Miscellaneous: Mike Marcil, commissioner of the North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, will receive the 2004 Joseph E. O'Neill Award from the National Sports Law Institute of the Marquette University Law School. The award is presented to an individual in the sports industry who has made a significant contribution to the field and done so while exemplifying the highest ethical standards. Among past recipients are Brian Burke, former vice-president and director of hockey operations for the National Hockey League and current president and general manager of the Vancouver Canucks; Wendy Selig-Prieb, president and chief executive officer of the Milwaukee Brewers; and Michael Slive, commissioner of the Southeastern Conference. "I am honored to receive this award," Marcil said. "I truly consider it to be a tribute to the entire North Central Conference. The outstanding student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty and presidents of the North Central Conference have always been fully committed to the highest academic and athletics standards." Marcil has been in his current role since 1997. He has chaired the Division II Management Council and has served on the Division II Committee on Infractions, the Division II Budget and Finance Committee and the Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Marcil was a member of the NCAA membership services staff before joining the North Central Conference.

Sports sponsorship: Rockhurst University has announced its plan to create a varsity women's softball team. Athletics Director Frank Diskin said the new program will begin in spring 2005. It will be Rockhurst's 11th varsity sport and the sixth sport for women. Diskin said he will hire a coach by May 1, 2004. A new softball complex will be built near the baseball field at Loyola Park. The softball field will be equipped with lights.

Milestone: Lonn Reisman, men's basketball coach at Tarleton State University, won his 300th game December 19 with a 95-90 victory over Western Washington University. Reisman is in his 16th season at Tarleton State.

-- Compiled by David Pickle