The National Association for Athletics Compliance will honor Joe D’Antonio, chair of the Division I Legislative Council and Big East associate commissioner, with the 2009 Frank Kara Leadership Award.

The award is the organization’s most prestigious honor and recognizes compliance administrators who display leadership and vision in promoting compliance, a commitment to excellence in the field and a dedication to professional development and mentoring. The award, which also honors adherence to rules education and monitoring, is named for former Minnesota compliance director Frank Kara.

“Joey is a consummate leader,” said NAAC President Judy Van Horn, associate athletics director/senior director/senior woman administrator at Michigan. “Visionary and yet able to analyze the details, Joey clearly articulates NCAA compliance and legislative issues. On a personal level, he is compassionate and approachable. It is the total sum of all these qualities that make him the ideal recipient for the Frank Kara Leadership Award.”

In addition to his role with the Legislative Council, D’Antonio also serves as a member of the NAAC board of directors.