ATLANTA (March 9, 2022) — Kathy Meehan, senior deputy athletics director and senior women’s administrator at St. John’s University, is the 2022 WBCA Administrator of the Year, announced today by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.
The WBCA Administrator of the Year award is presented annually to an administrator, athletic director, associate or assistant athletic director, or senior woman administrator who has excelled at encouraging the growth and quality of women’s basketball programs and women’s athletic programs overall. The candidate also must have served as a professional role model for student-athletes.
“It is my pleasure to announce Kathy Meehan as the 2022 WBCA Administrator of the Year,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “A decorated student-athlete, coach, and longtime trusted administrator, Kathy’s dedication, instinct and service to the game are unequaled. She leads wisely and from her heart, and our game is made better because of her efforts. The WBCA salutes Kathy’s commitment to growing the game, supporting coaches, and enhancing the student-athlete experience.”
Meehan is in her 46th year at St. John’s, dating back to her days as a women's basketball student-athlete in the early 1970s. As senior deputy athletics director, Meehan oversees internal relations, Title IX compliance, human resources, strategic planning and enforcement of the student-athlete code of conduct. She is also the sports administrator for the Red Storm women's basketball, and volleyball teams. Meehan has represented St. John’s on numerous NCAA and BIG EAST Conference committees. Most recently, Meehan was appointed to the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee, which works to enhance the development and public perception of the sport and make recommendations related to regular-season and postseason women’s basketball. Meehan previously served on the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee (2010–15), and NCAA Women’s Volleyball Committee.
“I am humbled, thankful and touched beyond words. Thanks to the executive committee of the WBCA for bestowing this award on me,” Meehan said. “Thanks also to St John’s University, Mike Cragg the athletic director and to the BIG EAST Conference for having the confidence in me to represent them all these years. The game of basketball has taken me on an incredible life journey. I am truly blessed.”
Meehan graduated from St. John's in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in education. She earned a master's degree in counselor education from St. John's in 1979. As an undergraduate, she was a member of the first women's basketball team at the University (1974-75) and won the first Outstanding Female Student-Athlete Award that same year. She was inducted to the St John’s University Hall of Fame in 1990.
Upon graduation, she was hired as an assistant athletic director for women's athletics, women's intramural director and assistant basketball coach. She held those positions until 1980, when she was named women's athletic director. Meehan was promoted to associate athletic director in 1985 and was appointed senior associate athletic director in 1993. She has also undertaken several stints as the department’s interim athletic director when the position was left vacant.
The WBCA Administrator of the Year award was first presented in 1985. Visit www.wbca.org/recognize/ to see a list of past recipients.
About the WBCA
For 40 years, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association has been the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. Founded in 1981, the WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.
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