BIGBIG EASTEAST ConferenceConference The BIG EAST basketball star Dikembe Mutombo was Conference moves named a winner of the President's Service into 2005-06 with an Award, the highest honor in the U.S. for emphasis on the volunteer service. word “Big” as the The BIG EAST continues to thrive in league becomes the the basketball arena. In 2003-04, largest Division I-A Connecticut became the first school in conference in the NCAA history to win the men’s and nation with 16 women’s NCAA titles in the same season. outstanding With the Syracuse men and the UConn BIG EAST Conference academic and women grabbing NCAA crowns the 222 Richmond St., Suite 110 athletic institutions. Michael Tranghese previous year, the BIG EAST also became Providence, RI 02903 The goal of the BIG the first conference in NCAA history to win www.bigeast.org EAST has always been to compete at the the men’s and women’s titles in Communications (401) 453-0660 highest level and to do so with integrity consecutive seasons. In fact, the BIG Switchboard ....... (401) 272-9108 and sportsmanship. EAST has won five of the last six women’s Fax ..................... (401) 751-8540 In 2005-06, the league welcomes five basketball crowns and three of the last new members: University of Cincinnati, seven men’s titles. nationally. Its student athletes own DePaul University, University of Louisville, Whether it's the student-athletes or the significantly high graduation rates and Marquette University and the University of league as a whole, moving proactively their record of scholastic achievement South Florida. has been a consistent strategy for the notably show a balance between BIG EAST institutions reside in nine of conference that was formed in 1979. The intercollegiate athletics and academics. the nation’s top 33 largest media markets, Big East has continually turned Any successful organization needs including New York, Chicago, challenges into opportunities to bolster its outstanding leadership. Michael Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Tampa, strength. Tranghese, the league's first full-time Pittsburgh, Hartford, Milwaukee and In the spring of 2001, the BIG EAST employee, and for 11 years the associate Cincinnati. With the incoming members, added women's lacrosse to its growing list to Dave Gavitt, moved into the the BIG EAST markets will contain almost of sports. The inaugural women's golf Commissioner's chair in 1990. In his first one fourth of all television households in championship was held in the spring of year, he administered the formation of The the U.S. 2003. BIG EAST Football Conference. Since opening its doors in 1979, the The BIG EAST became a reality on The league has long been considered league has won 25 national May 31, 1979, following a meeting of a leader in innovative concepts in championships in six different sports and athletic directors from Providence promotion and publicity, particularly 123 student-athletes have won individual College, St. John's, Georgetown and regarding television. Those efforts have national titles. Last year, Providence’s Kim Syracuse Universities. Seton Hall, resulted in unparalleled visibility for BIG Smith won the NCAA women’s country Connecticut and Boston College EAST student athletes. The conference championship. The Notre Dame women’s completed the has enjoyed long-standing relationships 2005-06 C-USA / NCAA C-USA / NCAA soccer team took the 2004 national title. original seven C-USA / NCAA C-USA / NCAA C-USA / NCAA with CBS, ESPN, Inc. and ABC. BIG EAST The BIG EAST has always been able school alliance. While BIG EAST basketball games are Conference to boast that some of its best students are While the regular sellouts at campus and major also some of its best athletes. More than membership has Cincinnati* public arenas, including the annual BIG 300 student-athletes have earned both increased and Connecticut* EAST Championship in Madison Square Academic All-America honors. changed, the focus DePaul Garden, attendance figures also are In 2003-04, three BIG EAST student- of the BIG EAST has Georgetown significant at BIG EAST soccer, women's athletes were named the national scholar- not wavered. The Louisville* basketball and baseball games. athletes of the year in their respective conference reflects a Marquette More than 500 BIG EAST athletes have sports – Connecticut’s Emeka Okafor in tradition of broad Notre Dame earned All America recognition and men’s basketball, Notre Dame’s Vanessa based programs, led Pittsburgh* dozens have won individual NCAA Pruzinsky in women’s soccer and St. by administrators Providence national championships. The BIG EAST John’s Chris Wingert in men’s soccer. and coaches who Rutgers* has been well represented in U.S. or BIG EAST student-athletes also have place a constant St. John's foreign national and Olympic teams. continued their success after leaving the emphasis on Seton Hall Several athletes earned gold medals in classrooms and playing fields. Former academic integrity. South Florida* each of the last five summer Olympiads. Connecticut women's basketball standout The BIG EAST Syracuse* The BIG EAST has its headquarters in Dr. Leigh Curl was inducted into the Conference has Villanova Providence where the conference Academic All-America Hall of Fame in enjoyed a West Virginia* administers to more than 5,500 athletes in 1999. Former Georgetown men's leadership role *Football playing schools 23 sports. 