ECAC Awards and Honors

Jack Grinold and George Jacobson to Receive 2009 ECAC Commissioner's Award

CAPE COD, Mass. - Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Commissioner Rudy Keeling announced today that Jack Grinold and George Jacobson will be honored with the ECAC Commissioner's Award at the 2009 ECAC Honors Luncheon on Tuesday, October 6 presented by Jostens. The luncheon will be held at The Resort and Conference Center in Hyannis, Massachusetts during the 2009 ECAC Fall Convention and Trade Show.

Established in 2008, the ECAC Commissioner's Award is presented for meritorious service to the ECAC or an ECAC member institution. The recipient must have demonstrated significant accomplishment in his or her chosen professional field or on the athletic field.

Grinold has been the Sports Information Director at Northeastern since 1962, and is currently an Associate Athletic Director for Communications. He was inducted into Northeastern's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1985 for his contributions to the athletic program within both the field of sports information and administration. With his induction, Grinold became the first non-athlete or coach to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

As the dean of New England SIDs, Grinold has been the innovator and prime mover in the field of sports publicity. Professionally, Grinold has been recognized several times by his national organization, the College Sports Information Directors of America, CoSIDA. He was inducted to the CoSIDA Hall of Fame in 1994, and in 1999 received the Community Service Award. In 2003, he was inducted to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. He was the first recipient of the New England Information Publicity Plus Award in 1971, and earned the ECAC Service Bureau Award in 1979.

University publications such as game programs and athletic media guides from A to Z have reflected his energy and journalistic ability, as well. Grinold is owner of over 25 COSIDA Citations of Excellence for various University brochures. From ballgames to banquets, Grinold's style is and always has been directly behind the scenes.

Long-time offices held include: Secretary of the New England Writers Association since 1964; Chairman of the New England Writers Association Football and Hockey banquets since 1964; and executive director and former president of the Eastern Mass. Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, now known as the Jack Grinold Chapter. He served as Chairman of COSIDA's Committee on Committees.

Grinold attended 464 consecutive Northeastern football games, home and away, from 1962-2007.

When not talking, Grinold is walking, as charter member of the Boston by Foot, Bostonian Society and Victorian Society. Jack and his wife Cathy, reside in Brighton, Mass.

Jacobson has been the Executive Director of the New England Intercollegiate Golf Association since 1990. NEIGA is a non-profit organization, which was first organized in 1934 at the Oakley Country Club in Watertown, Massachusetts. The NEIGA is known for hosting some of the largest championship events within collegiate golf, involving players from NCAA Divisions I, II and III. Before becoming the Executive Director, Jacobson was the President of the NEIGA from 1977-1978.

Jacobson has been involved in the golfing world as a coach since 1962, when he became the varsity golf coach at Rockport High School. From 1967-2002, Jacobson has been a professor, advisor, coach and dean at Salem State College.  Jacobson held the varsity golf coach position at Salem State College from 1966-1989.

Besides the NEIGA, there are many professional organizations Jacobson is involved with. Since 1988, he has been a member of the Golf Coaches Association of America. In addition, Jacobson is also an associate member of the U.S. Golf Association, a life member of Board #130 of the International Board of Basketball Officials, an ECAC Golf Committee member, and since 1990 he has been on the Hall of Fame committee for Salem State College.  

Many awards have been presented to Jacobson over the years, including the NEIGA Gordon McCullough Coach Award.  He has been inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Hall of Fame and Salem State College Hall of Fame.

Jacobson has been involved in education since 1956, teaching on the elementary, high school and college levels.  However, teaching was put on hold from 1957-1959 when Jacobson was in the U.S. Army as Lieutenant Fire Direction Officer Artillery, stationed in Germany. He earned an honorable discharge as First Lieutenant in May 1959.

Many of Jacobson's accomplishments have come with the love and support of his family, his wife Elsie, and his two daughters Lauri and Nancy.