CBF Trustee Kevin Trainor to Join College Sports Communicators Hall of Fame (CSC)

An excerpt from by Barb Kowal, CSC Special Awards Committee member/former CSC Director of Operations and Professional Development (retired). To read the full press release, click here.

College Sports Communicators (CSC) will honor over 60 members, distinguished external colleagues, media members and collegiate administrators with its 2026 Special Awards, the association's annual awards of distinction. The Special Awards, to be announced throughout the week of January 12-15, are presented for outstanding contributions to the organization and to CSC's mission. 

CSC is composed of intercollegiate athletic communications and creative professionals from colleges, universities and athletic conferences at all divisions of competition in the United States and Canada.

The members of this Hall of Fame class represent NCAA Division I institutions (Emig, Trainor, White), NCAA Division II (Outlaw) and NCAA Division III (Atkinson and Bird). Western Carolina moved from Division II to Division I during White’s tenure. Two former CSC (CoSIDA) presidents are also represented (Atkinson and Trainor). Outlaw and White were selected from CSC’s veterans/former sports information nominees whose professional and personal deeds and accomplishments helped make possible the stature of the athletics communications profession today.

Each of these six 2026 Hall of Fame inductees will join their predecessors on the CSC Hall of Fame plaques that are on permanent display at the NCAA Hall of Champions in Indianapolis.

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Kevin Trainor – University of Arkansas Alumni Association
Chief Operating Officer and Associate Executive Director

“It is truly an honor to be recognized by my peers for my work in college athletics. I learned so much from my mentors and the countless others who invested in me along the way. I’ve been blessed to work at the University of Arkansas and be a part of the CSC family for more than 30 years. Most of all, I’m grateful for the never-ending support of my family, including my wife Ruth and my daughters Emma and Ellie.”

Following his stellar career at his alma mater as a senior administrator in the University of Arkansas Athletics, Kevin Trainor was hired as the Arkansas Alumni Association’s chief operating officer and associate executive director in August 2025. There, he leads a team of staff members in building programs, creating alignment and coordinating activities across the association, division and university.

Trainor currently is CSC Past President, having served as the organization’s president during the 2024-25 academic year. He will conclude a five-year term on CSC’s Executive Board of Directors this June. Trainor received his 25-Year Award from CSC in 2020.

During his 30-plus years in the Arkansas athletics department, Trainor oversaw strategic communications and media relations, served on the senior leadership team, and in his last role, held the title of senior associate athletics director for public relations and former student-athlete engagement.

He is the chair-elect for the Southwest District of Public Relations Society of America and is a past president of the Northwest Arkansas PRSA Chapter.

Trainor serves on the board of directors of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame and the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation, the Board of Trustees of the College Baseball Foundation and is an ex-officio board member of the Football Writers Association of America. Among his sports PR roles, Trainor has been part of the media relations staff at each of 12 College Football Playoff National Championship games; serves as the press conference moderator for the nationally televised SEC Football Media Days; is press conference moderator at the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame induction weekend; and has been a member of the media relations team for more than 29 Cotton Bowls, three NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Fours and numerous Masters Tournaments for CBS Sports.

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“The latest class of Special Award winners for College Sports Communicators showcases years of thoughtful leadership, groundbreaking successes and service to our profession,” noted Patrick Crawford, 2025-26 CSC President and Purdue University Associate AD-Strategic Communications. “These individuals were able to not only diligently serve their institutions and organizations but also make significant impacts within our membership that stretches across all divisions and levels of college sports. For both our full grouping of Special Award winners and specifically the CSC Hall of Fame class, we are thrilled to be recognizing their efforts and careers at CSCUnite26 in Las Vegas in June.”