History
The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) was founded in 1965. It
had its origins at the First and Second National Conferences on Athletic Administration in
Colleges and Universities, held in Louisville, Kentucky in 1959 and 1962. At the third
conference, in 1965, in Washington, D.C., NACDA was officially founded and the Association
held its inaugural Convention in 1966.
Membership
The largest association of collegiate athletics administrators, NACDA boasts a membership of
more than 6,100 individuals and more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States,
Canada and Mexico. Members include athletics directors, associate and assistant athletics
directors, conference commissioners and affiliate individuals or corporations.
Representation
NACDA is governed by a group of Officers and Executive Committee members. The Officers
consist of a President, a 1st, 2nd and 3rd Vice President and a Secretary. The
Finance-Management Committee consists of the current Officers and Past Presidents who
conduct the finances of the Association. The Executive Committee includes eight
representatives each from the College and University Divisions, four from the Junior/Community
College Division and several At-Large members. This latter group includes five representatives
of affiliated associations/organizations and female representatives from districts which do not
have female representation.
Purpose
NACDA serves as the professional association for those in the field of athletics administration,
providing educational opportunities and serves as a vehicle for networking and the exchange of
information to others in the profession.
Annual Convention
Held in June, this conclave is devoted to examining contemporary problems facing today's
athletics administrator. The highlight of NACDA's annual activities, the Convention caters to
adminstrators in all levels of intercollegiate athletics with general sessions for the entire
membership and breakout sessions which are geared to the specific needs of administrators at all
levels of the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA. Recent high profile speakers have included have included Bonnie Bernstein, Todd Blackledge, Todd
Christensen, Stephen Covey, Joel Fish, Dan Fouts, Leslie Gudel, Dan Hicks,
Keith Jackson, Tommy Lasorda, Merlin Olsen, Robin Roberts, Hyrum Smith, Lynn
Swann, Michele Tafoya, Lesley Visser, J.C. Watts, Pat Williams and Zig
Ziglar.
Corbett Award
The James J. Corbett Award, initiated in 1967, is presented annually "to the athletics
administrator who, through the years has most typified Corbett's devotion to intercollegiate
athletics and who worked unceasingly for its betterment". The award is named after NACDA's
first president, Jim Corbett of Louisiana State University. Refer to the Awards section for the list of past winners.
GeneralSports Venue AD of the
Year Award
The GeneralSports Venue AD of the Year Award program was created to honor intercollegiate directors of athletics for their commitment and
administrative excellence within a campus and/or college community environment. The award spans six divisions (NCAA Division I-A, I-AA/I-AAA,
II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year, JC/CC) and annually honors 24 athletics directors (four from each division) and one cross-divisional International
winner. Recipients receive their awards at the annual NACDA Convention.
Refer to the Awards section for the list of past winners.
Management/Leadership Institute
The Management/Leadership Institute offers intense training in
administrative and management practices utilizing special resource materials
and the expertise of noted individuals in the field. It is held in
seminar-style classes for a limited enrollment.
Sports Management Institute
NACDA's Management Institute has aligned with the Sports Management Institute (SMI). This
alliance creates even more opportunities for administrators to grow in their profession by
attending both programs. SMI's sponsoring institutions include North Carolina,
Michigan, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Southern California and Texas. The winner of the Corbett Award receives an honorary
degree from the Sports Management Institute.
Intern Program
Started in the fall of 1984, the Intern Program, has provided opportunities for more than 100 students who are young, aspiring collegiate
athletics administrators. They represent more than 50 NACDA-member
institutions. The majority of them have gone on to jobs in the field of athletics
administration.
NACDA Foundation
The backbone of NACDA, the Foundation is the Association's educational arm which sponsors
the clinics, workshops and seminars and manages the postgraduate scholarship programs. The
Foundation sponsored the Workshop on Athletic Business Management at the 1996 and 1997
Conventions. At the 1998 Convention, the seminar was presented as the Workshop for the
Primary Business Associate. The Foundation annually awards 136 postgraduate scholarships, four to
student-athletes from the Pigskin and Kickoff Classic Football Games, six to
minority students who will attend a sports administration program in
graduate school and 126 awarded in conjunction with the United States Sports Academy Directors' Cup to students involved in athletics support at the NCAA Divisions I, II
and III and the NAIA. Additionally, the Foundation annually provides the
National Football Foundation with more than $500,000 for postgraduate
scholarships. Since 1982, the Foundation has awarded more than $9.5 million
in postgraduate scholarships.
