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Michael Colley Honored with Doyle Smith Award by USILA
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA- The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) will bestow its annual Doyle Smith Sports Information/Media Award on former Virginia assistant media relations director Michael Colley on Friday at the USILA Convention at the Marriot Baltimore Waterfront Hotel.
Colley served in the UVa media relations department for 18 years, where one of his main responsibilities was publicity of Cavalier men’s lacrosse, before suddenly passing away in July at the age of 46.
The USILA’s sports information/media award is named for Virginia sports information administrator Doyle Smith, who worked with UVa’s men’s lacrosse program prior to Colley and served as the information director of the USILA from 1973-95. The USILA named the award in honor of Smith’s outstanding service to the sport. The recipient of the award is selected based on the individual’s contributions to the promotion and coverage of the sport.
Colley epitomized the award’s model, as he was a primary contributor to the first-ever NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Statistics Manual released in 2009. He served as the chief statistician at several NCAA Championship events and he also worked on the statistics crew at the Division I, II and III Men’s Lacrosse Championships. Colley coordinated game-day press operations at all home games as well as other sport-related media activities.
Colley was a native of Charlottesville and graduated from UVa’s McIntire School of Commerce in 1985. He was a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America and the Virginia Chapter of that group.
“Everyone associated with Virginia Lacrosse is moved by the USILA selecting Mike for this award,” said Virginia head men’s lacrosse coach Dom Starsia. “It is so fitting that this award carries Doyle’s name. Mike and Doyle worked so closely together for such a long time and they both did so much to improve the administration of our sport. Mike was such a loyal, tireless, unselfish person and his contribution to our program cannot easily be overstated. He may have labored behind the scenes, but to all of us involved, he was an invaluable resource. This recognition by the USILA for Michael Colley’s work is richly deserved and greatly appreciated.”
Mrs. Bert Colley, Michael’s mother, will be on hand in Baltimore to accept the honor in his memory.