The NCAA News - News and Features

June 29, 1998

Speakers, awards highlight NACDA annual convention

The 33rd annual convention of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) attracted more than 1,200 athletics administrators who were treated to an address by keynote speaker Richard D. Schultz and a presentation from Lynn Swann regarding the initiation of a new NACDA mentoring program.

Schultz, executive director of the United States Olympic Committee, discussed the important role that athletics administrators play in the Olympic system.

"Athletics directors have one of the most challenging jobs in America," Schultz said. "You deal in crisis management. When things go wrong, you get the blame. When they go right, your coaches get the credit. You do a wonderful job of helping prepare our athletes and bringing them to Olympic caliber."

Several college coaches who coached Olympic teams were on hand to be recognized, including Bobby Cremins of Georgia Institute of Technology, who coached the Olympic men's basketball team.

"Being part of the Olympics for me -- and I'm sure for all of these recipients -- is one of the greatest honors of my life," Cremins said. "It takes a lot of sacrifice, but being able to put the USA on your chest is a great honor."

Swann addressed the convention on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, who along with NACDA will launch Campus Pals, a mentoring program designed to provide tomorrow's leaders with mentoring skills and community involvement.

College student-athletes and students will be recruited for Campus Pals to serve as "Bigs" for two semesters or three quarters with a child, a "Little," for programmed activities and special opportunities.

Emphasis will be on creating collegiate "Bigs" as positive role models associated with mental and physical fitness, sports skills, sportsmanship and higher education.

Five institutions have been selected for the kickoff of the program, including the University of Michigan, the University of Miami (Florida), Ohio State University, Texas Wesleyan University and Wake Forest University. Additional universities will be added before the start of the 1998-99 year.

"There are so many things outside of athletics that occur on campus," Swann said in announcing the program. "(Kids) need to take advantage of these things and see what their possibilities are in order to be successful. I've always had people who have helped me in giving me guidance. I do not think there is anyone here who has not had one or two people mentoring them along the way."

Several awards were presented at the convention, including Sears Directors' Cup trophies in all three NCAA divisions for overall points achieved in competition across the board in athletics.

All three NCAA winners were from the state of California, including Stanford University in Division I; California State University, Bakersfield, in Division II; and the University of California, San Diego, in Division III. The title was the fourth in a row for Stanford, while for the first time in the history of the program, two schools without football -- Cal State Bakersfield and UC San Diego -- won their respective divisions.

Stanford won five team championships during 1997-98 and placed either second or third in five others. Cal State Bakersfield won championships in men's soccer and men's swimming and diving, while UC San Diego boasted champions in women's volleyball and women's soccer.