NAISMITH COLLEGE OFFICIALS OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED
Tommy Salerno and Scott Thornley Honored by the Atlanta Tipoff Club
ATLANTA (March 5, 2008) – Veteran basketball officials Tommy Salerno and Scott Thornley, with a collective 66 years of college officiating experience between them, were named the 2008 Naismith Women’s and Men’s College Officials of the Year, respectively, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today.
Salerno and Thornley were selected by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, comprised of basketball officials’ supervisors and administrators from around the country, based on their performances in officiating throughout the longevity of their careers. The Naismith Award is the most prestigious national award in college basketball.
Salerno and Thornley will be among those honored at the Atlanta Tipoff Club Naismith Awards banquet on March 25 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta.
“College basketball officiating is tremendously challenging and requires individuals who demonstrate high integrity and ethics with regards to the sport,” said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. “Their peers in the profession feel strongly that Tommy and Scott have solid track records and certainly have contributed to the betterment of officiating.”
A 30-year veteran as Division I men’s basketball official, Thornley began his career in the Big Sky Conference. He now covers the Big 12, Conference USA, Mountain West, Missouri Valley, Western Athletic and Pacific 10 conferences, and has been a part of every NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament since 1983, including three national championship games (1996, 1999 and 2001).
Salerno began his career in 1971 officiating Men’s basketball games in the Carolinas Conference before moving over to the Women’s game in 1973. Since then has worked the following conferences: Atlantic Coast, Atlantic Sun, Atlantic 10, Big East, Big South, Big 12, Colonial, Southern, Conference USA, Southeastern and Sun Belt, and has officiated every NCAA Women’s Basketball tournament since 1982, including six regional games and the 1984 Final Four.
The Naismith Award for Men’s and Women’s College Officials of the Year has been presented since 1988, when Joe Forte (Men’s) and Patty Broderick (Women’s) were honored. Last year’s recipients were John Cahill (Men’s) and Tina Napier (Women’s).
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 has presented the Naismith Trophy since UCLA’s Lew Alcindor first won the award in 1969. The Naismith Awards program has become an emblem of excellence for the game, recognizing the men’s and women’s college players, coaches and officials of the year, and the male and female high school players of the year.