Dallas, TX -- The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced the winners of the Under Armour Athletics Directors of the Year Award (ADOY) today.
 
There are four geographic regions - northeast, southeast, central and west; while the membership is separated into seven categories - Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A); Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA); Division I (formerly Division I-AAA); Division II; Division III; NAIA; and Junior/Community Colleges, along with one International winner.
 
Winners are based on the 2010-11 season and will receive their awards during the James J. Corbett Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, June 27 at NACDA's 47th Annual Convention at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas.
 
This year's International Athletics Director of the Year Award went to Gord Grace from the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ontario Canada.
 
The Chatham, Ontario native has been the athletics director at the University of Windsor for the past 10 years. Over that time, Windsor's athletic department has undergone a significant transformation under his leadership that has helped to bring the University of Windsor to the forefront of Canadian University athletics.
 
In 2010-11, the University of Windsor Lancers had an amazing year winning 3 CIS National Championships which was the most of any University in Canada. In addition, seven Lancer teams were represented in the CIS National Top 10 ranking in Canada that year.
 
The quality of student-athletes at the University of Windsor was also highlighted in 2011 as a number of Lancers received prestigious national recognition. Women's basketball standout Jessica Clemencon was named the BLG award winner as the overall Canadian University Athlete of the Year while Erika Reiser from Track and Field was named one of Canada's 8 top Academic All-Canadians. As well, four Lancer athletes were named OUA Conference athletes of the year in their particular sports.
 
Gord's role as athletics director also includes overseeing an outstanding campus recreation and intramurals program at the University. In 2011, the University of Windsor's Campus Recreation program was recognized with the prestigious CIRA (Canadian Intramural Recreation Association) Ontario Intramural Award for excellence in intramurals in the form of student opportunities, diversity in programming and leadership.
 
During his tenure at the University of Windsor, Gord has developed and led a strategic plan for improved athletic and recreation facilities that includes a multi-use outdoor stadium that was built in 2005, a student fitness center which also opened in 2005, and a turf field project within the stadium that was completed in 2008.
 
In addition to his work at the University of Windsor, Gord has also been a valuable contributor at the conference and national athletics level. He recently completed his term as Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Conference President and also sits on the Board of Directors for Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).
 
In the winter of 2012, Grace will be on the international stage as he has been chosen as the chef de mission for Team Canada's entry into the 26th FISU World University Games to be held in Trentino, Italy from December 11 to 21.

NACDA Executive Director Bob Vecchione explains 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.

"Before its inception, our Honors and Awards Committee recognized a need for an award such as the AD of the Year," said Vecchione, who is finishing his first year at the helm of NACDA. "The program brings to light the remarkable jobs done by athletics directors across the country. These outstanding winners epitomize that, providing us with a group of exemplary athletics directors who excel on campus and in their communities."

Winners of the 2011-12 Under Armour AD of the Year Awards include: 
 

DIVISION/REGION	WINNER	INSTITUTION
INTERNATIONAL	Gord Grace	University of Windsor (Canada)
FBS/NE	Mike O'Brien	University of Toledo
FBS/SE	Richard Giannini	University of Southern Mississippi
FBS/C	Jim Phillips	Northwestern University
FBS/W	Ian McCaw	Baylor University
FCS/NE	Jim Fiore	Stony Brook University
FCS/SE	Jeff Barber	Liberty University
FCS/C	Gene Taylor	North Dakota State University
FCS/W	Peter Fields	Montana State University
Division I/NE	Mike Bobinski	Xavier University
Division I/SE	Norwood Teague	Virginia Commonwealth University
Division I/ C	Mike Carter	Oral Roberts University
Division I/W	Peg Bradley-Doppes	University of Denver
Division II/NE	Bill Goldring	Ashland University
Division II/SE	Fran Reidy	Saint Leo University
Division II/C	Tom Rubbelke	Concordia University St. Paul
Division II/W	Jared Mosley	Abilene Christian University
Division III/NE	James Nelson	Suffolk University
Division III/SE	William Klika, Jr.	Fairleigh Dickinson University, College at Florham
Division III/C	Terry Rupert	Wilmington College
Division III/W	Jeff Martinez	University of Redlands
JC/CC/NE	Gary Broadhurst	Mohawk Valley Community College
JC/CC/SE	Ken Krsolovic	Harford Community College
JC/CC/C	Brenda Hampton	Iowa Western Community College
JC/CC/W	Tim Drain	Tyler Junior College
NAIA/NE	George Sliman	Carlow University
NAIA/SE	Steven Ridder	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
NAIA/C	Ira Zeff	Nebraska Wesleyan University
NAIA/W	Bruce Parker	Carroll College

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.

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About NACDA:  NACDA, now in its 47^th year, is the professional and educational association for more than 6,500 college athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 2,200 athletics administrators annually attend the NACDA Convention. Additionally, NACDA administers 12 professional associations, including six for the separate business units that report directly to the athletics directors and two foundations.  For more information on NACDA, visit www.nacda.com