The NCAA Division II Championships Committee has elected University of West Alabama Associate Athletics Director Janet Montgomery as chair. She will serve as chair of the committee for the remainder of her term, which ends August 31, 2010.

This the first time since the Association restructured in 1997 that the committee has elected a standing member as chair. Previously, the vice chair of the Division II Management Council automatically served as chair of the Championships Committee. However, the Council recently adopted noncontroversial legislation to make its vice chair an ex-officio, non-voting member of the committee rather than chair.

The Championships Committee had been the only Division II governing body to have its chair come from another committee. After Montgomery’s term expires, the committee may elect a replacement to serve up to two years as chair.

Montgomery is entering her 21st year at West Alabama. She has spent the last two years in administration, serving as associate athletics director and as the athletics department’s senior woman administrator.

“Janet Montgomery is highly respected around the country, especially in NCAA circles. She continually brings positive recognition to UWA through her NCAA involvement and we applaud her efforts. UWA is lucky to have her and so is the NCAA Division II Championships Committee,” said UWA Director of Athletics E. J. Brophy.

She began her tenure at UWA in 1989 as women’s volleyball and softball coach. On the diamond, Montgomery amassed more than 400 wins and ranks among the winningest coaches in Gulf South Conference softball history. The former Wisconsin-Parkside standout and UW-P Hall of Fame inductee guided the Tigers to five Gulf South titles and an NCAA regional appearance.

Montgomery has served on a number of NCAA committees since 2000, including her tenure as chair of the Division II Softball Committee from 2002-04. She also was a member of the Division II Championships Eligibility project team in 2004-05.

Montgomery was appointed to the Division II Championships Committee in 2002.

–Courtesy UWA Athletics