Sharon Beverly Position: Director of Athletics Institution: Vassar College

Sharon Beverly, who had served as Vassar College's Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator from 2002-2004 and as Interim Director of Athletics since July 1, 2004, was named as Director of Athletics & Physical Education on April 7, 2005. Beverly, who has been involved in intercollegiate athletics for more than 25 years, is one of a select few African-American women Athletics Directors in the country. She joined Vassar's Office of Athletics in 2002, after a successful career as head women's basketball coach at Queens College, in Flushing, NY, Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ and New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, NJ.

Beverly's 11-year career at Division I FDU includes Northeast Conference (NEC) Championships in 1990 and 1992 and a regular season NEC title in 1993. Following the 1990 season, she was selected as the New Jersey State Division I Coach of the Year. In 1992, the Knights finished 23-4 and set the school record for victories. The following season, FDU tied for the NEC regular-season title with a 14-4 mark, and for her efforts Beverly was named the NEC Coach of the Year. Following her career at FDU, Beverly was the head women's coach at NJIT from 1999-2002, leading the Highlanders to the most wins at the Division II level.

Beverly began her coaching career at her alma mater, Queens College, as head coach and assistant director of athletics, where she enjoyed a six-year stint highlighted by an AIAW regional bid and an ECAC Tournament berth. A formidable player in her own right, Beverly was a junior college All-Star at Queensborough Community College and at Queens College and played on teams that finished seventh and ninth place in the national AIAW Tournament.

Following her Queens College career, Beverly played professionally in Europe where she led her French teams, based in Caen and Nice, in points, rebounds and assists two straight seasons. She also played professional basketball with the New Jersey Gems.