102 Louisville holds an all-time series advantage over 13 of the 15 other schools in the new Big East Conference. BIG EAST Conference Staff Directory 2004-05 BIG EAST Final Standings Women's Sports (13) Commissioner .................................. Michael Tranghese BIG EAST School BIG EAST All Tourn. Baseball Associate Commissioner ................. Nick Carparelli, Jr. Boston College 13-3 25- 5 NCAA Sports Sponsored Associate Commissioner .................... Donna DeMarco Basketball Connecticut 13-3 23- 8 NCAA Associate Commissioner ....................... John Marinatto Men's Sports (10) Cross Country Associate Commissioner ........................ Tom Odjakjian Syracuse 11-5 27- 7 NCAA Baseball Field Hockey Associate Commissioner ........................ John Paquette Villanova 11-5 24- 8 NCAA Basketball Football Associate Commissioner ............................ Stan Wilcox Pittsburgh 10-6 20- 9 NCAA Cross Country Golf Assistant Commissioner for Notre Dame 9-7 17-12 NIT Football Lacrosse Sport Administration ............................ James Siedliski Georgetown 8-8 19-13 NIT Golf Soccer Assistant Commissioner for West Virginia 8-8 24-11 NCAA Soccer Swimming & Diving Women’s Basketball Officiating ......... Barbara Jacobs Providence 4-12 14-17 Swimming & Diving Tennis Director of Business Affairs ....................... Susan Eaton Seton Hall 4-12 12-16 Tennis Indoor Track & Field Outdoor Track & Field Director of Communications ....................... Rob Carolla St. John's 3-13 9-18 Indoor Track & Field Outdoor Track & Field Volleyball Director of Communications ................ Rachel Margolis Rutgers 2-14 10-19 Asst. Director of Sport Administration ....Jamie Maddox Coor. of Men’s Basketball Officiating ........... Art Hyland 2004-05 C-USA Final Standings Coordinator of Football Officiating .............. John Soffey School C-USA All Tourn. Assistant to the Commissioner .............. Lisa Zanecchia Louisville 14-2 33-5 NCAA Administrative Assistant Charlotte 12-4 21-8 NCAA for Sport Administration ........................... Lois DeBlois Cincinnati 12-4 25-8 NCAA Administrative Asst. for Compliance ...... Wanda Factor All-Time BIG EAST National Champions Administrative Assistant ............................. Linda Yates UAB 10-6 22-11 NCAA Basketball & Football Assistant ............. Shawn Murphy DePaul 10-6 20-11 NIT Men's Basketball Men's Soccer Receptionist ........................................ Kathy Kirkpatrick Houston 9-7 18-14 NIT 1984 Georgetown 1996 St. John's Communications Assistant ...................... Adam Porcelli Memphis 9-7 22-16 NIT 1985 Villanova 2000 Connecticut Communications Assistant ..................... Ann Raymond TCU 8-8 21-14 NIT 1999 Connecticut Women's Soccer Marquette 7-9 19-12 NIT 2003 Syracuse 1995 Notre Dame Saint Louis 6-10 9-21 2004 Connecticut USF 5-11 14-16 Women's Cross Women's Tulane 4-12 10-18 Country Basketball East Carolina 4-12 9-19 1989 Villanova 1995 Connecticut Southern Miss 2-14 11-17 1990 Villanova 2000 Connecticut U of L's Conference History 1991 Villanova C-USA / NCAA C-USA C-USA / NCAA C-USA C-USA / NCAA C-USA C-USA / NCAA C-USA 2001 Notre Dame / NCAA C-USA 1992 Villanova Conference Years 2002 Connecticut 1993 Villanova Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic 1925-48 2003 Connecticut 1994 Villanova Ohio Valley ................................ 1948-49 2004 Connecticut Missouri Valley .......................... 1964-75 1995 Providence Metro .......................................... 1975-95 Football 1998 Villanova Conference USA ....................1995-2005 1991 Miami BIG EAST ............................2005-current 2001 Miami U of L All-Time Series vs. BIG EAST Opponents BIG EAST Conference Map School Series Record Last Meeting Cincinnati 48-35 UL 77, UC 70 (2/2/05) Connecticut 0-1 UC 83, UL 71 (11/22/00) DePaul 29-21 UL 66, DU 62 (3/5/05) Georgetown 2-3 GU 70, UL 63 (12/5/00) Marquette 33-23 UL 64, UL 61 (2/17/05) Notre Dame 12-7 UL 80, ND 72 (1/7/95) Pittsburgh 1-0 UL 64, UP 42 (12/20/47) Providence 5-4 UL 71, PU 55 (1/27/81) Rutgers 4-0 UL 79, RU 49 (1/3/87) St. John's 4-2 UL 73, SJU 67 (1/6/98) Seton Hall 6-3 UL 80,SHU 71(12/10/03) USF 17-3 UL 65, USF 57 (2/12/05) Syracuse 6-3 UL 82, SU 69 (2/10/00) Villanova 5-3 UL 90, VU 64 (3/17/96) West Virginia 3-1 UL 93, WVU 85 (3/26/05) U of L Coach Rick Pitino coached two years at Providence, guiding the Friars to the 1987 NCAA Final Four. 103 BIGBIG EASTEAST CompositeComposite ScheduleSchedule Wednesday, Nov. 23 South Dakota State at Marquette Thursday, Dec. 15 November Connecticut in Maui Invitational Oklahoma at Villanova Florida Atlantic at South Florida New Hampshire at Providence Texas Christian at Syracuse Maine at Rutgers Tuesday, Nov.