USM Sports Information Director B.L. Elfring Earns Prestigious ECAC Award
GORHAM, Maine - University of Southern Maine Sports Information Director B.L. Elfring received the prestigious Irving T. Marsh Award at the annual Eastern College Athletic Conference-Sports Information Directors' Association (ECAC-SIDA) workshop, 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 received the College Award at the
ESPN Awards Dinner, held as part of the workshop, on Thursday, June 6.
Elfring is concluding his seventh year at USM and his 23rd year in the profession. He is responsible for all print, TV and radio coverage of USM athletics.
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.
He also 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.
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