July 20, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern University Athletics Director Mark Murphy has announced that Noreen Morris, most recently an associate commissioner at Conference USA, has been named Northwestern's associate athletic director for intercollegiate services and senior women's administrator (SWA). She replaces Nancy Lyons, who left Northwestern last month to take a similar position at Boston University.
As associate athletic director for intercollegiate services, Morris will serve as the department's SWA, oversee the department's compliance with Big Ten and NCAA legislation; coordinate admission and financial aid for student-athletes; and serve as the department's primary administrator for women's soccer, men's and women's swimming, women's lacrosse and women's tennis.
"I'm excited that Noreen has decided to join our department," said Murphy. "She has a great background for the position, having been an athlete, coach and administrator at the Division I level."
Morris spent the past eight years with Conference USA, first serving as its director of legislative services (1996-98), then assistant commissioner (1998-2002) and then as associate commissioner (2002-04). She oversaw all aspects of compliance and administration and governance.
Morris served as president of the National Association of Athletic Compliance Coordinators in 2001-02. She represented C-USA on the NCAA Management Council and the NCAA Men's Soccer Committee. Morris also has been an active member of the Collegiate Commissioner's Association of Compliance Administrators (CCACA).
"She is very respected nationally, as evidenced by her membership on both the NCAA Management Council and the Division I men's soccer committee," says Murphy. "It is impressive that at both Connecticut and Conference USA, Noreen was given additional responsibilities and promoted. Her experiences there will directly benefit her in this position. I am confident she will do a great job for us."
Before she moved to Conference USA in 1996, Morris spent five years at Connecticut, as an intern-assistant to the associate athletic director (1991-92) and then as the compliance coordinator and program administrator (1992-96).
After earning her bachelor's degree from Cornell University in 1987, she served as the Big Red's assistant women's soccer coach for two years (1988-90). Morris was a two-year team captain and four-year soccer letterwinner at Cornell. She earned a master's degree in sports management from the University of Massachusetts in 1991.
"My visit sold me on Northwestern," said Morris. "I was really impressed with Mark and his staff, and the passion they have for making the student-athlete experience such a positive one.
"Knowing that Northwestern operates at the highest level, both academically and athletically, is extremely appealing. My experiences at Connecticut and Conference USA have prepared me for this great opportunity."