Information Provided By New Haven Sports Information


DENVER, Colo. - University of New Haven Director of Athletics Deborah Chin will receive the 2009 National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) NCAA Division II Administrator of the Year tonight at the organization's national convention Awards Banquet outside Denver, Colo.

The event will be streamed live online by B2 network at 8:00pm (EST) on Tuesday.

The Administrator of the Year Award, sponsored by Jostens, is bestowed to NACWAA members whom have made significant contributions as administrators of intercollegiate athletics. This award, recognizing administrative excellence, is presented annually to a NACWAA member in the following categories: NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision; NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision; NCAA Division I; NCAA Division II; NCAA Division III; NAIA/Junior/Community Colleges; Conferences/Organizations; and Nell Jackson Award.

The seven other 2009 Administrators of the Year Award recipients include Noreen Morris (Northwestern University, Division I Football Bowl Subdivision), Jacqueline Blackett (Columbia University-Division I Football Championship Subdivision), Kathy Klein (University of North Florida-Division I), Kim Chandler (Macalester College-Division III), Norma Carr (Salt Lake Community College- NJCAA), Dr. Christine Hoyles (Pacific 10 Conference-Conference) and Dr. Grace Calhoun (Indiana University-Nell Jackson Award).

"NACWAA is honored to pay special recognition to each of these eight outstanding women for their hard work and dedication to the field of intercollegiate athletics," said Jennifer Alley, Executive Director.

A member of the University of New Haven staff since 1975, Chin began her UNH career as Coordinator of Women's Athletics. She was responsible for starting the women's intercollegiate athletic program at UNH, coaching volleyball, tennis, basketball and softball in the early years. Chin eventually surrendered all head coaching responsibilities, except volleyball, when she was promoted to Associate Director of Athletics in 1979.

Among her numerous honors, in 2007 the Connecticut Sportswriters' Alliance presented Chin with the Gold Key Award, the state's top sporting honor which recognizes significant contributions to athletics in the State of Connecticut. Chin won the NACDA/Continental Airlines Athletic Director of the Year for the Northeast Region in 1998-99 and was awarded the NACWAA Josten's District I Administrator of the Year Award in 1997. Chin won the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports Presidential Award in March 1997 and was the Connecticut Post Woman of the Year in 1993. Chin has also earned the U.S. Volleyball Association Meritorious Service Award and the YMCA Women in Leadership Award. Most recently, Chin was elected to the prestigious position of Chair for the NCAA's Division II Management Council for 2008.

As an administrator, Chin has served on more than 30 national and regional committees. In addition to her most recent position as Chair of the Division II Management Council, her resume includes terms as chairperson for the NCAA Division II Volleyball Committee (1988-92), the NCAA Division II Baseball Committee (1997-2001), the NCAA Northeast Regional Football Committee (1999-2003), and the NACDA John McLendon Minority Scholarship Committee (1999-present). She served four years on the NACWAA Board of Directors (1993-96), and acted as the Volleyball Commissioner for the 1995 Special Olympics World Games held in New Haven.

For more information on NACWAA, visit www.nacwaa.org.