Carol Stiff, Connecticut – 2010
Carol Stiff, a native of Bernardsville, NJ, graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a bachelor’s degree in 1983 and a master’s degree in 1989. She began her career coaching and teaching at the college level in New England from 1983-1989. In 1990 she joined ESPN where she established programs for many sports including softball, soccer, beach volleyball, and collegiate volleyball, working with the NCAA, WBB, and WNBA.
Over the past two years at ESPN as Vice President of Programming & Acquisitions, Carol has worked as an advisor for a new business venture entitled ESPNW. ESPN’s latest platform will “focus on supporting, motivating, inspiring, and celebrating the female athlete and fan.” The launch date for this new programming venture is fall, 2010.
Carol serves on the board of directors for the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the Honda Broderick Awards, and the Southern CT State University Governors’ Board. She is also a member of the Women’s Sports Foundation and USA Basketball – WBB Standing Committee.
In 2006 Carol was inducted into the CT Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She was recognized as the Top Advocate for Women’s Basketball in 2008 by the Tampa Tribune. In 2009 she was further recognized by the Sports Business Journal as one of the most influential executives leading the way in women’s sports. She was instrumental in the development of the Jimmy V Week and in raising awareness for the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund in partnership with The V Foundation.