(KIWA Staff Photo)
Sioux City and Sioux Center, Iowa — Dordt University Director of Athletic Communications Mike Byker has been named the 2025-26 Dave Rebstock/GPAC Sports Information Director of the Year, presented by Hauff Mid-America Sports.
This marks the second time Byker has earned “The Rebby,” having first received the honor in 2016-17. The award is determined by a vote of the conference’s sports information directors.
Byker is responsible for promoting and documenting the university’s athletic programs, including game previews and recaps, statistics and historical records, website and social media management, podcasts, interviews, and mentoring student workers in sports journalism, broadcasting, and digital media.
He also plays a central role in the Dordt Media Network, serving as the primary play-by-play announcer for Defender athletics on both the network and KIHK Radio. The Dordt Media Network produced more than 200 live events during the 2025-26 academic year, reaching more than 200,000 viewers across multiple streaming platforms.
Under Byker’s direction, Dordt Athletics’ social media presence continues to grow. The department’s X account has more than 7,800 followers, while Instagram and Facebook have more than 5,500 and 6,500 followers, respectively. Dordt’s athletic website, godordt.com, recorded over 2.1 million users and 2.5 million page views this past season.
GPAC Commissioner Corey Westra says Byker’s work has positioned Dordt among the leaders in athletic communications and broadcasting across the GPAC and NAIA, outlining his reputation as the “Voice of the Defenders” and his impact behind the scenes.
Byker is a 1992 Dordt graduate with a degree in Communication, with an emphasis on Radio/TV. As the GPAC honoree, he becomes the conference’s nominee for the NAIA Sports Information Director of the Year award.
