2008-09 ECAC-SIDA Executive Board

Bob Beretta Charities Chair U.S. Military Academy robert.beretta@usma.edu

A local product with deep-rooted ties to the Hudson Valley, Bob Beretta is in his 11th year as Army's director of athletic communications and 19th year overall in the athletic communications office.

Beretta assumed his current role in April 1995 after eight years as an assistant to longtime Army SID Bob Kinney. He was promoted to associate athletic director in June 2003 and to senior associate athletic director in July 2005.

The Newburgh, N.Y., native graduated magna cum laude from St. Bonaventure University in May 1987 with a bachelor's degree in mass communication. Three weeks later, he began a six-month internship in the Academy's sports information department. Elevated to full-time assistant status in January 1988, Beretta later succeeded Kinney as the Academy's fourth sports information director. At the time, he stood as the youngest Division I-A SID in the country.

Presently, he is charged with overseeing the media relations operation for Army's vast 25-sport intercollegiate athletic program and works primarily with the football and baseball squads while also serving as the color analyst on Army's basketball radio network. In 2000, he chaired the athletic department's Brand Identity Committee and currently is a standing member of the steering committee for the Kenna Hall of Army Sports and the selection committee for the Army Sports Hall of Fame.

During his 17 years at the Academy, Beretta has captured 43 CoSIDA writing awards, including 11 national honors and three "Best in the Nation" awards. In addition, he has copped 30 publication citings, including 11 national awards and six "Best in the Nation" honors. The 1999 Army Football media guide was judged "Third in the Nation" (among Division I-A grid publications) while the 2001 edition finished fifth.

Beretta was president of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Sports Information Directors Association in 2001-02 and now serves as that organization's director of charities.

In the summer of 2002, Beretta received the Scoop Hudgins Outstanding SID Award, presented by the All-American Football Foundation.

A member of the Football Writers Association of America, U.S Basketball Writers Association and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Beretta, 39, served as official scorer for the Hudson Valley Renegades of the New York-Penn League during the club's first eight years of existence (1993-2000).

Beretta and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Monroe, N.Y., with their daughter Julia Elizabeth.