UConn Graduates Soltys And Krulewitz To Receive Katha Quinn Award From USBWA
ST. LOUIS (March 27, 2008) – ESPN
media relations vice presidents Mike Soltys and Josh Krulewitz,
both graduates of the University of Connecticut, have been selected as
co-winners of the 2008 Katha Quinn Award by the U.S. Basketball Writers
Association.
The USBWA presents the award annually to individuals who have provided
exceptional service to members of the media covering college basketball. The
award is named in honor of former St. John's University Sports Information
Director Katha Quinn, who passed away of cancer in 1988.
Soltys and Krulewitz will be honored at the USBWA's awards breakfast held in
conjunction with the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio on Monday, April 7, at the
Marriott Riverwalk Hotel.
"Mike and Josh have earned the respect of writers for many years and we are
pleased to be able to honor them for their service and dedication," said USBWA
Executive Director Joe Mitch.
The duo join a long list of those associated with the University of
Connecticut that have received the honor. Former UConn sports information
director and current Associate Director of Athletics/Licensing and Athletic
Traditions Tim Tolokan won the award in 2000 while 1988 UConn graduates
and current North Carolina SID Steve Kirschner was the winner in 2005.
In addition, former UConn Associate AD and NCAA Basketball Championship media
relations coordinator Jim Marchiony was the 2004 winner and BIG EAST
Commissioner Mike Tranghese was the 2001 honoree.
Soltys and Krulewitz have played major roles at ESPN during their respective
careers, working with the media and promoting men's and women's college
basketball on the ESPN family of networks.
 Soltys,
who was ESPN's first college intern in 1980, currently serves as Vice President,
U.S. Network Communications, responsible for strategic planning for publicity
for ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPNU and ESPN on ABC.
Previously, Soltys was responsible for ESPN's college basketball publicity
efforts among other duties and oversaw ESPN's comprehensive 25th anniversary
publicity campaign in 2004 that received 12 public relations awards, more than
any other project in ESPN history.
Soltys serves on the Board of Imagine Nation Children's Museum in Bristol,
Conn., and previously served on the Board of Directors of the Bristol Family
Center, the marketing committee of the local United Way chapter and on a sports
information/marketing Advisory Board for the University of Hartford.
Soltys is the son of former UConn sports information director Joe Soltys and
the nephew of another former Husky SID, the late Frank Soltys.
 Krulewitz
serves as Vice President, Public Relations for College, News and Networks
Information. He oversees publicity efforts for college sports, ESPNU,
SportsCenter, ESPN Radio and ESPNEWS network and is one of ESPN's primary
contacts with the media for men's and women's college basketball and for
numerous public issues ESPN faces on a wide range of sports and topics.
He also has oversight of the department's listings, viewer response,
photography and media web site efforts.
He has been with ESPN's communications department since 1990, first as an
intern, before joining the company as a fulltime publicist in 1992.
Krulewitz played a key role in launching and helping direct public relations
efforts for ESPN's X Games and also led publicity efforts for ESPN's
award-winning, end-of-century SportsCentury project that documented the greatest
athletes, sports events and moments from the 20th century.
He also serves on ESPN's committee to support and promote the V Foundation
for Cancer Research. |
