Joan Cronan Position: Director of Women's Athletics Institution: University of Tennessee

Joan Cronan is currently in her 24th year as Women's Athletics Director at Tennessee. UT's successes in both the athletic and academic realms speak volumes to her decision-making and leadership ability, as demonstrated by her recent recognition by her peers at the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) with their 2005 Athletic Director of the Year award. In 2004, Cronan was honored by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) with their Southeast Region Athletic Director of the Year award.

Cronan joined UT from the College of Charleston in South Carolina, where she served as the athletics director for 10 years and was later inducted into that institution's hall of fame. Under Cronan, the school was selected as the No. 1 women's athletics program in the country in 1980 by the American Women's Sports Foundation.

In 1998, Cronan's work earned her accord from the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame, as she was named its Administrator of the Year. In March of 1987, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association presented her with its leadership award. She also won NACWAA's 1995 regional award.

On the national scene, she has recently been elected as third vice president of NACDA and is president elect of NACWAA. Cronan has served on the NCAA's Executive Committee, Management Council, as well as the NCAA's Council, and is a member of the NCAA Championship Cabinet. She has also been a member of the Southeastern Conference Executive Committee.

A graduate of LSU, Cronan earned her B.S. in 1966 and her M.S. in 1968, both in physical education. She was a fall 1995 inductee into LSU's Alumni Hall of Distinction. Currently an avid golfer and tennis player, Cronan was ranked as high as second in the South in doubles and is a former state and Southern doubles champion.

Cronan makes her home in Holston Hills. She and her late husband Tom, have two daughters, Kristi (Mrs. Rhett Benner) and Stacey (Mrs. Kent Bristow), both 1994 graduates of UT, three grandsons, Chase Thomas and Reed Kent Bristow, and Quinn Leighton Benner, and granddaughter Reese Lauren Benner.