Northwestern State University of Louisana

Ireland has served his alma mater in four decades … chosen as the 2016 recipient of the Southland Conference Louis Bonnette Sports Media Award presented for outstanding career impact … his 1992 Demon football media guide won “Best in the Nation” at the FCS level in a College Sports Information Directors of America publications contest … won “Second in the Nation” for a 1997 story commemorating the enshrinement of Joe Delaney in the College Football Hall of Fame … has won nearly three dozen writing and publications awards this century from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association … in 2008, named the Northwest Louisiana National Football Foundation chapter’s “Distinguished American” award and in 2012 was chosen “CENLA Sportsman of the Year” by the Alexandria Town Talk for his work at NSU and in spearheading construction of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame museum, serving as its chairman since 1990.