CAPE COD, MA (August 24, 2010) – For her efforts in leading the burgeoning Vassar College Athletics Department, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced today that Director of Athletics Sharon Beverly has been named female recipient of the 2010 ECAC Jostens Administrators of the Year award. Mark Corino, Executive Director of Athletics at Caldwell College, is the male recipient. The announced was made by Rudy Keeling, Commissioner of the ECAC.

The ECAC Jostens Male and Female Administrators of the Year awards are presented annually to administrators from ECAC member schools or conferences in recognition of outstanding or meritorious service to the ECAC. They will receive their awards on Tuesday, September 28, at the ECAC Honors Banquet presented by Jostens. The luncheon will be held at The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, Massachusetts during the 2010 ECAC Fall Convention and Trade Show.

“I am extremely honored to be the recipient of such a prestigious award and to also share it with Mark, someone who I have known a long time and have great respect,” said Beverly. “This award is really indicative of the level of excellence we strive for each year at Vassar, and I truly share this honor with my administrative team, our coaches and tremendous student-athletes.”

Beverly, who had served as Vassar College's Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator from 2002-2004 and as Interim Director of Athletics since July 1, 2004, was named as Director of Athletics & Physical Education on April 7, 2005. At Vassar, she oversees 25 varsity teams and more than 450 student-athletes that compete as an NCAA Division III program in the Liberty League.

Beverly, who has been involved in intercollegiate athletics for more than 25 years, is one of a select few African-American women Athletics Directors in the country. She joined Vassar's Office of Athletics in 2002, after a successful career as head women's basketball coach at Queens College, in Flushing, NY, Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ and New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, NJ.

Beverly recently completed her Ph.D. at Capella University in May of 2010. She is currently serving on the NCAA Woman of the Year Selection Committee and the committee selecting the DIII Strategic Alliance Matching Grants. She has served as chairperson of the NCAA Division III Nominating Committee, and served as a member of the NCAA Division III Convention Planning Subcommittee. Beverly earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Queens College.

Beverly's 11-year career at Division I FDU includes Northeast Conference (NEC) Championships in 1990 and 1992 and a regular season NEC title in 1993. Following the 1990 season, she was selected as the New Jersey State Division I Coach of the Year. In 1992, the Knights finished 23-4 and set the school record for victories. The following season, FDU tied for the NEC regular-season title with a 14-4 mark, and for her efforts Beverly was named the NEC Coach of the Year. While at FDU, Beverly was selected as an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic Festival North Team in 1994.

Following her career at FDU, Beverly was the head women's coach at NJIT from 1999-2002, leading the Highlanders to the most wins at the Division II level.

Beverly began her coaching career at her alma mater, Queens College, as head coach and assistant director of athletics, where she enjoyed a six-year stint highlighted by an AIAW regional bid and an ECAC Tournament berth.

Beverly is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Women's Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) and the National Association of Division III Administrators (NADA).

During her career, she has also served as president of the New Jersey State Coaches Association and the New York Metropolitan Coaches Association. Beverly also served as the state chair for the Women's Basketball Open Division for the Empire State Games.

A formidable player in her own right, Beverly was a junior college All-Star at Queensborough Community College and at Queens College played on teams that finished in seventh and ninth place in the national AIAW Tournament. She earned Queens College's Distinguished Service Award in 1990.

Following her Queens College career, Beverly played professionally in Europe where she led her French teams, based in Caen and Nice, in points, rebounds and assists two straight seasons. She also played professional basketball with the New Jersey Gems.

An inaugural inductee into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Christ the King High School in New York, Beverly's husband, Randy Beverly, is a former defensive back with the New York Jets and was an integral member of the Super Bowl III championship team in 1969.