New Orleans, Louisiana - The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced the 29 winners of the GeneralSports TURF Systems AD of the Year Award (ADOY) today.

There are four geographic regions - northeast, southeast, central and west; while the membership is separated into seven categories - Division I-A; Division I-AA; Division I-AAA; Division II; Division III; NAIA; and Junior/Community Colleges. One winner was selected in each of the seven categories, along with a cross-divisional International winner for a total of 29 honorees. Winners will receive their awards during the James J. Corbett Awards Luncheon at NACDA's 41st Annual Convention at New Orleans Marriott and Sheraton New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana.

NACDA Executive Director Mike Cleary says the ADOY Award is essential because it highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to campuses and their surrounding communities.

"Our Honors and Awards Committee recognized a need for an award such as the AD of the Year," said Cleary, who oversaw implementation of the program to allow all NACDA Officers and Honors and Awards Committee members to participate in the awards process, should they be elected. "The program brings to light the exceptional jobs done by athletics directors across the country. These 29 winners exemplify that, These 29 winners exemplify that, providing us with a group of outstanding athletics directors who excel at their jobs."

Winners of the 2005-06 GeneralSports TURF Systems AD of the Year Award are:

All NACDA-member directors of athletics in the United States, Canada and Mexico who met the criteria were eligible for the award. Among the criteria were service as an AD for a minimum of five academic years; demonstration of commitment to higher education and student-athletes; continuous teamwork, loyalty and excellence; and the ability to inspire individuals or groups to high levels of accomplishments. Additionally, each AD's institution must have passed a compliance check through its appropriate governing body (i.e., NCAA, NAIA, etc.), in which the institution could not have been on probation or cited for a lack of institutional control within the last five years during the tenure of the current athletics director.

Nominators were NACDA-member directors of athletics, institutional presidents and conference commissioners. Special Selection Committees composed of current and former directors of athletics, present and past NCAA and NAIA presidents, current and former commissioners and other key athletics administrators voted on nominees for the award. A complete listing of Selection Committee members can be found on NACDA's web site at www.nacda.com.

GENERAL SPORTS TURF SYSTEMS, headquartered in Rochester, Michigan, is the only synthetic turf company headquartered in the Midwest. The company develops, designs, constructs and services synthetic sports fields. Its primary markets are small to mid-size colleges, and high schools where multiple sports are being played on a single surface and, therefore, require enhanced durability. The company markets these products under its GameDay Grass Xpe and Fusion Turf^TM brands, using the world's leading materials and components. The company also offers revenue generation services, lease/finance programs and other customer resources designed to make the process simple and smooth for owners.

NACDA, now in its 41^st year, is the professional and educational association for more than 6,100 collegiate athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 2,000 athletics administrators annually attend the NACDA Convention. Additionally, NACDA administers nine professional associations for the separate business units that report directly to the athletics director.

A brief biography follows on each award winner.

Division I-A

Laing Kennedy, Kent State University, Northeast

In 12 years, Laing Kennedy has guided Kent State University to 182 individual Mid-American Conference (MAC) titles, 40 team titles, 13 tournament titles and 63 All-American honors. In 2004-05, KSU finished 90th in the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup, marking the fifth consecutive season KSU has been the highest ranked MAC school and the sixth straight year the university has finished in the top 100 NCAA Division I institutions. Last year, Kent State won or shared seven MAC championships and won its sixth MAC women's all-sports trophy, the most of any MAC women's program. It was the 10th straight year the women had finished in the top two in the standings. The Golden Flashes also finished second in the MAC men's all-sports race. Some of Kennedy's accomplishments include adding women's soccer and women's golf and many facility improvements. Kennedy just began a five-year term on the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee, becoming the second MAC representative to serve on the committee. He also serves as the chair of the Board of Trustees for the United Way of Portage County. Kennedy came to Kent in 1994 after leaving Cornell University. In 11 years, Cornell had nine national championship teams, 36 Ivy League championship teams and 102 All-Americans. Kennedy was NACDA's Division I-A Northeast Region AD of the Year in 2002. He earned his bachelor's degree from Cornell University.

