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For Immediate Release: August 23, 2002 Contact: John Hartrick BU athletic director Thirer among top sports executives

Binghamton University Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Joel Thirer is among 12 Upstate New York sports executives featured in the August 15 issue of The Business Record. The monthly business publication cited “The Record Dozen” for their contributions to the Upstate New York economy, commenting that “The people who steer the sports industry are important to the Upstate economy. Here are a dozen executives that make a difference.” Thirer, who arrived at Binghamton in 1989, has engineered unprecedented growth in the range and quality of the programs in his charge. In particular, his vision and initiatives have advanced the intercollegiate program to a level never imagined prior to his appointment. In a relatively short span of 14 years, Thirer has transformed BU’s program from a Division III program with regional focus to a burgeoning Division I program that has quickly drawn national attention — now as a member of the America East conference. During Thirer’s tenure, the University has crowned seven NCAA champions and 87 All-Americans, and its teams have won at a 60% rate. During the program’s final three years as an NCAA Division III member (1995-98), BU ranked among the top 10 percent in the nation in terms of overall success. It was with this foundation that Binghamton was able to make the jump through Division II to the Division I ranks for all 21 of its athletic teams. Academic success has always paralleled athletic success under Thirer’s charge, and Binghamton student-athletes did not disappoint in their inaugural year of Division I, capturing the 2002-03 America East Academic Cup for achieving the highest grade-point average (3.05) in the entire conference. Binghamton student-athletes have now registered a 3.0 or higher average GPA for seven consecutive semesters. Thirer was also instrumental in the procurement of BU’s $33.1 million Field House, which is slated for completion during the 2003-04 year. The state-of-the-art facility — one of the largest construction projects in the history of the University — will feature a 6,000-seat basketball arena.

The Business Record Top 12 Sports Executives

Frank DuRoss, President, Rochester Rhinos Jason Smoral, General Manager, Auburn Doubledays William H. Lunn, President, National Soccer Hall of Fame Glenn Mazula, Owner, Albany Conquest Ralph Galuzzi, President, Lancaster Motorsports Park Bob O’Brien, Director of Golf, Turning Stone Casino Resort Russ Brandon, Vice President, Buffalo Bills Joel Thirer, Director of Health, PE and Athletics, BU Andrew Goodell, President, Mid-State Raceway John D’Argenio, Director of Athletics, Siena College John Simone, General Manager, Syracuse Skychiefs Jake Crouthamel, Director of Athletics, Syracuse University

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