What's the proper way to ask for an interview from an NCAA runner or coach? I'm writing an article (for another running website *gasp*) on some races from the NCAA meet, and I was hoping to get some comments from some of the runners and their coaches. We're trying to get the article up quickly (otherwise, what's the point, really?) so going through the schools' athletics communications director seems really inconvenient becuase it's just another step that will take time. Should I do that anyway, though.
Is it considered improper for a member of the media to e-mail an NCAA coach at their work (school-affiliated) e-mail address to ask questions? It seems to me that that would be OK, since it is sending a work-related e-mail to a work address.
How should I ask student-athletes, though? It seems like it might be an intrusion to send an interview request or questions to their school-affiliated e-mail address, because that's not a work address for them, it's private. However, the main benfit of the internet is that (unlike Track and Field News, or other magazines which we have to wait for) articles can appear quickly. When looking for a quick turn-around, it seems that that's the fastest way to get in contact with a student (most students do check their e-mail a gagillion times a day), and because most student-athletes aren't receiving too many interview requests, it's not as intrusive as it would be for a coach who may be receiving many more interview requests.
I can't believe I'm coming to letsrun.com asking for genuinely helpful, thoughtful guidance, but what do you guys think?