Jim Livengood, University of Arizona, West

The University of Arizona's eighth athletics director, Jim Livengood took over the position in 1994. During Livengood's tenure, UA has finished in the top 20 of the Directors' Cup every year and in the top 10 in nine of the last 11 years. The men's basketball team competed in the Final Four in 1994, 1997 and 2001, winning the national title in 1997. The university won the 1994, 1996, 1997 and 2001 Division I softball championships, along with the 1996 and 2000 NCAA women's golf titles. On the national level, Livengood was president of NACDA in 1998-99 and the Division I-A Athletics Directors Association in 1998. He chaired the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee in 2002-03. He is a member of the NCAA Fellows Program to mentor new athletics directors and served on the NCAA Peer Review team from 1994-99. In 2003-04, he chaired the Pac-10 Conference Athletics Directors Revenue Sharing Committee, and was on the Pac-10 Bowl Committee, Pac-10 Men's Basketball Tournament Subcommittee and was the Pac-10 ADs' Liaison to Men's Basketball Coaches. Livengood was named NACDA's Division I-A West Region AD of the Year in 1999. Prior to Arizona, he served as the AD at Washington State University for six years. He earned his bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University and completed his fifth year education requirement for teaching certification at Central Washington University.

Terry Don Phillips, Clemson University, Southeast

As Clemson University's 10th director of athletics, Terry Don Philips has made a lasting impression on the Tigers' tradition in just four years. In the spring of 2005, a record 245 student-athletes were named to the academic honor roll, including a record 121 who were named to the President's List. Additionally, a record-tying eight programs had GPAs greater than 3.0. In 2004-05, 15 of Clemson's 19 sports programs advanced to postseason play including six that were chosen for NCAA tournament competition. The department had 62 All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) selections, 14 All-Americans and seven Academic All-Region student-athletes. Philips is chair of the Division I Infractions Appeals Committee and serves on the NCAA certification program. He also chairs the ACC's Infractions and Penalties Committee and serves on the Finance Committee, Television Committee, Men's Basketball Committee and Football Committee. In the spring, Philips teaches Sport Law for the Department of Accountancy and Legal Studies. He received the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Football Foundation Amateur Football Award in 2002. Phillips earned his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Arkansas and his master's from Virginia Tech.

Kevin White, University of Notre Dame, Central

Kevin White has 24 years experience as an athletics director, the last six at the University of Notre Dame. During his tenure, Notre Dame has finished 11th, 13th, 13th, 19th and 16th in the Directors' Cup standings in his first five years, accounting for the university's best five-year run in the competition. The Fighting Irish also won the Big East Conference Commissioner's Trophy in 2001, 2002 and 2003. The Irish have achieved a number one national ranking 10 times in six sports during his tenure. The Irish won the national championship in women's basketball in 2001; fencing in 2003 and 2005; and women's soccer in 2004. More than 125 student-athletes have been recognized as All-Americans. Sixteen of 20 teams compiled a 100 percent graduate rate, while none were below 90 percent. White also oversees the intramural, club sport and campus recreation program, with 94 percent of the student body participating. Sports Illustrated On Campus rated the Irish intramural program number one in 2004. He has also served on several committees, is 2nd vice president of NACDA, president of the Division I-A Athletics Directors' Association and on the NCAA Council. He is involved with the Bowl Championship Series and was a member of the Rose Bowl Management Committee. He had previously been the AD at Loras College, University of Maine, Tulane University and Arizona State University. White was awarded the St. Joseph's Alumni Achievement Award in 1997 and an honorary degree in 2001. He earned his bachelor's degree from St. Joseph's College, his master's degree from Central Michigan University and his doctorate from Southern Illinois University.

Division I-AA

Paul Kowalczyk, Southern Illinois University, Central

Paul Kowalczyk took the helm as athletics director at Southern Illinois University in 2000. He inherited a program with deteriorating facilities and underperforming revenue sports and turned it around in five short years. Kowalczyk has succeeded in increasing the budget through ticket sales and marketing opportunities. The men's basketball team has won five straight Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) championships and earned four straight bids to the NCAA tournament from 2002-05. The 2002 club advanced to the Sweet 16, which gained unprecedented national media exposure for SIU. This year's squad won the MVC. The softball team has also advanced to the NCAA tournament three consecutive years. SIU finished second in the 2004-05 MVC all-sports trophy race, their best showing in 10 years. In 2003, Kowalczyk created the Saluki Athletic Scholarship Fund which already exceeds a half million dollars. Additionally, the student-athlete population has earned better GPAs in the class room than the general student body. Last year, 51 student-athletes earned Academic All-Conference honors, while four were selected as Academic All-Americans. Kowalczyk earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Kent State University. New Position. Kowalczyk was chosen as the athletics director at Colorado State University beginning with the 2006-07 year.

