Donna Lopiano
Encyclopedia
Dr. Donna Lopiano is the President and founder of Sports Management Resources, a consulting firm that focuses on bringing the knowledge of experienced, expert former athletics directors to assist scholastic and collegiate athletics departments in solving growth and development challenges.
Lopiano was the Chief Executive Officer
of the Women's Sports Foundation
from 1992–2007 and was recently named one of "The 10 Most Powerful Women in Sports" by Fox Sports
. The Sporting News
has also listed her as one of "The 100 Most Influential People in Sports." She received her bachelor's degree from Southern Connecticut State University
and her master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Southern California
. She has been a college coach of men's and women's volleyball, women's basketball and softball.
As an athlete, she participated in 26 national championships in four sports and was a nine-time All-American at four different positions in softball, a sport in which she played on six national championship teams including the Connecticut Brakettes
. She is a member of the National Sports Hall of Fame
, the National Softball Hall of Fame
and the Texas Women's Hall of Fame, among others. In 2003, she was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame
.
Lopiano served for 17 years as the University of Texas' Director of Women's Athletics (1975–92) and is a past president of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women
.
Lopiano was the Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the Women's Sports Foundation
Women's Sports Foundation
The Women's Sports Foundation "is an educational nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by tennis legend Billie Jean King." Its stated mission statement is "To advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity."...
from 1992–2007 and was recently named one of "The 10 Most Powerful Women in Sports" by Fox Sports
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
. The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
has also listed her as one of "The 100 Most Influential People in Sports." She received her bachelor's degree from Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University is one of four state universities in Connecticut, and is located in the West Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut...
and her master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. She has been a college coach of men's and women's volleyball, women's basketball and softball.
As an athlete, she participated in 26 national championships in four sports and was a nine-time All-American at four different positions in softball, a sport in which she played on six national championship teams including the Connecticut Brakettes
Connecticut Brakettes
The Connecticut Brakettes is a women's fastpitch softball team based in Stratford, Connecticut. The team has won many state, regional, national, and international tournaments .- History :...
. She is a member of the National Sports Hall of Fame
National Sports Hall of Fame
The National Sports Hall of Fame was a proposed sports hall of fame on City Island in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States, which was scheduled for completion between July and August 2009. The $34.5M project's likely cancellation was announced by Harrisburg's Mayor Stephen R...
, the National Softball Hall of Fame
National Softball Hall of Fame
National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum is a softball museum located in Oklahoma City's Adventure District. It includes the "Don E. Porter" Hall of Fame Stadium, home to the World Cup of Softball and the annual Women's College World Series...
and the Texas Women's Hall of Fame, among others. In 2003, she was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame
Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame
The Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame honors elite athletes who have roots in Nassau County, New York. The Hall of Fame presentation takes places at the Nassau County Sports Commission "Salute to Champions" Awards Dinner annually every April.-Inductees:...
.
Lopiano served for 17 years as the University of Texas' Director of Women's Athletics (1975–92) and is a past president of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women
Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women
The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women was founded in 1971 to govern collegiate women's athletics in the United States and to administer national championships. It evolved out of the Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women . The association was one of the biggest...
.