Get to Know the Marauders: Director of Athletic Communications Ethan Hulsey
4/16/2020 11:41:00 AM | General
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"Get to Know the Marauders" is a feature that gives fans a more in-depth look at the coaches and staff of Millersville Athletics. Ethan Hulsey has served as the director of athletic communications (sometimes referred to as "SID") since the summer of 2008. He has won writing and design awards from the College Sports Information Directors of America while overseeing the content for millersvilleathletics.com and the department's social media accounts.
Hulsey with seniors from the 2014
NCAA Championship team.Best thing about being a Marauder? "It's about being part of a team and a family. My dad was a basketball coach so I grew up in locker rooms and in practices of high school games. He also coached me, and my grandpa was my baseball coach. For me, family and sports are intertwined. Sports are woven into the fabric of my family. It's the same at Millersville. We do our best and win for each other."
Favorite moment as an SID? "Getting messages from former students and graduate assistants letting me know they've landed a job in the field. I'm not technically an educator, but I hope working with me has prepared them for their future."
Favorite memory as an athlete or fan? "My athletic career ended in high school, but I will brag a little on my senior season basketball team. We tied the school record for wins and won the first sectional championship for the school in over decade and did so by rallying from 18 points down at the half, and patting my own back, I had the assists on the game-tying and game-winning buckets. After growing up in southeast Ohio, I'm a diehard Reds and Bengals fan. They haven't given me many moments of joy in recent years—I was seven during the 1990 World Series. My dad was a big fan of Larry Bird, so from a young age I adopted the Celtics as my NBA team. My dad and I were loading the truck for my move from Erie to Millersville during game one of the 2008 NBA Finals. Paul Pierce returning to the game and hitting the back-to-back 3-pointers while we sat in an empty apartment is quite the memory."
Favorite professional athlete? "As a kid all I ever wanted to be was a shortstop wearing No. 11 like Barry Larkin. In more recent years, I have come to admire the professionalism of Reds' first baseman Joey Votto and the intensity and passion of Kevin Garnett. I try to take that professional approach, intensity and passion into my career and in my life as a husband, father, friend and Christian…all that I am and do."
The Hulsey family enjoying a Reds' win
in Cincinnati.Most amazing athletic moment from your SID career? "Watching Clara Forney's anchor leg in the 4x400 at the 2019 PSAC Championships was a real jaw-dropping moment. It just didn't even seem to be real. In my first year at Millersville, Priscilla Jennings and Neely Spence had an epic race and photo finish at Biemesderfer in the PSAC Championships. Because I was young and new to Millersville, I probably didn't fully appreciate the moment at the time. Lauren Sotzin and the rest of the defense making saves and stops in the final minutes of the 2014 NCAA Field Hockey Championship was as inspiring as anything I've witnessed. It felt like every shot was hit harder than any shot I've seen and the ball never left the circle. The only way they held on to that lead was through toughness and determination. I'll mention one more: Chas McCormick and Dan Stoltzfus hitting back-to-back homers in the bottom of the ninth of the 2015 PSAC Semifinals, and then Chas hitting a walk-off triple in the bottom of the 10th. Those guys were next-level clutch."
Three books that inspired you as a professional? "There aren't many books written for sports information directors in Barnes & Noble. 'The Bible,' 'Unbroken' by Lauren Hillenbrand and 'They Call Me Coach' by John Wooden."
Who inspired you as a sports information director? "I've been influenced by a number of professionals, and I've learned lessons from them all. My first boss at Shippensburg, Jason Eichelberger, showed me how you have to be willing to put in long hours in this job. Jason Knavel (now at Bowling Green) taught me delegation, trusting co-workers and life-balance. I also always admired former Bloomsburg SID Tom McGuire for his professionalism and leadership. My good friend, Bill Morgal at Shippensburg, is a great example of kindness and dedication."
Funniest player or student-worker? "It's impossible to narrow that down from a list of thousands of athletes I've worked with but in terms of my co-workers, announcer and former baseball coach Bob Preli's stories are in a class of their own. One of my student workers, Celeste Bradley, was as quiet and reserved as anyone but we had a lot of laughs together."
Hulsey (center) with former Millersville
graduate assistants and broadcasters.Favorite road trip activity? "I have two daughters (seven and five) so when I am traveling to cover Millersville events, I relish in quiet time. I always drive so I'll listen to podcasts but sometimes I'll just enjoy the silence."
What do you do in your time away from sports? "I saw a funny tweet from a fellow SID during the first week of the coronavirus shut down. He wrote, 'I walked into my living room and saw a strange woman sitting on my couch. Apparently, she's my wife. She seems nice.' The tweet rings true. Balancing nights and weekends for nine months and still spending quality time with your wife and daughters can be a challenge. In addition to family time, I'm active at church and lead a Bible study at weekly at work, so I'm often preparing for those duties. Sadly there isn't much free time in-season."
Three movies you could watch any time? "Anything from the MCU, but the first 'Avengers' is probably the most re-watchable for me. I love Marx Brothers movies, so I'll say 'Animal Crackers.' I also love Alfred Hitchcock movies. I'll pick 'North by Northwest.'"
Your workout or car trip playlist? "Any and all Tooth & Nail record label bands from 2003-2009. Nothing is better for a workout than As Cities Burns' 'Admission:Regret' and 'One:TwentySeven' back-to-back. I'm really into a Dens and Wolves at the Gate lately. On long road trips I've been known to play the entire discography of Anberlin and Emery front to back."
Favorite series to binge watch? "BBC series 'Sherlock,' and Amazon's 'Jack Ryan.'"
What would you do if you weren't an SID? "Probably struggling as a sports writer, although first dream was to be a basketball coach.
What is a talent that fans wouldn't know about? "From before I can remember I was on the jobsite with my grandpa and my dad pouring concrete, so I can do that. It's the only other job I've ever had. I also play guitar. Not well and not often anymore. But I can."
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