Frank McLaughlin, Fordham University, Northeast

Frank McLaughlin is synonymous with Fordham University. A student-athlete at Fordham in the 1960s, McLaughlin returned as an assistant basketball coach in the 1970s and has led the athletics department for the past 21 years, first as the athletics director and, since 1998, as the executive director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation. He is responsible for the overall supervision and long-range planning of the athletics department and recreational life programs. He also promotes internal and external interest in the athletics programs and conducts fund raising for the athletics department and the university. His fund raising has spearheaded renovations to Jack Coffey Field; surface, lights, press box and scoreboard upgrades at the Murphy Field Complex; and a multi-purpose athletics facility which has new tennis courts, softball fields and a new soccer, football and recreational field, all lighted. Other projects include a $2 million Rose Hill renovation in the summer of 2002. McLaughlin has overseen the addition of two varsity sports in the past 10 years, and the switch of 19 of the 22 varsity sports to the Atlantic 10 Conference. He was inducted into the Catholic High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1988. McLaughlin was a 1969 graduate of Fordham and was drafted by the New York Knicks following graduation.

Steve Sloan, University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Southeast

In 2002, Steve Sloan accepted the athletics director position at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. That same position had been offered to him five years earlier. Under his guidance, UTC won the 2005 Southern Conference (SoCon) Commissioners' Cup, stopping Appalachian State University's 13-year winning streak. In 2004-05, UTC won SoCon championships in wrestling and men and women's cross country and basketball. He has also stressed the importance of academics and the Mocs are well represented on the SoCon Academic Honor Rolls and the university's Dean's List. This year's women's cross country team held the second-highest GPA in the nation. Sloan had previously been the athletics director at the University of Central Florida for nine years, the University of Alabama for two years and the University of North Texas for two years. Sloan was inducted into the Tennessee Sports, Alabama Sports, Orange Bowl and Greater Chattanooga Sports halls of fame. He was recently selected by Sports Illustrated as one of the top athletes of the 20th century from the state of Tennessee. Sloan is a graduate of Alabama with a degree in business and education, where he played quarterback on the football team from 1963-65. In 1965, he earned All-American honors and was drafted by the NFL's Atlanta Falcons in 1966, where he played for two seasons.

Larry Teis, Texas State University, West

A member of Texas State University's athletics department since 1999, Larry Teis was the associate athletics director of external affairs before becoming the director of athletics in 2004. Since 1999, he has made many improvements to the department including the reconstruction and new construction of the football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, softball and volleyball facilities. In 2005, the football program had its third best season in its 102-year history with a fourth place finish in the nation and an 11-3 record. The department has placed first in the Southland Conference Commissioner's Cup standings in four of the past five years. He has also had the highest Bobcat Club membership and revenue totals in the history of the university in 2005-06. In the spring and fall of 2005, the student-athletes' average GPA of 2.69 and 2.73 respectfully were the highest in 10 years. More than 60 fall student-athletes averaged greater than a 3.0 GPA. In the community, Teis has been on the Hays County Heart Walk Committee, chairing the event in 2000. He also serves as vice chair of the San Marcos Convention and Visitors Bureau. He had previously worked at Texas Christian University, the University of New Mexico, the Nissan Grand Prix and the San Antonio Missions Baseball Club. Teis completed his bachelor's degree from Texas Christian U., his master's from St. Thomas University and doctorate from the University of New Mexico.

Division I-AAA

Joni Comstock, American University, Southeast

Joni Comstock is in her third year as the director of athletics at American University. She came to AU from a three-year stint as the AD at the University of North Carolina Asheville, during which time she helped increase Asheville's funding by 30 percent through marketing and development. She served five years on the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee, most recently as chair. She is responsible for leading the 10-person committee that oversees the 64-team tournament, for choosing venues and selecting and seeding teams. She is also on the Board of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA), and was on the Strategic Planning Committee for the Big Ten Conference and the Big South Conference Television Committee. Before taking the position at North Carolina Asheville, Comstock worked as the associate AD at Purdue University for five years before being promoted to senior associate AD for another four years. Comstock earned her bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University, her master's degree from Illinois State University and a doctorate from the University of Illinois.

