Tuesday, March 29, 2011

MACON, Ga. – Sally Bell, who has more than 30 years of women’s college basketball officiating experience, has been named Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officials for the Atlantic Sun Conference, the A-Sun office announced on Tuesday.

Bell will be responsible for the recruiting, training, assigning and evaluating of women’s basketball officials for the league. The hiring of Bell, who also works as coordinator for the Southeastern Conference, re-establishes formal ties in women’s basketball officiating with the SEC. She also oversees officiating for the Southland, Southwestern Athletic and Sun Belt Conferences and will be adding the Ohio Valley Conference as well.

“I am very excited and honored to be named the Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officials for the Atlantic Sun and the Ohio Valley Conferences,” Bell said. “It is a tremendous opportunity for me and the conferences I represent to combine with these leagues. Officials will have the best opportunity to work and further develop in two more of the country’s most competitive conferences.”

Bell succeeds Curtis Shaw, who served as the A-Sun’s coordinator of women’s basketball officials since 2000-01, but stepped down to concentrate on coordinating the men’s basketball officials for the OVC, Big 12, Conference USA and Southland Conferences, a position he began this past season.

“I could not be more pleased with the outcome of our search, and I know our membership will be very well-served with the addition of Sally Bell to our A-Sun team,” A-Sun Commissioner Ted Gumbart said. “I want to thank Curtis Shaw for his 11 years of great service and for his support during this transition. We have been fortunate to have outstanding experienced and distinguished professionals serve in this role, and having Sally begin as our A-Sun Coordinator continues this strong tradition.”

Bell began officiating high school basketball in 1975, moved on to NAIA and NJCAA games in 1979, and first officiated Division I and II games in 1981. Bell worked in the New South Women’s Athletic Conference from its inception in 1985 through 1997, including its 1991 merger with the A-Sun (then Trans America Athletic Conference). She worked her first Final Four in 1989 and worked every Final Four from 1993-2005. In 1991 she received the Naismith College Women’s Basketball Official of the Year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

The Dublin, Ga. native received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in 1975 and a master’s degree from North Georgia College in 1981. Her international officiating experience includes the 2000 Olympic Exhibition in Honolulu, Hawaii; 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, 1994 Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia; 1993 World University Games in Buffalo, New York; and 1990 World Championships in Malaysia. She also served as a member of the U.S. Olympic Selection Committee for officials from 1996-2004.

Bell and her husband, Jack, reside in Dahlonega, Ga.

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The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts five of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Transaction
ATLANTIC SUN – Named Sally Bell as Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officials