NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Atlantic 10 Conference, along with the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Colonial Athletic Association, and the Big East Conference, have agreed to a new men's basketball officiating alliance for the 2016-17 season. The alliance will encompass scheduling, training, evaluation, development and recruitment of basketball officials.
Bryan Kersey, the ACC and Atlantic 10 Coordinator of Men's Basketball Officiating and John Cahill, Big East Supervisor of Officials, will manage officiating operations for all four conferences. In 2015-16, 32 referees associated with the A-10/ACC/CAA alliance and the Big East were selected to work in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
"Partnering with the ACC two years ago has been excellent for the officials working the games and for our teams," said A-10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade. "Everyone has benefited from more efficient scheduling, training and evaluation opportunities. The addition of the Big East will only enhance and strengthen men's basketball officiating in all aspects of the A-10, NCAA and Division I men's basketball." An important goal of this alliance is to continue to enhance NCAA men's basketball officiating regionally and nationally."
"As we seek to continue to improve college basketball and the quality of our officiating program, I'm pleased that we have been able form this alliance with the Big East, the A-10 and the CAA" said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. "Combining the expertise and resources of these outstanding basketball conferences gives us a chance to prominently support current and future officials. All of our member institutions and the sport of college basketball stand to benefit from this collaboration in scheduling, travel, training, and evaluation."
"The Big East has historically operated independently in officiating matters, and we now look forward to joining forces with the ACC, A-10 and CAA to build on our existing program and to contribute to the long-term development of officiating across the NCAA," said Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman. "Our coaches, referees and student-athletes will all gain from this new collaboration and from the credibility, experience and know-how that John and Bryan will bring to bear on one of the most important areas of the game."
"The CAA is excited to continue its longstanding relationship with the ACC and be part of the newly formed alliance with the A-10 and Big East," said CAA Commissioner Joseph F. D'Antonio. "We look forward to working with John and Bryan and know that the game of college basketball, the institutions of the four conferences in the alliance and most importantly all of our student-athletes stand to benefit from the implementation of this collaborative initiative."
About the Atlantic 10 Conference
The Atlantic 10 Conference was founded in 1975 and consists of 14 diverse members across eight states and Washington, D.C. The mission of the Atlantic 10 is to provide an enhanced student-athlete experience through 21 nationally competitive championship sports. The basketball-centric conference is committed to integrity, educational excellence and providing quality equitable championship experiences for its student-athletes, coaches, and support staff. The membership consists of Davidson College, the University of Dayton, Duquesne University, Fordham University, George Mason University, The George Washington University, La Salle University, the University of Massachusetts, the University of Rhode Island, University of Richmond, St. Bonaventure University, Saint Joseph's University, Saint Louis University and Virginia Commonwealth University. For more information, visit www.atlantic10.com