Lynn Hickey, University of Texas San Antonio, West

As the director of athletics at the University of Texas San Antonio for the past six years, Lynn Hickey has been the cornerstone of the institution's recent successes. UTSA earned the Southland Conference all-sports championship and has earned team and individual awards in 14 varsity sports. In addition, she added two new sports to the roster - women's golf in 2005-06 and women's soccer in 2006-07. Hickey has worked to bring NCAA championship events to the university. By 2010, UTSA will have hosted 11 NCAA tournaments including the 2002 and 2010 Women's Final Four, 2004 and 2008 Men's Final Four and 2005 women's volleyball championship. Hickey has served on the Women's Basketball Rules Committee, the last two as chair. In 2002-04, Hickey served as president of the Southland Conference (SLC) and currently serves on the NCAA Championship/Competition Cabinet. She was named the 2005 NACWAA Division I-AAA Administrator of the Year. Prior to her tenure at UTSA, Hickey was the senior associate AD/SWA at Texas A&M University. Hickey earned her bachelor's degree in education from Ouchita Baptist University where she was an All-American on the basketball team. She was also a member of the USA National Team in 1973.

Cheryl Levick, St. Louis University, Central

Cheryl Levick hit the ground running when she took over as athletics director in 2004 at St. Louis University. In a busy first year, Levick successfully led the department from Conference USA to the Atlantic 10 Conference, spearheaded fund raising for the on-campus Arena Project, served on the Executive Committee for the 2005 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four, completed phase one of the long-term strategic plan for SLU athletics, hired a new women's basketball coach and won the bid to host the 2006 NCAA Men's Soccer College Cup. Prior to moving to St. Louis, Levick spent four years as the director of athletics and recreation at Santa Clara University. Levick recently completed a term as president of the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association. She had previously served on NACDA's Executive Committee, the NCAA Management Council and the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics. In 2002, Levick was honored by the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) as the Division I Athletics Administrator of the Year and, in 1998 and 1999, she was named one of the nation's Top 25 Female Sports Executives by the SportsBusiness Journal. She was also honored in 2001 with the Bay Area Woman Achievement Award. Levick graduated from the University of Missouri and earned her master's degree from Indiana University.

Pat Meiser-McKnett, University of Hartford, Northeast

Pat Meiser-McKnett is in her 13th year serving as the University of Hartford's director of athletics and special assistant to the president. With more than 34 years experience in athletics administration, Meiser-McKnett has seen the Hawks win America East Conference championships in seven sports - women's basketball, men and women's soccer, men and women's golf, men's tennis and women's volleyball. Each of these teams have also reached Division I tournaments or national postseason play. Hartford won the America East Conference Academic Cup in 1996-97 and, in the spring of 2005, the average GPA for student-athletes was 3.10. She spearheaded new efforts for fund raising, alumni relations, development of corporate sponsorship programs and implemented licensing programs and successful grant submissions. Her biggest project was a $10 million capital campaign to renovate the existing soccer and lacrosse field, the relocation of the softball field and the construction of a new baseball field and a new track. She was named one of the nation's top 50 women's sports executives by the SportsBusiness Journal in 1999 and was named a Connecticut "Woman of Merit" by the Greater Hartford Visitors and Convention Bureau (GHVCB) in 2000. Meiser-McKnett is the first vice president of the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association and was also president of the America East Conference Board of Directors. Meiser-McKnett earned her bachelor's degree from West Chester State University and a master's degree from Penn State University.

