ATLANTA (March 13, 2014) – WAC Deputy Commissioner Connie Hurlbut is the recipient of the 2014 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Administrator of the Year Award, the WBCA office announced today.
The WBCA Administrator of the Year Award is presented annually to an administrator, athletic director, associate or assistant athletic director, or senior woman administrator who has excelled at encouraging the growth and quality of women’s basketball programs and women’s athletic programs overall. The candidate also must have served as a professional role model for student-athletes.
“Congratulations to Connie Hurlbut,” WBCA CEO Beth Bass said. “She has been a constant ally to the WBCA and the sport of women’s basketball. Having conference perspective is invaluable to our Board of Directors.”
Hurlbut, who joined the WAC staff in 2009 and serves as the senior associate commissioner and senior woman administrator, has been involved in collegiate and professional athletics for more than 25 years.
Prior to joining the WAC Hurlbut served for six years as Director of Officiating Services for the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. She served as the Senior Director of Basketball Operations for the WNBA from 1999-2002, where her duties included scheduling, officiating, game conduct, playing rules, and disciplinary and medical policies.
Hurlbut was the first woman to lead an all-sport Division I athletic conference when she served as Executive Director of the Patriot League from 1993-1999. During her tenure at the Patriot League, she held several NCAA committee positions including with the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee and the NCAA Division I Management Council.
Hurlbut worked at the Ivy League office for seven years, where she held various positions, inluding Associate Executive Director for four years, before her time with the Patriot League. She began her career as the Eastern College Athletic Conference’s (ECAC) Assistant Commissioner for two years following her graduation from the University of Pennsylvania in 1983.
Past recipients of the WBCA Administrator of the Year Award include: Teresa Gould, University of California –Berkeley (2013), Pam Wettig, University of Denver (2012), Theresa Wenzel, Georgia Tech (2011); Janna Blais, Northwestern University (2010); Carolyn Campbell-McGovern, Ivy League (2009); Marianne Vydra, Oregon State University (2008), Carol Sprague, University of Pittsburgh (2007); Jane Meyer, University of Iowa (2006), Debbie Richardson, Campbell University (2005); Dr. M. Dianne Murphy, University of Denver (2004); Cary Groth, Northern Illinois University (2003); Marita Hynes, University of Oklahoma (2002); Jane Meier, Northern Kentucky (2001); Bernadette McGlade, Atlantic Coast Conference (2000); Don DiJulia, St. Joseph's (Pa.) University (1999); Jeanne Lenti Ponsetto, DePaul University (1998); Lynn Dorn, North Dakota State University (1997); Dr. Mary Jo Wynn, Southwest Missouri State University (1996); Ellen Perry, Pennsylvania State University (1995); Lynn Barry, USA Basketball (1994); the late Jeannine McHaney, Texas Tech University (1993); Dr. Christine Grant, University of Iowa (1992); Dr. James Jarrett, Old Dominion University (1991); Dr. Judith Holland, UCLA (1990); Dr. Donna Lopiano, University of Texas (1989); Dr. Joyce Wong, University of Rochester (1988); Joan Cronan, University of Tennessee (1987); Nora Lynn Finch, North Carolina State University (1987); Dr. Charlotte West, Southern Illinois University (1987).
Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls.