National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

June 30, 1997

More than 1,500 attend NACDA convention

Athletics directors induct1997 Hall of Fame class and award Sears Directors' Cups

Awards and words of encouragement were the order of the day when more than 1,500 athletics administrators gathered in Las Vegas June 14-17 for the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics convention.

NACDA members convened for three days of seminars, speakers and awards, including inspirational words from keynote speaker Merlin Olsen and leadership effectiveness expert Zig Ziglar.

"It's easy to get caught up in the negative, so many stories are tragedies," said Olsen in discussing the pressures of being an athletics director.

"There are always more solutions than there are problems."

Ziglar, who addressed the challenge of leadership in college athletics, said, "You have to start with the right attitude. But you need more than that. Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the moment has passed. Ultimately those who make it big have a solid character base."

Other highlights of the convention included:

  • Induction of the 1997 class of the NACDA Hall of Fame during the opening day of the convention.

    Inducted were Phyllis Bailey, Ohio State University; Edward Creutzinger, Gloucester County College; C. W. "Bump" Elliott, University of Iowa; Bud Elwell, Gannon University; Roy Kramer, Vanderbilt University; Lou McCul-
    lough, Iowa State University; Bill McHenry, College of Wooster; David Olson, Pacific Lutheran University; Doug Porter, Fort Valley State College; Nick Rodis, Brandeis University; and Bob Vanatta, Central Methodist College.

  • Presentation of the Sears Directors' Cup trophies in four divisions for overall points achieved in competition across the board in athletics.

    Three of the recipients were repeat winners. Stanford University won its third consecutive trophy in Division I; the University of California, Davis, received its second trophy in Division II; and Williams College received its second award in Division III. A new winner was Simon Fraser University in the NAIA.