Bob Byrnes & Joyce Eggleston Named 2018 MAAC Basketball Honor Roll Inductees
EDISON, NJ – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) has announced Bob Byrnes and Joyce Eggleston will be inducted in the 2018 MAAC Honor Roll. Honorees will be enshrined in “The MAAC Experience” exhibit at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, September 15.
Each member institution of the MAAC honors one male and one female from its basketball “family” as part of the 2018 induction class. A dinner event takes place Saturday, September 15 at the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Court of Dreams to recognize the Honor Roll inductees.
Each honoree will be profiled in the game program for the 2019 MAAC Basketball Championships and will be featured in a video display at “The MAAC Experience.”
Bob Byrnes 1988-2014
Bob Byrnes was the Director of Athletics at Manhattan College—his alma mater—for 26 years. During his tenure, the Jaspers enjoyed success in competition and off.
The Jaspers made eight—five men, three women—NCAA Tournament appearances, varsity women's soccer and lacrosse became part of the Jaspers portfolio, and 22 student-athletes earned All-America status for both their athletic and academic achievements.
Byrnes was a member of the club football team when he was a Jasper, where he was a captain. Byrnes coached at Queen of Peace High School in North Arlington, NJ and served as the school's athletic director from 1970-73.
Outside of his duties at Manhattan, Byrnes served as president of the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Association, the committee that selected teams for the NIT from 1997-99. He chaired the MAAC's men's basketball committee and the committee on athletic administration. Byrnes was also a member of the 1999-00 NCAA Championship Cabinet. In 2012, the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association honored Byrnes with the Distinguished Service Award, and in 2014 the ECAC honored him with the Commissioner's Award.
Byrnes has provided consulting services to local collegiate athletic programs and has remained active in basketball at St. Augustine since his retirement in 2014. Byrnes also volunteers his time as a Red Cross Ambassador.
Joyce Eggleston, 1978-2014
Joyce Eggleston worked in the Siena Saints' athletic department for 35 years in a variety of roles. Eggleston started as a women's athletic coordinator in the fall of 1978 and retired as the Associate Director of Athletics/SWA in 2014.
During her time as a Saint, Eggleston was the first head coach of the Saints' field hockey program and served as head coach of the softball team and was an assistant women's basketball coach. She was also the school's first NCAA Division I compliance office.
Eggleston was part of numerous committees on Siena's campus; Human Rights Committee (Chair), Title IX (Deputy Coordinator), and Athletic Hall of Fame. She also chaired the MAAC Volleyball Committee and served on the MAAC Compliance and Enforcement Committee, Athletic Administration, and Gender and Diversity.
Outside of the MAAC and Siena, Eggleston served on the ECAC Board of Directors, NCAA Amateurism Cabinet, and NCAA Certification Peer Review Team.
| 2018 MAAC Basketball Honor Roll Class |
| Institution |
Name |
| MAAC |
Bob Byrnes |
| MAAC |
Joyce Eggleston |
| Canisius |
Mike Smrek |
| Canisius |
Mike Rappl |
| Fairfield |
Eugene Doris |
| Fairfield |
Kate Abromovitch |
| Iona |
Mindaugas Timinskas |
| Iona |
Karen (Culbertson) Brauer |
| Manhattan |
George Bucci |
| Manhattan |
Leigh Ann (Walker) Finley |
| Marist |
Sean Kennedy |
| Marist |
Kristin (Keller) Greiner |
| Monmouth |
Dave Calloway |
| Monmouth |
Ellen (Brennan) Schum |
| Niagara |
Alvin Young |
| Niagara |
Amy Getman |
| Quinnipiac |
Mike Buscetto |
| Quinnipiac |
Erin Kerner |
| Rider |
Ron Simpson |
| Rider |
Cindy (Ford) Gittens |
| Saint Peter’s |
Harry Laurie |
| Saint Peter’s |
Felicia (Harris) Sellers |
| Siena |
Tay Fisher |
| Siena |
Melanie (Halker) Moore |
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 38th year of competition during the 2018-19 academic year. Current Conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter's University, and Siena College.