University of Houston-Victoria sports information specialist Paul Ebner is the recipient of the inaugural Association of Independent Institutions Conference Sports Information Director of the Year award, earning the distinction for the 2013-14 academic year.

Paul Ebner

Completing his fifth year as sports information specialist for the Jaguars, Ebner was selected in a vote by conference administrators. The award recognizes the individual who has performed the best at promoting their school’s athletic program, assisting fellow SIDs, serving the conference, maintaining timely and accurate information, and conducting game-day operations.

“Paul has been invaluable to our athletics department since coming on board five years ago,” UHV Athletics Director Ashley Walyuchow said. “His hard work and dedication to telling the stories of the student-athletes at UHV have endeared him to the student-athletes, the local media and parents who all appreciate his dedication. He does a great job capturing the moments that celebrate what being an NAIA student-athlete is all about. It’s not all about the wins and losses, and he realizes this.”

A lifelong resident of Yoakum, Ebner also just completed his third year serving as the conference SID, where he has been in charge of selecting the conference athletes of the week, as well as writing and posting stories to the conference website. He also served as the A.I.I. softball tournament chair in 2013 when UHV was host to the conference tournament.

During his tenure at UHV, his work had led to significant increased exposure to UHV’s athletic program. He has worked hard to significantly increase the number of stories on the UHV website and in the local media.

During the 2013-14 year, Ebner managed the information needs for six teams, including two teams that earned berths to the NAIA National Championships Opening Round Tournament in baseball and softball. He also reported on the school’s first women’s golfer to win an A.I.I. Conference championship and earn a berth to the NAIA Women’s National Championships.

A graduate of Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism, he is a volunteer with the Bluebonnet Youth Ranch and serves on the board of the Yoakum Men’s Golf Association, where he served as president for eight years. He is also a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America, the NAIA Sports Information Directors Association, the Texas Golf Writers Association and the Texas Sport Writers Association.

Georgia Gwinnett College’s Dr. Darin Wilson was named the A.I.I. Athletics Director of the Year, and Ashford University’s Michael Trappen was named the A.I.I. Athletic Trainer of the Year.