Division II

Bill Goldring, Ashland University, Division II, Northeast

Bill Goldring is now in his eighth year as director of athletics at Ashland University. He has added two varsity sports - women's tennis and golf and has spearheaded several projects to update the AU weight room, renovate the athletics complex and remodel the stadium. Additionally, upgrades have begun to Donges Field and the AU baseball complex. The women's soccer team has captured eight consecutive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (GLIAC) championships and advanced to the NCAA playoffs for eight straight seasons. Last year, the indoor and outdoor track, men's swimming, men and women's cross country, women's soccer, volleyball and wrestling teams competed in the NCAA postseason. Additionally, during Goldring's tenure, the baseball team competed in the playoffs, while the men's soccer team made two NCAA playoff appearances. In 2002-03, AU was ranked 19th in the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup standings. Goldring, who has been in athletics administration for close to 30 years, has been on the GLIAC Championship Committee, Conference Review Committee and the NCAA Division II Regional Committee for Football. Goldring earned his bachelor's degree from Ohio State University and his master's degree from Ohio University.

Lynda Goodrich, Western Washington University, West

In her 18 years as an athletics director, Lynda Goodrich of Western Washington University, has received many distinguished awards. She was named Western Washington's Sports Impact Person of the Century (1900-99), inducted into the Northwest Women's Hall of Fame in 2000, Western Washington's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Lake Stevens High School Hall of Fame in 2004. She was the NAIA Pacific Northwest Region Women's Administrator of the Year in 1996-97, the Pacific Northwest Athletic Conference Female Administrator of the Year in 1994-95 and the NAIA District 1 Female Administrator of the Year in 1991-92. Additionally, she received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Western Washington's Alumni Association in 1988, was named the Whatcom County Sports Person of the Year in 1987, was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1986 for coaching women's basketball. She was also named the Vikings' Female Coach of the Century. She took the Vikings to three District 1 championships. She was the third NAIA women's basketball coach to reach the 400 milestone in career victories. During Goodrich's tenure, the Vikings won their first national championship, raised funds for a strength and fitness center, created an annual fund drive, added women's softball and golf and set attendance records in every sport. A former NACDA Executive Committee member, Goodrich earned her bachelor and master's degrees from Western Washington.

Dan Kenney, University of North Carolina Pembroke, Southeast

Dan Kenney has been in college athletics for more than 30 years, the last eight as the director of athletics at the University of North Carolina Pembroke. Kenney has led the growth at UNCP, spending more than $10 million in improvements and additions to the athletics facilities. He also added three sports - women's soccer, women's golf and football. The latter returns after a 56-year absence. He also serves as a lecturer in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department. Previously, Kenney was a basketball coach for 23 years at four universities in the Carolinas. As a coach, he was the National Association of Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year in 1991 and was the Central Intercollegiate Athletics Conference Coach of the Year in 1987 and 1991. Kenney earned his bachelor and master's degrees from East Carolina University.

Mike Kovalchik, Hillsdale College, Central

Mike Kovalchik has been the athletics director and chair of the department of physical education at Hillsdale College for the past 10 years. He is a member of the NCAA Division II Championships Committee and the Division II Project Team to Review Issues Related to Diversity. He had previously been involved with the NCAA's Division II Management Council; the Division II Legislation Committee; the Interpretations Subcommittee, where he was the chair; and the Baseball Rules Committee. In 1983 and 1985, Kovalchik was awarded the Kellogg Foundation Grant. Prior to his tenure at Hillsdale, Kovalchik was the AD and chair of the physical education department at Grand Valley State University from 1989-96. He received his bachelor degree from Eastern Illinois University; master's degree from Eastern Illinois and the State University of New York Cortland; and his doctorate from Southern Illinois University. While in college, Kovalchik participated in two varsity sports and went on to play minor league baseball.

Division III

Holly Gera, Montclair State University, Southeast

An alumnus of Montclair State University, Holly Gera has worked at the university for 17 years, the last 10 as athletics director. She had previously served the university as the director of campus recreation, assistant AD and associate AD. Gera received the Pathfinder Award for the state of New Jersey from the National Association of Girls and Women in Sports (NAGWS) in 2004, the NAGWS Honor Award in 2004 and the Garden State Award for Administrative Excellence, presented by the Collegiate Athletics Administrators of New Jersey (CAANJ) in 2001. Gera was vice president of the National Association of Division III Athletics Administrators, has been a member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Board of Directors, the ECAC Metro Region Women's Basketball Selection Committee and has been on several sports committees. At Montclair State, Gera is a member of the President's NCAA Divisional Review Committee, Campus Life Programming Board, President's Commission of Affirmative Action and the Intercollegiate Athletic Council. Gera earned her bachelor's degree from Montclair State and her master's degree from Penn State University in 1981.

Leon Lunder, Carleton College, West

Leon Lunder has been a member of the Carleton College athletics department since 1982, serving as the director of physical education, athletics and recreation since 1992. He has worked as the athletics trainer, head wrestling coach, strength and conditioning coach, assistant coach for football and track and field and as a teacher in the physical education and biology departments. He was the director of the Division III women and men's swimming and diving championship in 2006, the Division III track and field championships in 1995 and the Division III women's tennis championships in 1993. He has taught weight training, racquetball, fitness classes, frisbee, tennis, cross country skiing, cycling, coaching theory, coaching principles, biochemistry and human physiology. In 2003-04, he chaired the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee. In 1999, Lunder chaired the Division III Track and Field Rules Committee and, in 1998, he was the vice president of the National Association of Division III Athletics Administrators. He was a member of the NCAA Management Council, NCAA Budget Committee and the Division III Financial Aid Task Force. Lunder received his undergraduate degree from St. Olaf and his master's degree from Mankato State University.

Larry Scheiderer, Denison University, Central

Larry Scheiderer is in his 15th year as the director of athletics, physical education and recreation at Denison University. He filled the newly-created position in 1991. During his tenure, Denison has won the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) All-Sports Trophy each year since 1998 and placed 15th in the Directors' Cup in 1999 and 19th in 2001. Prior to his tenure at Denison, Scheiderer was the chair of the department of health and sports sciences at Capital University for five years and was an assistant professor and director of athletics for four years. Additionally, he was an instructor of health and sport sciences at Ohio University where he also served as athletics trainer. He earned his bachelor's degree from Ohio University, his master's degree from Central Michigan University and his doctorate from Ohio University.

Don Tencher, Rhode Island College, Northeast

In 1995, Don Tencher became the third person in three years to hold the position of director of athletics, intramurals and recreation at Rhode Island College. He has built one of the strongest programs in the Little East Conference. In 2004-05, RIC finished a close second in the Commissioner's Cup and set an institutional record for conference championships. He spearheaded the college's first capital campaign, raising more than $4 million to date, and an athletics endowment fund of more than $1.2 million has been established. Most of the funds have gone towards rebuilding facilities and student-athlete support. The varsity baseball, softball, tennis and track complexes each received makeovers, and a new five-acre outdoor practice facility was recently completed. A new 2,000-seat outdoor facility was built for soccer and lacrosse. Additionally, Tencher made improvements with the student-athlete success center and student-athlete academic support. Tencher has been an active member of NACDA, serving on the Executive Committee, Directors' Cup Committee and chair of the Continuing Education Committee. He is currently on the NCAA Rules Oversight Panel, was chair of the NCAA Wrestling Committee and is secretary/treasurer of the Little East Conference. He was NACDA's 2001 Division III AD of the Year in the Northeast Region. He recently received the General Robert R. Neyland Lifetime Achievement Award from the All-American Football Foundation and was the recipient of the Frank Keaney Award from the International Institute for Sport. Tencher received his bachelor's degree from Barrington College and his master's degree from the University of Rhode Island.

NAIA

Bob Burns, John Brown University, Central

Not only has Bob Burns been the director of athletics at John Brown University for the past 25 years, he has also been a professor of education for the past 31 years and chair of the health and physical education department for 27 years. Burns laid the foundation for the establishment of gender equality throughout the athletics program with the addition of many new women's programs. He spearheaded the construction of new tennis courts, a soccer complex, several club fields and a multi-use health and recreation complex. Burns also initiated efforts to increase fund-raising dollars. He is a two-time winner of the NAIA Region VI Athletics Director of the Year Award and has served as the NAIA Region VI chair for six years. He is on the original committee that developed and implemented the NAIA Champions of Character program. Burns has also served on the NACDA Executive Committee for the past four years. In 2005, the men's basketball team took home the NAIA Division I championship and the men's soccer team won the National Christian College Athletics Association championship. Seven sports have made national tournament appearances. Prior to his tenure at JBU, Burns coached baseball at Campbellsville University, where he was named the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletics Conference Baseball Coach of the Year in 1974. He holds a bachelor's degree from Greenville College and master's and doctorate degrees from the University of Arkansas.

