BALTIMORE, MD – Johns Hopkins Associate Director of Athletics and Director of Athletic Communications, Ernie Larossa, is the 2024 recipient of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Doyle Smith Sports Information Award. The USILA Annual Awards will be presented on December 13 in Orlando, FL during the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association's (IMLCA) Coaches Summit.
"The pride, professionalism, and commitment with which Ernie chronicles all of our Blue Jay teams is exceptional," said Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Director of Athletics & Recreation Jennifer Baker. "He goes above and beyond for Johns Hopkins and is an outstanding representative of our institution and programs. I'm thrilled for him to earn this recognition; it's certainly deserved and worthy of celebration!"
The Doyle Smith Sports Information Award is presented in honor of the career of outstanding service provided to lacrosse by longtime Virginia Assistant Sports Information Director Doyle Smith. Smith defined the game of collegiate lacrosse through his media releases and statistical and national poll coverage of the sport. His contributions to the former NCAA Lacrosse Rulebook and Guide paved the way for many of the sport's great media efforts today on TV, the Internet, and in print. The winner of this award can come from college sports information offices or from the media. The nominee has contributed greatly to the promotion and coverage of the sport.
"Ernie's professionalism, knowledge and dedication to our sport is unparalleled," said Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse coach Peter Milliman. "His commitment to forming meaningful relationships with student-athletes, their families, and staff has had an immeasurable impact not just on our program but all of Hopkins athletics. There is no one more deserving of this award."
Larossa joined the Johns Hopkins' staff in September 1997 and is the main spokesperson for the Department of Athletics and works primarily with the football, women's soccer, wrestling and men's lacrosse teams. He is also a member of the Department of Athletics Administrative team.
During Larossa's tenure, the Athletic Communications office has grown from one full-time staffer and one intern to three full-time staffers and one intern. The group manages all media and public relations, produces all department publications, maintains the official website of Hopkins Athletics and coordinates video initiatives and social media for all 24 Johns Hopkins athletic programs.
Johns Hopkins has hosted numerous NCAA, Big Ten and Centennial Conference Championships during Larossa's 27-year career with the Blue Jays. He was a member of the Executive Committee of Lax4Baltimore, the local organizing committee for the 2003, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2014 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships in Baltimore. In addition, Larossa spearheaded Johns Hopkins' agreement with ESPN, which provides multi-media coverage of all Blue Jay regular season men's lacrosse home games and select women's home games on ESPN's family of networks.
Larossa wrote the NCAA Men's Lacrosse statistics manual and continues to assist with on-going updates to the manual based on rule changes. He keeps records and statistics for NCAA Division I lacrosse regarding weekly poll rankings, statistical streaks, etc. Larossa also serves as a mentor to young professionals and is always available to others in coverage of men's college lacrosse and athletics in general.
