America program cannot be overstated," said Will Roleson, CSC Associate Executive Director. "He has devoted decades of service to honoring elite student-athletes and is one of the longest tenured members of the committee. Mark was instrumental in transitioning the Academic All-America voting and nominating system from a fully manual process via paper and faxing to one that today is fully online and much more efficient. And, as evidenced by his many CSC awards, he is highly regarded by his peers in athletics communications. On behalf of CSC, we thank Mark for all he has meant to those in collegiate athletics, and we wish him an enjoyable retirement."
Through it all, Beckenbach was known for his professionalism, humility, and passion for serving student-athletes. Colleagues frequently remarked that he preferred the spotlight to shine on others, yet his steady presence and extraordinary contributions shaped the profession at the campus, conference, and national levels.
The North Coast Athletic Conference congratulates Mark Beckenbach on his retirement and thanks him for more than four decades of dedicated service. His career reflects the very best of athletic communications: dedication, integrity, and a true commitment to supporting student-athletes.
What they’re saying:
Matt vandenBerg – President, Ohio Wesleyan University
"Whenever anyone asked Mark how he was doing, his response was always the same: ‘Living the dream.’ On days when he was overseeing the coverage of multiple Battling Bishop matchups, his words sounded, well, less than serious. But I don't think they were. Mark was also known for being extremely precise and literal when he spoke, often ribbing colleagues good-naturedly when their words were less than specific. So, when Mark said he was living the dream, I think he really was. And he helped define what it means to be a college sports information director in the process. Ohio Wesleyan will be forever grateful that he lived his dream with us."
Mike DeWitt – Associate Athletics Director, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Ohio Wesleyan University
“Mark has been a steady linchpin of our department for over 40 years, providing every facet of sports information both internally and externally in an unassuming and professional manner. He will be missed by his colleagues at OWU, and we wish him a restful and fulfilling retirement.”
Kirsta Cobb – Associate Athletics Director, Senior Woman Administrator, Head Volleyball Coach, Ohio Wesleyan University
“Mark has been an invaluable person for the University. He has dedicated so much of himself to Ohio Wesleyan and the athletic department over the years, and the knowledge he has acquired could classify him as an OWU historian. Much of the collection of data and statistics that allow our programs to understand the history and milestones achieved over the years is due directly to Mark's diligence to accuracy and details. He worked hard for our programs and our student-athletes for decades, and we have all benefited from his dedication to our department.”
Tom Watts – Head Football Coach, Ohio Wesleyan University
“Mark’s commitment to OWU and his profession has been admired by so many over the years. His attention to detail and tireless work for all our sports made him a Hall of Famer! We will miss him as he begins this new chapter and wish him all the best—it is well deserved.”
Jay Martin – Professor in the Department of Health & Human Kinetics, Former Head Men’s Soccer Coach, Ohio Wesleyan University
“Mark did a great job in one of the most difficult situations of any SID I know. For more than 40 years, he managed the information for over 20 sports with very little help. He did it out of his love for OWU and athletics. He will be missed.”
Marty Fuller – Director of Athletics Communications, Kenyon College
“Mark is old school, and that’s what I really like about him, not only as a conference colleague, but as a friend. He always demonstrated tremendous statistical accuracy and maintained record books, game recaps, and program histories with great precision. In an era in which the masses have become enamored with short-lived graphics and bullet points, Mark stayed true to what was substantive. I leaned on Mark’s experience countless times over the last couple of decades, and I’m sure that holds true for every other SID who worked in this conference. Although he often covered it with a veil of playful sarcasm, Mark was always authentic about caring for his work and caring for those who worked around him.”
Bill Wagner – Assistant Athletics Director for Athletics Communications, DePauw University
"Mark has been a wonderful colleague and, I'm fortunate to also say, a great friend. His work in highlighting the accomplishments of multiple generations of Ohio Wesleyan student-athletes has always been performed at a high level. He has not only represented his institution well, but for years carried the torch for the Academic All-America® program for the College Sports Communicators and CoSIDA, and is one of the most respected individuals in our industry. When your teams traveled to Delaware, you knew they'd be covered with the highest level of professionalism. His level of care and his work ethic were unmatched, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him and call him my friend."
Brent Harris – Athletics and Recreation Communications Director, Wabash College
“Mark Beckenbach has been a trusted colleague and an even better friend throughout my career. He was instrumental in getting me involved with the Academic All-America committee, where he served so passionately for many years. Beyond the work, Mark’s kindness, humor, and our shared love of Jeni’s Ice Cream have made our friendship one I truly value. I wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.”
Ashleigh Jones – Director of Athletic Communications, Denison University
“Even as a one-person operation, Mark Beckenbach consistently focused on ensuring that OWU student-athletes and visiting teams had a well-organized and enjoyable experience. He took the time to prepare every detail, creating a smooth and welcoming environment. His thoroughness and attention to detail set a high standard—one I have sought to emulate in my own work.”
Shannon O’Brien – Associate Executive Director, North Coast Athletic Conference
“From our very first interaction, Mark has been the epitome of kindness, professionalism, and generosity. Over the past seven years, I’ve witnessed firsthand how deeply he cares - not only about his work, but about the people he works with. No matter how busy he was, Mark always made time to help, going above and beyond what was asked, whether it was for me in the conference office or for the student-athletes and coaches at Ohio Wesleyan and across the NCAC. He created a welcoming, supportive environment every time I stepped on campus. Mark has built an incredibly strong foundation at OWU - one that will benefit the department for years to come. While he certainly deserves every moment of his retirement, there’s no doubt that he leaves behind a legacy that simply can’t be replaced.”
Katie Gonzales – Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications, Illinois Wesleyan; Second Vice President, NCAA Division III Cabinet Chair, Academic All-America® Core Program Chair, College Sports Commission
“Mark Beckenbach has been one of the key leaders in Division III and among athletic communicators for decades. During his career, he has elevated the profession, our division, and CSC's Academic All-America program through his tireless work and advocacy. As the current chair of CSC's marquee program, I have seen firsthand how much Mark did to build, create, and grow Academic All-America and the recognition for student-athletes across all divisions throughout the country.”