CAPE COD, Mass. – Former William Paterson University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
Arthur Eason has been named one of four recipients of the 2008 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) James Lynah Distinguished Service Award, Commissioner Rudy Keeling announced Sept. 8. Eason will receive his award on Sunday, Sept. 28, at the ECAC Honors Dinner at the Albany Crowne Plaza.
Established in 1957 in appreciation of the ECAC's principal founder James Lynah, the award is bestowed periodically upon an ECAC athletics administrator who has achieved outstanding success and has made significant contributions in the interest of intercollegiate athletics.
During his 30 years of service at William Paterson, Eason supervised an athletic department that included 17 sports, 38 staff members and more than 250 student-athletes. During his tenure, the Pioneers won the 1992 and 1996 Division III baseball national championships, as well as two track and field individual national titles and a women's fencing national crown. The men's basketball program reached the 2001 national title game and the 1999 Final Four, while the softball team won the 2001 NCAA East Regional crown. The athletic department enjoyed a tremendous level of success during Eason's tenure, winning 27 New Jersey Athletic Conference team championships.
Eason served as the chairperson of the NCAA Nominating and Division III Self-Study Committees, as well as the ECAC Infractions Committee. In addition, he was the secretary of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), and served as the vice president and the football chairperson of the New Jersey Athletic Conference.
Eason was named the recipient of the CAANJ's Garden State Award for Outstanding Service in 1994 and was inducted into the William Paterson Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.
A 1962 graduate of Montclair State University with a B.S. in social studies and a 1971 William Paterson graduate with a M.A. in social science, he began his career at William Paterson in 1970 as an assistant director of financial aid before being named the athletic director in August of 1972.
In addition to Eason, Bob Burke (American International College), Larry Schiner (New Jersey City University), and Bob Sheldon (St. Lawrence University) have also been named winners of the 2008 Lynah Award.
