Press Release :: Women's Basketball Coaches Association

ATLANTA, Ga. - The University of Pittsburgh’s Carol Sprague has been named the recipient of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s (WBCA) Administrator of the Year Award for her excellence in athletic administration. This award is presented annually to an administrator, athletic director, associate or assistant athletic director or senior woman administrator who has excelled at encouraging the growth and quality of women’s basketball programs and women’s athletic programs overall.  The candidate must also have served as a professional role model for student-athletes.

“On behalf of the WBCA, I am elated to announce Carol Sprague as this year’s recipient of the WBCA Administrator of the Year Award,” said WBCA CEO Beth Bass.  “Her efforts and devotion to women’s athletics have had a tremendous impact on the growth of our game and we applaud her efforts.” 

Throughout her three decades of service at the University of Pittsburgh, Sprague has been at the forefront of many initiatives and positive developments.  Sprague currently serves as the Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Women’s Administrator for the Panthers.  Her position entails duties including capital project management and facilities and event operations management, and serves as sport administrator for several sports.  She helped to manage efforts that were vital to the growth of athletics at UPMC, such as the planning and construction of the Petersen Events Center, new locker rooms, training rooms and an equipment complex in Fitzgerald Field House. 

Sprague is a member of numerous committees in the NCAA, Big East and at the University of Pittsburgh.  Some of these committees include the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee, NCAA Management Council, Big East Championship Committee, Big East SWA Committee and the University of Pittsburgh Title IX Committee. 

Sprague began her career at Pittsburgh in 1974 as an assistant swimming coach.  Since that time she has held a variety of positions including coordinator of student affairs for student-athletes, assistant athletic director for women’s sports and associate athletics director for non-revenue sports.  A graduate of Slippery Rock University, Sprague earned her bachelor’s degree in health and physical education in 1971 and a Master of Science degree in 1974. 

Sprague will be formally presented her award at the WBCA Awards Luncheon presented by State Farm and Jostens on Tuesday, April 3, at 12:00 p.m. (ET) in the Crowne Plaza’s Grand Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio.  The WBCA Awards Luncheon presented by State Farm and Jostens is part of the WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the 2007 NCAA® Women’s Final Four®. 

Past recipients of the WBCA Administrator of the Year Award include: Jane Meyer, University of Iowa (2006), Debbie Richardson, Campbell University (2005); Dr. M. Dianne Murphy, University of Denver (2004); Cary Groth, Northern Illinois University  (2003); Marita Hynes, University of Oklahoma (2002); Jane Meier, Northern Kentucky (2001); Bernadette McGlade, ACC (2000); Don DiJulia, St. Joseph's (Pa.) University (1999); Jean Lenti Ponsetto, DePaul University (1998); Lynn Dorn, North Dakota State University (1997); Dr. Mary Jo Wynn, Southwest Missouri State University (1996); Ellen Perry, Pennsylvania State University (1995); Lynn Barry, USA Basketball (1994); the late Jeannine McHaney, Texas Tech University (1993); Dr. Christine Grant, University of Iowa (1992); Dr. James Jarrett, Old Dominion University (1991); Dr. Judith Holland, UCLA (1990); Dr. Donna Lopiano, University of Texas (1989); Dr. Joyce Wong, University of Rochester (1988); Joan Cronan, University of Tennessee (1987); Nora Lynn Finch, North Carolina State University (1987); Dr. Charlotte West, Southern Illinois University (1987).

Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as a sport for women and girls. For more information about the WBCA, please visit WBCA.org.