NEW YORK --- Athletic directors Bob Byrnes of Manhattan, Walt Hameline of Wagner and Ray Rankis of Baruch have been selected to receive 2012 Distinguished Service Awards from the Met Basketball Writers Assn.

The presentations will be made Thursday evening, April 26, 2012, during the 79th NIT/MBWA All-Met Haggerty Awards dinner at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, N.Y.

The Distinguished Service Awards are presented by the Met Basketball Writers to individuals who have made significant contributions to college basketball.

A 1968 graduate of Manhattan College, Byrne has served as athletic director for 23 years at his alma mater. During his tenure, the Jaspers men's and women's basketball teams have received eight NCAA tournament bids. He is currently the chair of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Committee, has served two stints as president of the Met Intercollegiate Basketball Assn. (former sponsor of the NIT) and is a member of the ECAC Officials Negotiating Committee.

A native of Garrison, N.Y., Byrnes lives with his wife, Rosemary, in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. He is the father of five children.

In his 31st year as director of athletics at Wagner, Hameline also is the head football coach. He has overseen a dramatic upgrade in Seahawks sports facilities over the years. A former member of the MIBA, Hameline has been a key developer and is a past president of the Northeast Conference.

A graduate of Brockport (N.Y.) State with a B.S. in physical education and a Masters in education from Albany (N.Y.) State, Hameline lives with his wife, Debbie, and two daughters in Colts Neck, N.J.

Rankis recently stepped down as head men's basketball coach at Baruch, having compiled a 419-361 coaching record. The longest tenured and winningest coach in CUNY Athletic Conference history, he has 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.

A 1975 Lehman grad with a B.A. in mass communications and a Masters in physical education, Rankis lives with his wife, Ann-Maria, and two children in New Rochelle, N.Y.

Previous recipients of the MBWA Distinguished Service Award: Joel Blumberg, Tim Higgins, Bob Wolff, 2011; Gene Doris, Jim Haney, 2010; Mike Granelli, Steve Smith, 2009; Chris Monasch, Larry Schiner, Tom Lopes, 2007; Nick Macarchuk, Dianne Nolan, 2006; Ray Amalbert, Cal Ramsey, 2005; Bill Stein, 2004; Edgar Cartotto, Mickey Crowley, Brad Tracy, 2003; Richie Regan, Jim Lennon, 2002; Carol Blazejowski, Burt Beagle, 2001; Lou Rossini, John "Doc" Johnson, J.B. Buono, 2000; Rich Ensor, Bill Steinman, 1999; Mike Tranghese, 1998; Bernie Beglane, Bob Mulcahy, 1997; Pete Carril, Paul Munick, Jack Powers, 1996; Bob Gesslein, Jack Kaiser, Paul Lizzo, Dan Quilty, 1995; Ralph Arietta, Butch van Breda Kolff, 1994.