NEW YORK, Jan. 8 -- Maureen Coyle has been named Senior Director, WNBA Sports Communications, it was announced by WNBA President Val Ackerman. Coyle will oversee the WNBA's sports public relations efforts, serving as the primary league contact for all sports and general media, as well as the 16 WNBA team public relations departments.

Coyle most recently served as Vice President for Clarion Marketing and Communications in Greenwich, Conn. She assumed the post in September 2000 after serving as Director of Public Relations for Octagon Marketing in Stamford, Conn.

For three seasons, Coyle was Director of Public and Community Relations for the New York Liberty, beginning with the inaugural WNBA season in 1997. During that time she developed and implemented all public and community relations strategies for the Liberty.

Prior to the Liberty, Coyle served as Assistant Director in Sports Media Relations at Rutgers University, and later as Director of Athletic Communications for LaSalle University.

She is a graduate of New York University, where she earned a B.S. in marketing and communications in 1991.