ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – Katha Quinn Award winner Steve Kirschner, the North Carolina sports information director, is widely known for his efforts to help the media cover one of the nation's most high-profile programs.

Kirschner, who is in his 16th year at North Carolina and in his fifth as director of communications, is held in particularly high regard for his actions during the hiring and force out of Matt Doherty, the hiring of Roy Williams and the handling of Dean Smith's retirement. He has been particularly effective making Williams and the UNC players accessible to the media and quickly opening the locker rooms after games, especially after 9 p.m. games.

The Dean Dome is now wireless, thanks to Kirschner's efforts, and a new seating arrangement for the media was not put into place until Kirschner felt comfortable with the plan and signed off on it.

Kirschner also was an effective leader last year in helping to stave off efforts to eliminate institutional media guides and is credited with leading the charge for the ACC to withdraw its proposal to the NCAA to ban the guides.

Related link:
• Katha Quinn Award