Debby Jennings:
CLASS OF 1973
North Springs High SchoolClass of 1973
Atlanta, GA
Debby's Story
From my website bio:
Debby Jennings is in her 32nd year at the helm of the media relations office as the first and only director of media relations for the University of Tennessee Lady Vols. Jennings has built the department into one of the nation's best, producing outstanding work while helping train aspiring students of the profession. She was promoted to associate athletics director for media relations in 1998.
She has been distinguished on numerous occasions by her profession. In the summer of 2008, she was presented the Arch Ward Award by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Jennings is only the second woman to receive the award in 50 years which honors outstanding contributions to the field of college sports information along with bringing dignity and prestige to the profession. Previously, she was recognized by CoSIDA as a 2002 inductee into its Hall of Fame and a 2003 member of the CoSIDA Quarter Century Club. She became just the third female included in the prestigious group of sports information and media relations Hall of Famers. In celebration of these achievements, the University of Tennessee and the City of Knoxville celebrated "Debby Jennings Day" on Nov. 26, 2002, as the longtime media relations director was honored in pre-game ceremonies before the Lady Vol basketball team took to the court against George Washington University.
Jennings has accumulated over 300 national publications awards, with more than half representing Best in the Nation distinction. Last year, the media relations department garnered 16 CoSIDA awards for its media publications, including six best in the nation recognition.
She has been selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee numerous times to serve as a media relations coordinator at international events ranging from the 1984 and 1996 Summer Olympics to the 1987 Pan American Games and the 1983 and 1989 World University Games. Jennings also directed publicity and media relations for the 1990 NCAA Final Four hosted by UT. She has also served a two-year stin...Expand for more
t as the president of the Southeastern Conference sports information directors.
In addition to her media relations duties at UT, Jennings has been published. Most recently, she completed The Tennessee Lady Vols Basketball Vault for Whitman Publishing. The Vault is the first book published chronicling the history of Lady Vol Basketball from 1903-2008. Previously, she co-authored Basketball with Lady Vol Basketball Coach Pat Summitt for the W.C. Brown, Co. Basketball is a textbook utilized on the collegiate level by basketball coaching classes. In November 1991, Lady Magic: The Nancy Lieberman-Cline Story, by Jennings and Lieberman-Cline, was published by Sagamore Publishing.
In 2001, she added another distinction to her resume -- cancer survivor. She battled stage 1B/2A cervical cancer after being diagnosed on Feb. 14, 2001. Undeterred, she continued working while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. She has been cancer free since August 11, 2001.
Jennings is an adjunct professor at UT, and she became the first-ever sports information director to receive the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) Mel Greenberg Award in 1995 for lifelong contributions to women's basketball. She earned a bachelor's in journalism in 1977 from the University of Tennessee.
In 2008, Jennings became a licensed private investigator in the state of Tennessee and started her own investigations firm. She enjoys spending her leisure time at the beach with her Miniature Schnauzers, Chissy and Gabbe.
I always wanted to be a lawyer when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a good idea. As it turns out, they were wrong, I took another path. But now I'm a PI, too.
My favorite way to relax is at the beach or on a boat with a ton of good books, some great music and a bunch of fun friends.
If I could improve my home, I'd remodel my pool area and add on a bigger beach than the one I have now (yes, I know I'm in Knoxville --about 500 miles from the beach). My dream home would be in the Keys or somewhere around Seagrove, Fla.
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Register for Free to view all yearbooks!
Reunions
Photos