GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) - The Atlantic Coast Conference and BIG EAST Conference, announced today the formation of a men’s basketball officiating alliance, which also includes the Atlantic 10 and Colonial Athletic Association, who have collaborated with the ACC in previous years.
The alliance, which begins immediately, enables the four conferences to work together on all officiating matters and will serve to enhance training, development, recruitment, retention and feedback for its basketball officials.
John Cahill, BIG EAST Supervisor of Officials, and Bryan Kersey, the ACC’s Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officiating, both former top NCAA referees, will manage officiating operations for the alliance, which brings together two of the strongest officiating programs in college basketball. In 2015-16, 32 referees associated with the BIG EAST and ACC were selected to work in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
“As we seek to continue to improve college basketball and the quality of our officiating program, I’m pleased that we have been able form this alliance with the BIG EAST, the A-10 and the CAA” said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. “Combining the expertise and resources of these outstanding basketball conferences gives us a chance to prominently support current and future officials. Throughout their careers, John and Bryan have demonstrated a tremendous understanding of the challenges that are faced by teams and officials, and having them collaborate will only increase the level of officiating for all four leagues. I’d like to especially thank Paul Brazeau and Stu Jackson for their quality work in helping us get to this point. All of our member institutions and the sport of college basketball stand to benefit from this collaboration in scheduling, travel, training, and evaluation.”
"The BIG EAST has historically operated independently in officiating matters, and we now look forward to joining forces with the ACC, A-10 and CAA to build on our existing program and to contribute to the long-term development of officiating across the NCAA," said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman. "Our coaches, referees and student-athletes will all gain from this new collaboration and from the credibility, experience and know-how that John and Bryan will bring to bear on one of the most important areas of the game."
“Partnering with the ACC two years ago has been excellent for the officials working the games and for our teams,” said A-10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade. “Everyone has benefited from more efficient scheduling, training and evaluation opportunities. The addition of the BIG EAST will only enhance and strengthen men's basketball officiating in all aspects.”
“The CAA is excited to continue its longstanding relationship with the ACC and A-10, and be part of the newly formed alliance with the BIG EAST,” said CAA Commissioner Joseph F. D’Antonio. “We look forward to working with John and Bryan and know that the game of college basketball, the institutions of the four conferences in the Alliance and most importantly all of our student-athletes stand to benefit from the implementation of this collaborative initiative.”
About the ACC
The Atlantic Coast Conference, now in its 63rd year of competition and 15 members strong, has long enjoyed the reputation as one of the strongest and most competitive intercollegiate conferences in the nation. ACC members Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest continue to build upon the cornerstones on which the league was founded in 1953 with a consistent balance of academics, athletics and integrity. For more information, visit theACC.com and follow @theACC on Twitter and on facebook.com/theACC.
About the BIG EAST
The BIG EAST Conference is an association of ten nationally prominent colleges and universities that foster healthy athletic competition, community service and the pursuit of excellence in academic environments. The athletic programs of BIG EAST institutions provide national-caliber participation opportunities for more than 3,000 student-athletes on over 180 men’s and women’s teams in 22 sports. Established in 1979 and headquartered in New York City, the BIG EAST’s members are located in seven of the country’s top 35 largest media markets and include Butler University, Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, Villanova University and Xavier University. For more information, visit www.bigeast.com.
About the Atlantic 10
The Atlantic 10 Conference was founded in 1975 and consists of 14 diverse members across eight states and Washington, D.C. The mission of the Atlantic 10 is to provide an enhanced student-athlete experience through 21 nationally competitive championship sports. The basketball-centric conference is committed to integrity, educational excellence and providing quality equitable championship experiences for its student-athletes, coaches, and support staff. The membership consists of Davidson College, the University of Dayton, Duquesne University, Fordham University, George Mason University, The George Washington University, La Salle University, the University of Massachusetts, the University of Rhode Island, University of Richmond, St. Bonaventure University, Saint Joseph’s University, Saint Louis University and Virginia Commonwealth University. For more information, visit www.atlantic10.com.
About the Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association has established itself as one of the nation’s top collegiate conferences both athletically and academically for more than 30 years. A 10-member Division I athletic conference with a geographic footprint that stretches from Boston to Charleston, S.C., the CAA encompasses several of the nation’s largest media markets. Member institutions include the College of Charleston, the University of Delaware, Drexel University, Elon University, Hofstra University, James Madison University, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Northeastern University, Towson University and the College of William and Mary. For more information, visit CAASports.com and follow @CAASports on Twitter.
