SAC Names Judy Stroud Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officials

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- South Atlantic Conference Commissioner Patrick Britz announced today the hiring of Judy Stroud as the league's coordinator of women's basketball officials.

Stroud's responsibilities include recruiting and training women's basketball officials for the South Atlantic Conference. Other duties consist of assigning and evaluating officials, rules applications and conducting clinics for the officials.

"The South Atlantic Conference is extremely thrilled to have someone with Judy's background and expertise step into this role," Britz said. "Her background as a former student-athlete, coach and official will be a tremendous asset and will benefit our women's basketball officials as well as the programs on our individual campuses. I would like to thank Jim Burch, who served as the coordinator for both men's and women's basketball the past 16 years. Jim worked very hard during that time and laid a solid foundation for the women's officiating program in the SAC."

Stroud has an extensive background in basketball as a player, coach and official. The Marion/>, N.C./>, native played collegiately at Western/> Carolina/> University/>/> and served as an official at the NCAA Division I and II levels and was one of the first WNBA referees. Stroud is currently an NCAA Regional Advisor for Division I Women's Basketball, a position she's held the last five years.

"Basketball has always been a very important part of my life," said Stroud. "I feel so fortunate and blessed to be returning the conference where I began my officiating career some 25 years ago. The South Atlantic Conference is such a well respected conference for its outstanding coaches, the competitive players, and the professional administration of the league. My desire as coordinator is to continue with the strong foundation and passion that Jim Burch established for officiating and to assist officials in becoming the very best they can be."

Stroud began her coaching career in Spartanburg/>, S.C./>, at Boiling/> Springs/> High School/>/>, in 1976. In four years, her basketball and volleyball teams won state championships and were twice state runners-up. She was also selected as state coach of the year in both sports during her tenure.

She coached basketball and volleyball during the 1980-81 season at North Greenville Junior College in Tigerville, S.C. Stroud started the volleyball program at North Greenville, and in the first year the team was ranked in the top 20 in the country.

Stroud returned to her alma mater to take the reins as head women's basketball coach in 1981-85. She helped to see the program through its transition from the former AIAW to NCAA Division I.

After taking a year off from coaching in 1986, Stroud returned as a basketball official. She began her officiating career in the South Atlantic Conference, and from 1989-2006 officiated primarily in the Atlantic Coast, Southeastern, Big East, Big South and Southern conferences. She was also selected to work the NCAA Tournament 12 times. Judy worked in the WNBA from 1997-2002.

Stroud resides in Hendersonville/>, N.C./>/>, where she is a State Farm Agent.

The South Atlantic Conference is an NCAA Division II conference that sponsors 14 championship sports and is located in Rock Hill, S.C. Member schools include Anderson University in Anderson, S.C.; Brevard College in Brevard, N.C.; Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, TN; Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C.; Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C.; Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN; Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, N.C.; Newberry College in Newberry, S.C.; Tusculum College in Greeneville, TN; and Wingate University in Wingate, N.C.