BYRNE TO RECEIVE COSIDA AWARD

Debbie Byrne, associate athletics director at Old Dominion University, will be one of eight people to receive a 25-year award from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

The award is given to CoSIDA members who have completed 25 years in the profession and this year's recipients will recieve their awards Monday, June 30, at CoSIDA's annual workshop's Kickoff Luncheon in Cleveland.

Byrne supervises the areas of marketing, public relations and ticket operations. She joined the staff at Old Dominion in 1979 as the assistant sports information director, was promoted to sports information director the following year, and played a key role in the national exposure both the men's and women's basketball teams enjoyed in the 1980's.

She served on the 1981 and 1982 U.S. Olympic Sports Festival media staffs and was selected to represent the U.S. on the media coordination team at the 1984 Winter Olympics. She is a past member of the NCAA Communications Committee, NCAA Basketball Marketing Committee, and Creative Content Commitee for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Byrne is a member of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Honors Court and has served as the press moderator at 17 NCAA Women's Final Fours.