Jim Dennison, Walsh University, Northeast

Jim Dennison has been the director of athletics and head football coach at Walsh University since 1993. He established the Captains' Council, Cavalier Community Awareness and alcohol and drug education programs. During his tenure, Walsh won NAIA championships in women and men's basketball, while more than 50 percent of Walsh's student-athletes have posted a GPA of 3.0 or more. Prior to moving to Walsh, Dennison was the AD at the University of Akron, becoming the first AD in the nation to lead a Division I-AA program to the Division I-A level, transitioning the university into the Mid-American Conference. NACDA's 2002-03 Northeast Region AD of the Year, Dennison was named the NAIA Region IX Athletics Director of the Year last year. From 1978 to 1987, Dennison was inducted into six halls of fame - the University of Akron, Medina County Sports, College of Wooster Athletics, Greater Akron Baseball, Summit County Sports and Wadsworth Sports. He has the most wins as a football coach in the history of both Akron and Walsh. He earned his bachelor's degree from the College of Wooster and his master's degree from Akron.

Steve Knight, William Carey College, Southeast

At William Carey College, Steve Knight has filled many roles through the years, including his current position as director of athletics and head men's basketball coach. He has also served as director of housing, head men's basketball coach, head baseball coach, physical education instructor and assistant professor. Since 1987, William Carey has produced nationally-ranked teams in baseball and men and women's basketball, soccer and tennis. Three new soccer fields, a baseball field and a softball field have been constructed. His basketball team has competed in the NAIA tournament seven times and produced nine NAIA All-Americans. He has won six NAIA District 30 championships and six Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) championships. He has been president, 1st vice president and secretary of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC)/ NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches Association. Knight was selected as the GCAC Athletics Director of the Year three times and the NAIA Region 13 Athletics Director of the Year twice. He was also inducted into the University of Southern Mississippi M-Club Hall of Fame in 2002. Knight has been honored as the Men's Basketball Coach of the Year for NAIA District 30 (three times), GCAC (five times) and by the Clarion Ledger (twice). Knight received his bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and his master's from William Carey College. He played in the Seattle Mariners minor league system for two years.

Joel Schuldheisz, Concordia University (Ore.), West

Since Joel Schuldheisz' tenure as athletics director began at Concordia University, the program has grown from five teams to 13. CU has been named an "Institution of Character" by the NAIA for the past four years and is recognized as one of only 18 Champions of Character Program Centers in the country. Schuldheisz spearheaded an annual fund raiser entitled "Fore the Students", a golf tournament that generates more than $15,000 a year. He is currently involved in a capital campaign to raise $3.5 million for renovations to the baseball and soccer complex. Schuldheisz has served as Region I chair and as a member of the Council of Athletic Administrators for the past six years. He had previously served as president of the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) for two years and secretary for five. He was named the NAIA Northwest Region I Administrator of the Year in 1989 and CCC Athletics Director of the Year in 1999-2000 and 2002-03. He earned his bachelor's degree from Concordia University, his master's degree from the University of Minnesota and his doctorate from Oregon State University.

Junior/Community College

Ron Case, Gloucester County College, Northeast

Ron Case has brought many positive changes to Gloucestor County College since his tenure began in 1991. GCC teams have earned top three national finishes 31 times; won 12 NJCAA Division III national championships in baseball, men's basketball, men's cross country and wrestling; and has earned 10 second place finishes in baseball, men's basketball, women's cross country, men's cross country and wrestling. The GCC athletics program was recognized as the top community college program in New Jersey in 1997-98 and received the inaugural Collegiate Athletics Association of New Jersey (CAANJ) Cup. GCC also won the award in 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2001-02. In 1998, Case was elected to a four-year term on NACDA's Executive Committee. Additionally, he is a past president of the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) and has served on NATYCAA's Executive Committee since 1993. He was president of the CAANJ in 2000-01 and has been on CAANJ's Executive Committee since 1995. Additionally, he has been the president and secretary of the Garden State Athletic Conference and the chair of the NJCAA Region XIX wrestling and baseball committees. He received NACDA's Northeast Region AD of the Year Award in 2003 and was the recipient of NATYCAA's L. William Miller Award in 2002. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the State University of New York Cortland.

