Thursday, May 30, 2002

For Immediate Release

USM Sports Information Director B.L. Elfring Earns Prestigious ECAC Award

     GORHAM, Maine - University of Southern Maine Sports Information Director 
B.L. Elfring will receive the prestigious Irving T. Marsh Award at the annual 
Eastern College Athletic Conference-Sports Information Directors' Association 
(ECAC-SIDA) workshop to be held June 4-7 in Lowell, Massachusetts.
     The Marsh Award recognizes excellence in the field and is presented 
annually to a deserving Sports Information Director in the College (NCAA 
Division III) and University (NCAA Division I-II) Divisions. Elfring will 
receive the College Division Award, while Dick Lipe of Bentley College has been 
selected from the University Division. The presentations will be made at the 
ESPN Awards Dinner on Thursday, June 6.
     Elfring, who first came to Southern Maine in 1995, is concluding his 
seventh year with the University and his 23rd year in the profession. Prior to 
his arrival at Southern Maine, he spent 15 years (1981-1995) in the Sports 
Information Department at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Following a 
two-year internship, Elfring spent the ensuing 13 years of his tenure as the 
University's Sports Information Director.
     A 1979 graduate of the University of Maine at Orono with a degree in 
Broadcasting/Film and History, Elfring spent considerable time as an 
undergraduate working in the UMaine Sports Information Department.
     At Southern Maine, Elfring is responsible for promoting the 
accomplishments of the University's more than 400 student athletes representing 
24 varsity sports. Since 1997, Elfring has additionally served as the 
institution's compliance coordinator, carefully monitoring the academic progress 
of each student athlete to ensure all eligibility requirements as established by 
the NCAA are met. In conjunction with these endeavors, he has worked closely 
with the Little East Conference to establish a league office and promote the 
accomplishments of the eight conference members. During the 1997-98 academic 
year, Elfring served as the league's publicist.
     Throughout his career, he has helped organize the media logistics at an 
array of NCAA Regional and Championship events. In 1998, Southern Maine served 
as the host site of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Final Four, and 
Elfring facilitated all media requests as the event's host SID. He played the 
same role in 2000 when Southern Maine served as the host institution of the NCAA 
Division III New England Regional Baseball Tournament.
     Similarly, Elfring helped coordinate a number of NCAA events during his 
time at UMass-Lowell. In 1982 and again in 1983, the University hosted the NCAA 
Division II Ice Hockey Championships, while in 1983, it hosted the NCAA Division 
II Cross Country Regional and National Championship.
     His leadership and dedication to the profession are evidenced by the 
prominent roles he has held at a number of regional and national conventions as 
well as his extensive list of professional memberships. He held a four-year term 
with the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) NCAA 
Legislative Liaison Committee, and since 1988 has served as the Coordinator of 
the New England Division II-III football records. He held a similar post with 
the New England Division II-III hockey records and the ECAC Division II Baseball 
All-Star Teams. Elfring has also served as a regular panel member at the annual 
ECAC-SIDA Workshop.
     His media guides and publications have been cited for excellence by CoSIDA 
on seven occasions, including his 1994 Women's Basketball Yearbook, which was 
recognized as having the best cover in the nation. In 1989, his Women's 
Basketball Yearbook earned national runner-up honors.