The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics has announced the winners of the AstroTurf AD of the Year Award for 2008.

Four regional winners from each division (and subdivisions in Division I) were named. They will be recognized during the James J. Corbett Awards Luncheon at this week’s NACDA annual convention in Dallas.

NACDA Executive Director Mike Cleary said the award highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to campuses and their surrounding communities.

“The program brings to light the exceptional jobs done by athletics directors across the country. The winners exemplify that, providing us with a group of outstanding athletics directors who excel at their jobs,” he said.

Winners of the 2007-08 AstroTurf AD of the Year Awards are:

•         Division I Football Bowl Subdivision – Mike Alden, Missouri; Gene Bleymaier, Boise State; Bob Mulcahy, Rutgers; Ron Wellman, Wake Forest.

•         Division I Football Championship Subdivision – Warren Koegel, Coastal Carolina; Gene Taylor, North Dakota State; Gary Walters, Princeton; Bobby Williams, Sam Houston State.

•         Division I – Nelson Bobb, North Carolina-Greensboro; Peg Bradley-Doppes, Denver; Robert Driscoll Jr., Providence; Ken Kavanagh, Bradley.

•         Division II – Theresa Check, Central State; Rob Fournier, Wayne State (Michigan); Larry Marfise, Tampa; Joan McDermott, Metropolitan State.

•         Division III – Lydia Calkins, Hollins; Del Malloy, Salve Regina; Vernon Mummert, Wabash; John Schael, Washington U. in St. Louis

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 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.