Debbie Antonelli named OHIO’s 2026 Charles R. Higgins Distinguished Alumnus

Ohio University’s internationally renowned Center for Sports Administration has named Debbie Antonelli the 2026 recipient of the Charles R. “Doc” Higgins Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Antonelli, a nationally respected men’s and women’s college basketball analyst for ESPN and CBS, will be honored during OHIO’s Sports Administration Symposium, which is slated to take place May 14-16, 2026, on the University’s Athens Campus. 

“Debbie Antonelli truly exemplifies the values of the Charles R. Higgins Distinguished Alumnus Award,” said Lamar Reams, Robert H. Freeman Professor of Sports Administration and chair of the Department of Sports Administration at Ohio University. “Her career reflects sustained excellence, leadership and service, both within the sports industry and beyond. Debbie has also used her platform to elevate the game and to positively impact lives, embodying the spirit and legacy that Doc Higgins instilled in our program.” 

Antonelli, who received a Master of Science in Sports Administration from OHIO, is currently in her 39th year of calling college basketball and has spent the past nine seasons with CBS Sports covering the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, earning a reputation as one of the sport’s most trusted and knowledgeable voices. Her broadcast excellence has been recognized with two Emmy Awards and the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024.

“I am humbled and overwhelmed to receive this distinguished recognition from my colleagues at Ohio University, especially as we mark 60 years of this incredible program’s notoriety and worldwide impact. The Sports Administration program created a launching pad for my career and taught me many things, including the value of networking and relationships,” said Antonelli. “It is an honor to join the list of gamechangers and sport pioneers through six decades in the name of Dr. Higgins. I would like to thank the Ohio University Sports Administration leadership for recognizing both myself and my family.”

A former standout student-athlete, Antonelli was a three-year starting guard and two-time captain at North Carolina State, where she helped lead the Wolfpack to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Sweet 16s, along with two ACC regular season titles and one ACC Tournament title. Her impact on the game has been honored with inductions into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022 and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.

NC State further celebrated Antonelli’s legacy in January 2025 by inducting her into the university’s Ring of Honor and placing her banner in the rafters at Reynolds Coliseum. In May 2025, the Mayor of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, further recognized her impact by naming a community facility “The Debbie Antonelli Gymnasium,” more affectionately known as “The Deb.”

Beyond broadcasting and basketball, Antonelli is widely admired for her philanthropic leadership. She is the founder of “24 Hours Nothing But Net,” a 24-hour free-throw shooting marathon that benefits the Special Olympics. Inspired by her middle son, Frankie, who lives with Down syndrome, the initiative has raised more than $1.4 million over the past seven years. 

Housed within OHIO’s College of Business, the Center for Sports Administration’s Charles R. “Doc” Higgins Distinguished Alumnus Award is presented annually to a graduate of Ohio University’s Master of Sports Administration program who has demonstrated exceptional professional achievement while embodying the leadership, service and spirit of Doc Higgins. Higgins is widely recognized for his foundational role in the growth of the MSA program and the development of sports administration education at Ohio University, which continues to stand out on the global stage. Today, the center is led by Dell Robinson, Ohio University’s 2024 alumnus of the year.

OHIO’s Master of Sports Administration program, which was founded in 1966 and is currently celebrating 60 years of continued educational excellence, has been consistently ranked as one of the best in the world by SportBusiness, an international sports business intelligence service. SportBusiness has ranked the program in at least the top three globally every year since its inception in 2012, including number one rankings in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021 and, most recently, in 2025.