The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Chris Plonsky named 96th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays Honorary Referee
03.14.2024 | Texas Relays, Track & Field / Cross Country
Plonsky will be honored on March 30, the final day of the Texas Relays.
AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Texas has announced that Longhorn Chief of Staff and Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director Chris Plonsky will serve as the Honorary Referee for the 96th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays presented by Truist. Plonsky will be on site and honored on the final day of the event schedule for March 30 at Mike A. Myers Stadium. The Texas Relays is thrilled to honor the legacy that Plonsky continues to write after 36 years here on the Forty Acres.
"Her legacy, etched in the annals of history, is a testament to the power of equality. As she leads the charge at the Texas Relays, we celebrate her unwavering commitment to fairness, paving the way for all to excel on the field of dreams," head coach Edrick Floréal said.
Plonsky has been chief of staff and executive senior athletics director since September of 2018. She's been UT's senior woman administrator for NCAA and conference meetings since the late 1990s and previously served UT as the women's athletics director from 2001-17, was the supervisor of athletics external services for men's and women's athletics from 1993-2017 and was the women's sports information director from 1982-86.
In her current role, Plonsky supervises staff leaders in student services: academic/learning, compliance/ risk management and sports medicine/health and wellness/strength performance. The latter area includes nutrition, behavioral health and applied sport science. With the ever-growing changes of NIL, Plonsky assists with 4EVER Texas, the programming that pertains to student-athlete career readiness, leadership development, branding and personal development.
"It's beyond an honor to have received the call from Coach Flo regarding serving as honorary referee for the nation's most prestigious, historic campus-hosted outdoor track
and field competition," Plonsky said. "From my early 1980s days of working the Relays as a sports information staff member to the present, it's a joy to watch our talented Longhorns join thousands of other elite competitors for this annual meet. And it's especially exhilarating in that we are in an Olympics year, so this 2024 Relays will be extraordinary!"
The list of accomplishments and recognition is endless for Plonsky. She is the past president of: NACDA, NACMA and Women Leaders in College Sports (formerly NACWAA). Plonsky was also named the 2023 WBCA Administrator of the Year and was inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Fame in 2021. The native of Pittsburgh, Pa, graduated in 1979 with a B.S. in journalism from Kent State University.
