The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- October 11, 1999

Noonan selected for new position

Donna J. Noonan, director of championships for the NCAA for nine years, has been named vice-president for the Division I Women's Basketball Championship. Noonan assumed her new duties October 1.

Noonan, who has been with the NCAA since 1987, will be responsible for overseeing the conduct and administration of the Division I Women's Basketball Championship. Noonan is the first person to be named to the position, which recently was created to provide additional support for the Division I Women's Basketball Championship.

NCAA President Cedric W. Dempsey said Noonan's dedication to women's athletics and her experience in managing championships makes her an excellent choice for vice-president for the women's basketball championship. "I am positive that the women's basketball championship will continue to flourish under her leadership," Dempsey said.

Due to the growth of the women's basketball championship, the NCAA added a staff devoted solely to the administration of the championship.

The staffing change integrates administration of the women's basketball championship with the administration of the Division I Men's Basketball Championship.

The position of vice-president is one of four positions reallocated to administer the women's championship.

"The women's basketball championship has grown tremendously over the last several years and adding a staff to support this championship will further enhance its development," said Thomas W. Jernstedt, NCAA senior vice-president. "I am confident in Donna's ability to lead this staff and to ensure that women's basketball continues to receive the recognition it deserves."

As director of championships for the NCAA, Noonan has been responsible for managing a staff of championship administrators, overseeing Division III championships and assisting the vice-president for championships in the day-to-day management of the championships group. Noonan has served in liaison roles to the Division I Women's Basketball Committee, the National Collegiate Women's Rowing Committee, the Division I Women's Volleyball Committee and the Division III Championships Committee.

"I am excited and pleased to have the opportunity to direct the women's basketball championship," said Noonan. "I look forward to the challenge of continuing to generate interest and exposure for women's basketball."

Noonan previously worked as the head women's golf coach at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, from 1983 to 1987 and as an assistant women's golf coach at the University of Georgia from 1980 to 1983.

A former assistant golf teaching pro, Noonan received her undergraduate degree in physical education and her master's degree in business administration from the University of Georgia, where she was a member of the golf team and the women's basketball team.