The alliance, which begins immediately, enables the four conferences to work together on all officiating matters and will serve to enhance training, development, recruitment, retention and feedback for its basketball officials.
John Cahill, BIG EAST Supervisor of Officials, and Bryan Kersey, the ACC’s Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officiating, both former top NCAA referees, will manage officiating operations for the alliance, which brings together two of the strongest officiating programs in college basketball. In 2015-16, 32 referees associated with the BIG EAST and ACC were selected to work in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
“As we seek to continue to improve college basketball and the quality of our officiating program, I’m pleased that we have been able form this alliance with the BIG EAST, the A-10 and the CAA” said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. “Combining the expertise and resources of these outstanding basketball conferences gives us a chance to prominently support current and future officials. Throughout their careers, John and Bryan have demonstrated a tremendous understanding of the challenges that are faced by teams and officials, and having them collaborate will only increase the level of officiating for all four leagues. I’d like to especially thank Paul Brazeau and Stu Jackson for their quality work in helping us get to this point. All of our member institutions and the sport of college basketball stand to benefit from this collaboration in scheduling, travel, training, and evaluation.”
"The BIG EAST has historically operated independently in officiating matters, and we now look forward to joining forces with the ACC, A-10 and CAA to build on our existing program and to contribute to the long-term development of officiating across the NCAA," said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman. "Our coaches, referees and student-athletes will all gain from this new collaboration and from the credibility, experience and know-how that John and Bryan will bring to bear on one of the most important areas of the game."
“Partnering with the ACC two years ago has been excellent for the officials working the games and for our teams,” said A-10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade. “Everyone has benefited from more efficient scheduling, training and evaluation opportunities. The addition of the BIG EAST will only enhance and strengthen men's basketball officiating in all aspects.”
“The CAA is excited to continue its longstanding relationship with the ACC and A-10, and be part of the newly formed alliance with the BIG EAST,” said CAA Commissioner Joseph F. D’Antonio. “We look forward to working with John and Bryan and know that the game of college basketball, the institutions of the four conferences in the Alliance and most importantly all of our student-athletes stand to benefit from the implementation of this collaborative initiative.”
About the ACC
The Atlantic Coast Conference, now in its 63rd year of competition and 15 members strong, has long enjoyed the reputation as one of the strongest and most competitive intercollegiate conferences in the nation. ACC members Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest continue to build upon the cornerstones on which the league was founded in 1953 with a consistent balance of academics, athletics and integrity. For more information, visit theACC.com and follow @theACC on Twitter and on facebook.com/theACC.
About the BIG EAST
The BIG EAST Conference is an association of ten nationally prominent colleges and universities that foster healthy athletic competition, community service and the pursuit of excellence in academic environments. The athletic programs of BIG EAST institutions provide national-caliber participation opportunities for more than 3,000 student-athletes on over 180 men’s and women’s teams in 22 sports. Established in 1979 and headquartered in New York City, the BIG EAST’s members are located in seven of the country’s top 35 largest media markets and include Butler University, Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, Villanova University and Xavier University. For more information, visit www.bigeast.com.
About the Atlantic 10
The Atlantic 10 Conference was founded in 1975 and consists of 14 diverse members across eight states and Washington, D.C. The mission of the Atlantic 10 is to provide an enhanced student-athlete experience through 21 nationally competitive championship sports. The basketball-centric conference is committed to integrity, educational excellence and providing quality equitable championship experiences for its student-athletes, coaches, and support staff. The membership consists of Davidson College, the University of Dayton, Duquesne University, Fordham University, George Mason University, The George Washington University, La Salle University, the University of Massachusetts, the University of Rhode Island, University of Richmond, St. Bonaventure University, Saint Joseph’s University, Saint Louis University and Virginia Commonwealth University. For more information, visit www.atlantic10.com.
About the Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association has established itself as one of the nation’s top collegiate conferences both athletically and academically for more than 30 years. A 10-member Division I athletic conference with a geographic footprint that stretches from Boston to Charleston, S.C., the CAA encompasses several of the nation’s largest media markets. Member institutions include the College of Charleston, the University of Delaware, Drexel University, Elon University, Hofstra University, James Madison University, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Northeastern University, Towson University and the College of William and Mary. For more information, visit CAASports.com and follow @CAASports on Twitter.
