July 7, 2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford announced today that Nora Lynn Finch has been chosen to fill the position of Associate Commissioner for Women's Basketball Operations and Senior Woman Administrator.

Finch will join the ACC as an Associate Commissioner where her responsibilities include management and promotions of the annual women's basketball tournament, regular-season conference scheduling, liaison work with the national and regional television networks and serving as the commissioner's liaison to the league's 12 women's basketball programs and senior woman administrators.

"Nora Lynn's varied experiences at the national level, her numerous contributions to the ACC and her lengthy and very successful tenure at NC State make her a superb fit for this position," said Swofford. "I am extremely excited about her joining our staff. She is a proven administrator - effective, knowledgeable and energetic. She is highly respected nationally and within our conference and knows the landscape of women's basketball inside out. Her many relationships along with her integrity and value system will serve our conference well."

Finch joins the ACC with a rich background in college athletics, including over 30 years at NC State, most recently as the department's Senior Associate Director and Senior Woman Administrator. In her time at NC State, she was a member of several key committees on both the ACC and NCAA levels, including the NCAA Division I Management Council, NCAA Division I Championships Cabinet and the NCAA Division I Membership Committee.

Highly respected and active in the sport of women's basketball, Finch was named the chair of the inaugural NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee in 1981 and served in that capacity until August 1988. In 1987, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) awarded her its first WBCA Special Recognition Award for Athletics Administrators. The ACC presented her with its inaugural women's basketball Distinguished Service Award in 1989.

A 1970 graduate of Western Carolina, Finch graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in education and also earned a master's degree in education from Western Carolina. Before joining NC State, she directed the women's basketball teams at Wake Forest University (1971-73) and Peace College (1973-77) and was also Director of Athletics at Peace College (1973-77).

"This is simply a dream come true for me and I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity to join the ACC staff. John Swofford's leadership and vision is second to none and I think he is the best commissioner in college athletics," said Finch. "I am proud of the relationships I have forged with the women's basketball coaches throughout the years and I hope to continue building on the national prominence that exists in the ACC."