Annual Spring MAAC Council of Presidents Meeting Held in New York City
MAAC Sports
Edison, N.J. - The MAAC Council of Presidents concluded its annual spring meeting at The Yale Club in New York City.
The MAAC Council of Presidents reaffirmed the continued development of the MAAC strategic plan, including marketing implementation and use of new media in the ever-evolving environment in college athletics. The group also discussed conference and NCAA membership and other legislation, the recent NCAA men's basketball broadcast package announcement and the 68-team bracket, as well as potential conference realignment pertaining to both the MAAC and all Division I conferences.
In addition, the MAAC Council of Presidents approved the budget for the 2010-2011 academic year. The group also reviewed progress reports on the planning efforts of the MAAC Basketball Championships that will be held at the Arena at Harbor Yard (Bridgeport, Conn.) in 2011 and the MassMutual Center (Springfield, Mass.) for 2012-14. Included in the 2012-14 report was updates on the MAAC partnership with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the MAAC serving as the event sponsor of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament and the MAAC exhibit space in the Hall of Fame.
The title game of the 2011 MAAC Women's Basketball Championship will now be held on Monday, March 7, and will air live on ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network, airing in over 70 million homes. This is the first time the women's championship final game has been aired on national television since 1996. Game time is still to be determined, with an expected afternoon time slot.
The MAAC Council of Presidents approved the contract extension of Commissioner Richard J. Ensor, Esq., through June 30, 2013. Ensor was named the third commissioner of the MAAC in August of 1998.
Rev. Jeffrey von Arx, S.J., President of Fairfield University, will serve as Chair of the MAAC Council of Presidents through June 2012, and Dr. Eugene Cornacchia, President of Saint Peter's College, will serve as Vice Chair.
Additionally, Ed McLaughlin, Director of Athletics at Niagara, will serve as Chair of the Committee on Athletic Administration for the 2010-11 academic year, while Karin Torchia, Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator at Rider University, will serve as Vice Chair.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The MAAC, headquartered in Edison, N.J., consists of 10 member institutions: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Loyola University Maryland, Manhattan College, Marist College, Niagara University, Rider University, Saint Peter's College and Siena College. Pattison Sports Group is the league's marketing consultant. For more on the conference please visit, www.maacsports.com.