June 2, 2008

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Bernadette McGlade, whose experience in collegiate athletics as a student-athlete, coach and administrator spans nearly thirty years, has been named the commissioner of the Atlantic 10 Conference. The fifth full-time commissioner in Conference history was introduced at a press conference at The Philadelphia DoubleTree Hotel today.

"Bernadette's deep experience with arguably the class-act athletic conference in the country makes us incredibly excited to be bringing her on board as commissioner of the Atlantic 10 Conference," says Father Michael Graham, Xavier University president and president of the Atlantic 10 Presidents' Council.

One of the most respected administrators in collegiate athletics, McGlade spent the past 11 years at the Atlantic Coast Conference, including the last nine as Associate Commissioner. Hired in 1997 as an Assistant Commissioner, McGlade stepped into the newly created position overseeing women's basketball. Her responsibilities included conference scheduling, the ACC Tournament, television oversight and selection, budget management and institutional liaison with the women's basketball coaches. In addition, McGlade directed the officiating program, including recruitment, training and development of ACC basketball officials. Additionally, McGlade developed and directed the South Atlantic Women's Basketball Officiating Alliance (SAWBO).

"It is an honor to be selected as the next commissioner of the Atlantic 10 Conference," says McGlade. "The A-10 is a conference rich in academic and athletic tradition and I am looking forward to this tremendous opportunity. Throughout this process it was clear that the presidents and athletic directors have a strong commitment to excellence and the continued growth at all levels of this league. I can't be more excited or proud to be a part of the future of the A-10 and looking forward to working with such quality institutional administrators, coaches, student-athletes and fans."

During her tenure at the ACC, McGlade worked with Olympic Sport Championships, Senior Woman Administrators and NCAA and ACC Committee oversight, including sportsmanship, officiating, equity, and television. She served on the NCAA Management Council, as well as the NCAA Task Force for Division I Women's Basketball. In addition, McGlade was part of the administrative team for ACC events including the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament, the Inaugural ACC Football Championship Game and numerous men's and women's NCAA Basketball events. She is the current President of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA).

From 1995-2000, McGlade served on the NCAA Women's Basketball Selection Committee and chaired that Committee in 1999 and 2000. Additionally, McGlade served on the NCAA Working Group to Study Basketball Issues (1998-2000), as well as the NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Marketing and Promotions Group (1997-1999). During that period, she also participated on the eight-person NCAA Television Negotiating Committee. This group secured the largest television contract for any sporting event, totaling $6.2 billion in revenue from CBS for the NCAA men's basketball championship. Additionally, the group secured the current ESPN contract for the NCAA women's basketball championship and numerous additional National Championships' rights, in excess of $162 million.

Prior to arriving at the ACC, McGlade served for seventeen years at Georgia Institute of Technology. She was hired at Georgia Tech in 1981, and at the age of 23 was one of the youngest Division I women's basketball coaches in the nation and was the first full-time female to coach at Georgia Tech. By 1983, McGlade assumed the responsibilities of coordinating women's sports at Georgia Tech where she was instrumental in the elevation of several sports to the varsity level and hiring a complement of coaches.

In 1985, McGlade was named Assistant Athletic Director for Olympic Sports, overseeing internal operations at Georgia Tech. In 1987, McGlade moved into full-time administration as Associate Athletic Director, assuming responsibility for all sports programs, including football and men's basketball, continued oversight of NCAA Compliance, the Bill Moore Tennis Center and the Total Person Program.

Throughout the 1990s, McGlade continued to expand her responsibilities and experience by serving as the Tournament Director for the 1993 NCAA Women's Final Four, which secured the first pre-sellout in the history of the event. Additionally, she served for a year and a half as the 1996 Olympic Games liaison for the Georgia Tech Athletic Association, developing and coordinating the Association's strategic plan.

McGlade served on strategically important NCAA and ACC committees such as the Committee on Women's Athletics, Television Negotiations Committee, Gender Equity Committee, NCAA Membership Subcommittee, Marketing Committee, Sportsmanship Committee, Officiating Committee and numerous sports committees.

In addition to her service, McGlade has acquired numerous honors throughout her career. In her senior year at the University of North Carolina, McGlade was inducted into the prestigious Order of the Valkyries, the highest honor for undergraduate women at the university. In 2002, Georgia Tech honored McGlade as one of the 50 1st Women of the Institute. Prior to that, in 2000, McGlade was recognized as the WBCA National Administrator of the Year, was inducted into the Georgia Tech Athletic Association Hall of Fame and the South Jersey Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1995, the University of North Carolina selected her as an Honored Jersey recipient where her playing jersey hangs in the rafters of Carmichael Auditorium.

In 1993 she was recognized for the Excellence in Education Award for the development of an Atlanta (Ga.) Public School Outreach Program and in 1987 she was named and Image Maker for the city of Atlanta. McGlade was named to the ACC Women's Basketball 50th Anniversary Team and was inducted into the Camden County (N.J.) 2006 Regional Hall of Fame. Most recently, the YWCA of Greensboro, N.C., presented her with the 2008 Kay Yow Outstanding Female in Sports award and she was a featured speaker at the NCAA Women's Final Four Leadership Forum.

A native of Gloucester City, N.J., McGlade earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.

McGlade replaces Linda Bruno, who announced her resignation on Dec. 5, 2007, after serving as commissioner for thirteen years.

About The Atlantic 10 On March 2, 1975, the idea of what is now the Atlantic 10 Conference was conceived. What started as an eight-school, men's basketball-only affiliation has grown into a 14-university, 21-sport league that is universally hailed as one of the best conferences in the country.

That growth and prominence is a direct result of the ideals and commitments of the member institutions of the Atlantic 10 - the University of Dayton, Duquesne University, Fordham University, The George Washington University, La Salle University, University of Massachusetts, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of Rhode Island, University of Richmond, St. Bonaventure University, Saint Joseph's University, Saint Louis University, Temple University, and Xavier University.

The Atlantic 10 Conference, with a total population of nearly 73 million people within its geographic footprint of eight states and the District of Columbia, crowned champions in 21 sports this season: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, field hockey, men's golf, women's lacrosse, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field, women's rowing, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming & diving, men's and women's tennis, and women's volleyball.

Atlantic 10 Commissioners

1981-84 - Leland Byrd

1984-85 - Charlie Theokas

1986-94 - Ron Bertovich

1994-08 - Linda Bruno

2008- - Bernadette McGlade