ASHLAND —  Southern Oregon's Josh McDermott was named the NAIA Sports Information Director of the Year by the national office on Tuesday. 

"Josh is the quintessential sports information professional, but with an edge," said athletic director Matt Sayre. "His attention to detail and professionalism are matched to a wry sense of humor that sets him apart in his field"

The upcoming academic year marks the beginning of McDermott's 13th year helming the Raiders' sports information department. During that time, he's garnered four Cascade Conference SID of the Year awards and five first-place awards in the NAIA-SIDA Publications and Media Contest for his writing and graphic design work  

"His prose are unique and lauded, his subtle sense of humor and historical acumen stealing the show," detailed Sayre. "His research into the relevance of a specific game, matchup or milestone also provides rich storylines and a dramatic backdrop to the achievements of our student-athletes and coaches."

McDermott's narration recently earned him the national Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest award from the College Sports Communicators for best event coverage in the College Division, becoming the first NAIA recipient since 2010. His winning entry chronicled the Raider softball team's victory in the championship round of the 2025 NAIA Softball World Series. 

An Ashland High graduate and Southern Oregon alum, McDermott's comprehensive coverage of the university's 18 sports has created a high-quality student-athlete experience that promotes the conference on both the regional and national stages.  

"His devotion to the sports information field is unwavering," said the national office. "His commitment to bettering everything he has a hand in has made him an asset to Southern Oregon University and the NAIA."