Stark Honored With Doyle Smith Sports Information/Media Award

December 10, 2018

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BALTIMORE -- At the annual Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches' Association (IMLCA) convention, held this year at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, Towson University assistant director, athletic media relations John Stark was honored as this year's recipient of the Doyle Smith Sports Information/Media Award.

The award was presented during the Nike IMLCA Awards Luncheon on Dec. 7, which featured awards from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA), including the Doyle Smith Sports Information/Media Award.

This 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.

"I am humbled to win this year's Doyle Smith Sports Information/Media Award," said Stark, who begins his fifth year at Towson University in February. "To be recognized among my peers and selected by the sport's coaches is an incredible feeling. Lacrosse has been with me my entire life, from the time my dad handed me my first fiddle stick through college and now in my professional career. There are so many people who have helped me along the way, including my college coach, Brian Anken, and the staff here at Towson University. I would also like to thank my wife, Corinne, for her continued support. I wouldn't be here today without her."

Stark came to Towson University in February 2015 after spending three years at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. Stark has covered the Tigers in their NCAA Tournament runs, including a berth in Foxborough, Massachusetts for Championship Weekend in 2017.

Over the last four seasons, Stark has worked closely with the Tiger men's lacrosse team while shepherding a broadcast package with Lax Sports Network from the platforms infancy. Additionally, Stark has overseen the Towson athletic department's social media platforms. Since arriving in February 2015, Stark and the media relations department have grown the Tigers' social media footprint 127 percent, including 30,000 followers for the men's lacrosse accounts.

Prior to Towson, Stark worked at VMI for the 2012-14 men's lacrosse seasons. There he helped promote the Institute's lacrosse team, while also working closely with the men's soccer program, wrestling team, women's water polo squad and nationally-ranked coed and women's rifle teams. His time at VMI was his first foray into Division I men's lacrosse.

Prior to his arrival in Lexington, Stark worked at the University of Delaware, working closely with both men's and women's soccer teams, as well as the nationally-recognized women's basketball team, which competed in the 2010-11 Women's National Invitation Tournament. He also helped cover the women's lacrosse program, in addition to secondary duties with the nationally ranked football team, which reached the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) title game during Stark's first year at UD.

Stark graduated from Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania in 2008 with a degree in German and a minor in history. During his time as a student at Lycoming, he was a four-year member of the men's lacrosse team, playing for head coach Brian Anken.

Before beginning at Delaware, Stark served as the Sports Information Director at his alma mater for 16 months. While in that capacity, he was the main contact for the College's 17 varsity sports, including a nationally-ranked wrestling program, as well as a perennial NCAA Division III powerhouse football program. He also served as the contact for men's and women's lacrosse, softball, swimming and men's and women's tennis and cross country.

Following graduation, he was as an intern in the sports information department at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, working closely with the College's 19 varsity sports, specifically as the main contact for the men's and women's soccer teams.

He broke into the business during his freshman year at Lycoming, keeping defensive hand stats during home football games and picking up hours in the office. In his junior year, the College was without a sports information director for a month. Stark, along with two other students, stepped in during the transition. In his senior year, he was the top student assistant, working as the contact for men's and women's soccer.

Hailing from Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, Stark currently resides in Parkville, Maryland with his wife, Corinne. An avid endurance athlete, Stark has completed multiple triathlons, including Ironman Lake Placid, a 140.6 mile event, in July 2017 and the Baltimore Running Festival Marathon in 2018

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