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Bringing Olympic qualities to UW
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by Jean Walton
Thursday, March 9, 2006
As the Torino Winter Olympic Games came to a close two weeks ago, University of Wisconsin Director of Athletic Communications Justin Doherty understood all the hard work it took to put them on.
That's because four years ago, Doherty had the opportunity to work within the press operations at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Doherty, a man well-versed in the field of public relations and mass media, worked as the media sub-center supervisor for the Utah Olympic Oval. Through this experience and many others, Doherty brings an athletic communications expertise to UW athletics.
As the media sub-supervisor for the Olympic Oval, Doherty handled all the press relations for the long trek speed skating events. Working mainly with the media, Doherty was part of the production that involved thousands of different communications with hundreds of languages — a feat not many can claim.
While Doherty's responsibility was primarily to oversee the media room, he did have some memorable interactions with the Olympians.
In charge of getting the athletes to the medal podium, Doherty quickly realized this was no easy task.
"There was a little stairway that came up from underneath the middle of the ice oval, so we would have to wait till the race was over and run down there and try to chase down these people," Doherty said, "But I don't speak anything but English, and so we are having to yell peoples names, and they are looking at us like 'What are you doing?' They are trying to have their victory moment and NBC is trying to get them for their coverage, but we need them for the ceremony."
Doherty's involvement in the speed skating venue at the winter Olympics may not directly affect his job in the athletic department at UW, but this opportunity allowed him to broaden his horizons and dabble in other forms of athletic communication.
Doherty's role at UW requires him to oversee public relations for all 23 varsity sports at UW, including daily work with Badger football.
"[Doherty] has gained valuable experience and has seen how different issues are dealt with and brought that back to our program" Vince Sweeney, the Senior Associate Athletic Direction of external relations at UW, said.
In addition to his work with the Olympics, Doherty has accompanied the Badger football team to five bowl appearances — two of which were Rose Bowls — and is the daily publicity contact for the squad.
However, one of his more memorable experiences was handling the media relations for the Badger men's basketball team during its 2000 run in the NCAA tournament, culminating in a Final Four appearance.
"That was an amazing experience because the team wasn't expected to do that — and they did. To be the team that wasn't expected to do anything else or to beat a really highly ranked team, that was fun," Doherty said. "That was an amazing thing to be a part of."
But his responsibilities at UW are not limited to the high-profile sports of men's basketball and football, though, and he never chooses favorites.
"I can say this honestly, there isn't a sport that I don't enjoy — and that makes it easy," Doherty said.
Doherty has worked with thousands of athletes in several different arenas throughout the country, but through it all, he remains a Badger fan.
When asked if he cheers for his alma mater of Michigan State or UW, Doherty replied, "There is no doubt it's Wisconsin," he said. "Make sure you put that in bold."
Anonymous (March 9, 2006 @ 4:10pm):
I have seen Justin's skill as a communicator used efficiently and effectively with his wife, Martha (my daughter) and with Erin his daughter (my granddaughter). However, he prefers Bruce Springsteen to Glen Miller. My generation was able to communicate with Miller but i don't see how Justin can use his many skills to handle the Boss. To each his own.
