(June 20, 2006) ?C Fordham University Executive Director of Athletics Frank McLaughlin was honored recently by being named one of 29 GeneralSports TURF Systems Athletic Directors of the Year (ADOY) by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
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 received 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, providing us with a group of outstanding athletics directors who excel at their jobs.??
McLaughlin??s name is synonymous with Fordham University Athletics. A standout on the basketball court as 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.
McLaughlin was inducted into the Catholic High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1988.
Winners of the 2005-06 GeneralSports TURF Systems AD of the Year Award are:
Division I-A
Laing Kennedy - Kent State University (Northeast)
Jim Livengood- University of Arizona (West)
Terry Don Phillips -Clemson University (Southeast)
Kevin White - University of Notre Dame (Central)
Division I-AA
Paul Kowalczyk - Southern Illinois University (Central)
Francis McLaughlin - Fordham University (Northeast)
Steve Sloan - University of Tennessee Chattanooga (Southeast)
Larry Teis - Texas State University (West)
Division I-AAA
Joni Comstock - American University (Southeast)
Lynn Hickey - University of Texas San Antonio (West)
Cheryl Levick - Saint Louis University (Central)
Pat Meiser-McKnett - University of Hartford (Northeast)
Division II
Bill Goldring - Ashland University (Northeast)
Lynda Goodrich - Western Washington University (West)
Dan Kenney - University of North Carolina Pembroke (Southeast)
Michael Kovalchik - Hillsdale College (Central)
Division III
Holly Gera- Montclair State University (Southeast)
Leon Lunder - Carleton College (West)
Larry Scheiderer - Denison University (Central)
Don Tencher - Rhode Island College (Northeast)
NAIA
Bob Burns - John Brown University (Central)
Jim Dennison - Walsh University (Northeast)
Steve Knight - William Carey College (Southeast)
Joel Schuldheisz - Concordia University (West)
Junior/Community College
Ron Case - Gloucester County College (Northeast)
Gregg Wolfe - Gulf Coast Community College (Southeast)
Sue Sinclair - Illinois Central College (Central)
Joe Tubb - South Plains College (West)
International
Bob Philip - University of British Columbia
