Mary Day Named 2011 Naismith Women's Official of the Year by Atlanta Tipoff Club
This lifetime achievement award is presented to individuals who display character, integrity and dignity. To be considered, candidates must be involved as a college official for at least 20 years, officiate at least one Final Four game and 10 conference tournaments.
ATLANTA (August 25, 2011) – The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today that Mary Day has been named the 2011 Naismith Women’s College Official of the Year. First presented in 1988, the award is offered to individuals who display character, integrity and dignity and have “contributed mightily to the growth, success and viability of college basketball.”
This lifetime achievement award is presented to individuals who display character, integrity and dignity. To be considered, candidates must be involved as a college official for at least 20 years, officiate at least one Final Four game and 10 conference tournaments.
“Mary has been a women’s college basketball staple for nearly a quarter century, and the sport simply wouldn’t be the same without her,” said Atlanta Tipoff Club Executive Director Eric Oberman. “We’re honored to recognize Mary’s achievements with this award, and thank her for her extensive contributions to the sport of college basketball.”
ABOUT THE WINNER:
Throughout her career, Mary Day has officiated women’s college basketball games for the SEC, Atlantic Sun, C-USA, Big 12 and Sunbelt conference tournaments. Currently involved with 10 different officiating staffs, Day also refereed Final Four games in 2007 and 2008, and she also has 14 years of experience working first and second rounds of the NCCA Women’s College Tournament.
“There have only been a handful of times in my life where I have been rendered speechless, and this is one of those moments,” said Day. “It is absolutely amazing to be recognized with such an honor for doing something I consider to be a privilege.”
Past winners include:
|
Year
|
Women’s Official
|
|
2010
|
Denny Mayer
|
|
2009
|
Nan Sisk
|
|
2008
|
Tommy Salerno
|
|
2007
|
Tina Napier
|
|
2006
|
Joe Cunningham
|
|
2005
|
Wesley Dean
|
|
2004
|
Melissa Barlow
|
|
2003
|
Yvette McKinney
|
|
2002
|
Lisa Mattingly
|
|
2001
|
Scott Yarbrough
|
|
2000
|
Dennis DeMayo
|
|
1999
|
Violet Palmer
|
|
1998
|
Bob Trammell
|
|
1997
|
D.A. Kantner
|
|
1996
|
John Morningstar
|
|
1995
|
Darlene May
|
|
1994
|
Larry Sheppard
|
|
1993
|
Arthur Bomengen
|
|
1992
|
Sue Kennedy
|
|
1991
|
Sally Bell
|
|
1990
|
Bill Stokes
|
|
1989
|
June Courteau
|
|
1988
|
Patty Broderick
|
For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
The Atlanta Tipoff Club, an Atlanta Sports Council property, is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club, founded during the 1956-57 season, has presented the Naismith Trophy every year since UCLA’s Lew Alcindor first won the award in 1969. Old Dominion’s Anne Donovan won the inaugural Women’s Naismith Trophy in 1983.
The Naismith Award has become the most prestigious award in all of college basketball, recognizing the Men’s and Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year, Men’s and Women’s College Basketball Coach of the Year, as well as awards for outstanding achievement in high school basketball, officiating, and contribution to the game.