Sue Sinclair, Illinois Central College, JC/CC, Central

In her 16th year at Illinois Central College, Sue Sinclair has spent the last eight as athletics director and head volleyball coach. The first eight were spent as the assistant athletics administrator, head volleyball coach and assistant softball coach. During Sinclair's tenure, eight of 10 sports have competed at a national tournament, with the women's basketball team winning a national title. She serves on the Board of Directors for the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and USA Volleyball. Previously, she was the AVCA curriculum chair. She has also served in several leadership roles for the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Association, including president, vice president and secretary/treasurer. She was a National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators district representative from 2001-04, the NJCAA Region XXIV Volleyball Committee chair from 1992-2001 and the NJCAA Region XXIV women's assistant region director from 2001-03 and director this year. She was instrumental in establishing the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame and was inducted in 2004. As a volleyball coach, Sinclair has a career record of 579-277. Her team has qualified for the national tournament nine times in the NJCAA Division I and twice in Division II. Sinclair has been named the NJCAA Region XXIV Coach of the Year nine times and was the AVCA Coach of the Year in 1997.

Joe Tubb, South Plains College, West

In his 23rd year as South Plains College's director of athletics, Joe Tubb's responsibilities reach far beyond the athletics department. He also manages the Texan Dome, the intramural and recreational program and the Texas High School University Interscholastic League events hosted by the college. During his tenure, the men and women's basketball teams have won the Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC) title eight times, while both teams have won the NJCAA Region V tournament five times on their way to the NJCAA national tournament. Since 1983, close to 90 percent of SPC's scholarship student-athletes have graduated, with even a higher percentage moving on to four-year institutions. Tubb is a member of the Texas High School Coaches Association and a former member of the Basketball Advisory Committee. He has been the NJCAA Region V director since 1999 and a member of the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) since 1989. He has also been on NATYCAA's Board of Directors since 2001. Tubb has been a past president of the Levelland Country Club and a board member of the American Cancer Society. In 1982, Tubb was chosen as an Outstanding Young Man of America. In 1966-67, Tubb was a member of SPC's men's golf team, before transferring to West Texas A&M University where he earned his bachelor's degree. He went on to earn his master's degree from Sul Ross State University.

Gregg Wolfe, Gulf Coast Community College, Southeast

Gregg Wolfe has been the director of athletics at Gulf Coast Community College since 1996. In the past 10 years, he has improved the student-athlete graduation rate by an impressive 45 percent. GCCC has been among the top schools in Florida in All-Academic selections. He secured $9.2 million for a new wellness and athletics facility, which will include a new gymnasium, weight room, therapy pool, dance studio, sports medicine facilities and offices and enough extra funds to create student-athletes housing scholarships. In 1996-97, Wolfe re-established the women's basketball program that had been discontinued in 1983 and, in the next year, added women's volleyball. Additionally, he started televising the men and women's basketball home conference games. He also secured funds to refurbish the softball field and implement a drug testing and education program. Wolfe is the current chair of the Panhandle Conference and the Florida Community College Activities Association (FCCAA)/NJCAA Region VIII Council for Athletic Affairs. In 2003 and 2004, the women's basketball team won the NJCAA Division I National Championship. Wolfe earned his associate's degree from Gulf Coast Community College and his bachelor's and master's degrees from Florida State University.

International

Bob Philip, University of British Columbia

Since 1992, Bob Philip has been the director of athletics for the University of British Columbia. During his tenure, UBC has produced 37 national championships, five in 2003-04, breaking the university record for the most titles in a single academic year. The university also produces close to 100 Academic All-Canadians or All-Americans each season. In seven years, Philip has raised more than $3.9 million through the annual Thunderbird Millennium Scholarship Breakfast. In the last two years, Philip has assisted in raising more than $10 million dollars for scholarships and facilities. Philip was president of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) from 1992-95 and president-elect from 1990-92. He has also served on the awards and eligibility committees. He is currently on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Hockey Association and the Canadian Hockey Centres of Excellence. He was the Canadian chef de mission for the 1987 World University Games in Czechoslovakia and the assistant chef de mission for the 1991 Games in Sheffield, England. Currently, he is chair of Ice Hockey for FISU, the governing body of the World University Games. He was inducted into the Concordia University (Montreal) Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. Philip received his bachelor's degree from Sir George Williams, his education degree from McGill University and his master's from Concordia.