PHOENIX – Bernie Cafarelli, associate commissioner for communications and external relations at the American Athletic Conference, has been named by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) as its recipient of the Katha Quinn Award in recognition of her outstanding service to the media.
Cafarelli was honored at the annual USBWA banquet during the Final Four.
“This is a well-deserved honor for Bernie," said American Athletic Conference commissioner Mike Aresco. “It reflects the deep respect that she has earned from the college basketball media and it is a product of her steadfast advocacy on behalf of student-athletes over the course of 33 years.”
The award is presented by the USBWA in memory of Katha Quinn, sports information director at St. John's University who died of cancer in 1989 and is given to recognize those in college basketball who have rendered a special service to the USBWA and sportswriters who cover college basketball. Cafarelli is the fourth woman to receive the accolade, joining Quinn (1988), Amy Early (1997) and Chris Fallon (2010).
Cafarelli joined The American in January 2016 after a 22-year tenure at the University of Notre Dame. Before joining the staff at Notre Dame, Cafarelli served as assistant director of marketing, promotions and media relations at Providence College for eight years. She began her career as assistant sports information director at the College of William & Mary.
Cafarelli has been a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America’s Academic All-America committee for 25 years, including the last three years as the committee co-chair. Since 2006, she has worked as a member of the media relations committee for the NCAA Final Four, assisting with the wide-ranging media operations at the most prominent NCAA championship event.