Athletic Directors Ray Rankis of Baruch College, Bob Byrnes of Manhattan College, and Walt Hameline of Wagner College each received the 2012 Distinguished Service Awards from the Metropolitan Basketball Writers’ Association (M.B.W.A.) at its annual awards dinner on Thursday evening, April 26 in Tarrytown, New York.

In addition, two basketball players were also named M.B.W.A. 2012 All-Stars. Jessica Duleba, the 2012 CUNYAC MVP, was named a First Team Women’s All-Star Selection, while Chris Beauchamp, a 2012 CUNYAC First Team All-Star, was named an M.B.W.A. Third Team Men’s All-Star Selection.  

For a complete list of 2012 M.B.W.A. all-stars, please scroll to the bottom of this story.

Rankis recently stepped down as head men’s basketball coach at Baruch, having compiled a 419-361 coaching record. The longest tenured coach in CUNY Athletic Conference history, Rankis guided the Bearcats to three NCAA Division III tournament berths along with two ECAC Metro Region postseason championships.

A former coach at John Jay, Rankis was named All-Met Division III coach of the year in 2009, and also is a three-time CUNYAC coach of the year and the 2000 New York State Division III men’s basketball coach of the year.

PREVIOUS M.B.W.A. DISTIGUISHED SERVICE AWARD WINNERS:
Joel Blumberg (Media), Tim Higgins (Basketball Official), Bob Wolff (TV), 2011
Gene Doris (Fairfield), Jim Haney, 2010
Mike Granelli (St, Peter’s), Steve Smith (Photographer), 2009
Chris Monasch (St. John’s), Larry Schiner, Tom Lopes (Basketball OIfficial), 2007
Nick Macarchuk (Fordham), Dianne Nolan, 2006
Ray Amalbert (City Tech), Cal Ramsey (NYU), 2005
Bill Stein (St. Peter's), 2004
Edgar Cartotto, Mickey Crowley (Basketball Official), Brad Tracy, 2003
Richie Regan, Jim Lennon, 2002
Carol Blazejowski (WNBA, Montclair State), Burt Beagle (Baruch), 2001
Lou Rossini, John “Doc” Johnson (Manhattan), J.B. Buono, 2000
Rich Ensor (MAAC), Bill Steinman, 1999
Mike Tranghese (Big East), 1998
Bernie Beglane (St. John’s), Bob Mulcahy (Iona), 1997
Pete Carril (Princeton), Paul Munick (MSG), Jack Powers (NIT), 1996
Bob Gesslein, Jack Kaiser, Paul Lizzo (LIU-Brooklyn), Dan Quilty (NYU), 1995
Ralph Arietta, Butch van Breda Kolff (Hofstra), 1994.

2011-12 MEN’S M.B.W.A. AWARD WINNERS
COACH OF THE YEAR: Jose Rebimbas, William Paterson
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: A.J. Matthews, Farmingdale State

FIRST TEAM: Lance Brown, Wm. Paterson; DaQuan Brooks, Western Connecticut; T.J. Tibbs, Staten Island; Andy Stein, NYU; Winston Douglas, Medgar Evers

SECOND TEAM: Andrew August, Montclair State; Corey Chandler, Wm. Paterson; Carlos Valdez, Mount St. Mary; Jordan Young, Staten Island; Chris Jimenez, St. Joseph’s-LI; Jerome Alexander, John Jay.

THIRD TEAM: Tyshawn Russell & Amil John, Brooklyn; Simon Smith & Sheldon Jones, Stevens Tech; Reed Buck, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; Chris Beauchamp, Baruch; Adam Katz; FDU-Florham

2011-12 WOMEN’S M.B.W.A. AWARD WINNERS
COACH OF THE YEAR: Erin Monahan, William Paterson
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: April Smith, William Paterson

FIRST TEAM: BriAnna Lucas, William Paterson; Jillian Barrett, Stevens Tech; Jessica Duleba, Baruch; Kendra Johnson, Rutgers-Newark; Jen Mocanu, Mount St. Mary

SECOND TEAM: Deslyn Applewhaite, Old Westbury; Amanda De La Cruz, Lehman; Kristin Markoe, Hunter; Melissa Tobie, Montclair; Danielle Barber, Drew; Dominique Cunningham, Farmingdale State; Jen Vasta, Centenary