United States Sports Academy Directors' Cup
This program honors four all-sports champions in the NCAA Divisions I, II and III and the
NAIA. Each institution is awarded points in a pre-determined number of sports for men and
women. The overall champion is the institution which has a broad-based program, achieving
success in many sports, both men's and women's. The winner in each division receives a
Waterford crystal trophy and a $5,000 postgraduate scholarship. The program annually provides postgraduate scholarships to
students involved in athletics support. Refer to the United States Sports Academy Directors' Cup
section for the list of past winners.
Division I Athletics Directors Forum
An annual event available to all Division I athletics directors, this meeting is held in conjunction
with the Division I Men's Final Four. Topics vary each year, but have included financial
planning and personal wellness issues. Refer to the Timeline for this year's dates
and location.
Facilities, Fund Raising & Marketing Workshop
Annual meeting available to all NACDA members in which consultants and architects show new
concepts in the building of athletic facilities. Administrators also discuss successful methods of
financing and marketing various facilities around the country. Refer to the Timeline for this year's dates
and location.
Athletics Administration
The official journal, published bimonthly by NACDA; Athletics Administration is primarily
written by and for NACDA members. It focuses on athletics facilities, new ideas in promotions,
marketing, development, legal ramifications and other current issues in collegiate athletics
administration. In the "Q&A Forum," leaders in the field are interviewed on the most current
issues by Athletics Administration.
NACDA Insurance
For close to 30 years, NACDA members have been able to receive their athletics insurance
through NACDA Insurance. For
additional information, contact Kathy Polanshek at 801/412-2623.
Collegiate Directories
The National Directory of College Athletics, NACDA's official directory, is published by
Collegiate Directories, Inc. This publication lists the staff, addresses and phone numbers of the
athletics department at every senior and junior college in the U.S. and Canada. Collegiate
Directories also maintains a national high school coaches' database.
125th Anniversary of College Football
NACDA joined forces with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) for this
celebration in the fall of 1994. The official logo was sported by more than 400 institutions.
Media coverage reached more than 250 million impressions and photographic coverage in Sports
Illustrated.
NCAA Football and NAIA Football
An outgrowth of the 125th Anniversary of College Football and NACDA's College Football
USA (CoFUSA), NCAA Football is a joint effort by NACDA, the AFCA and the NCAA. A
similar program, entitled NAIA Football, will be implemented for the NAIA. These programs
unify the 671 football-playing institutions through use of the NCAA Football and NAIA Football
logos and a program of sponsorship, licensing/merchandising, publicity, promotions, public
relations and marketing.
Kickoff Classic
The Kickoff Classic is the traditional start to the college football season.
The game was held at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands and showcased two of
the nation's top teams.
Pigskin Classic
The Pigskin Classic was NACDA's second presesaon game. It helped to signal
the start of the college football season and is hosted by one of the
participating institutions.
NACMA
NACDA administers the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators
(NACMA), an organization which serves to bring together people working in the marketing
field. NACMA holds its annual Workshop at the NACDA Convention. Refer to the NACMA section for additional information on the
association.
NAADD
In 1993, NACDA started the National Association of Athletic
Development Directors (NAADD), an organization which brings together people
working in the field of athletics fund raising. NAADD holds its annual
Workshop at the NACDA Convention. Refer to the NAADD section for additional
information on the association.
ICLA
NACDA administers the International Collegiate Licensing Association (ICLA), an
organization geared to the specific needs of collegiate licensing
administrators. ICLA holds its annual workshop at the NACDA Convention.
Refer to the ICLA section for additional information on the association.
NAACC
NACDA administers the National Association of Athletic Compliance Coordinators (NAACC),
an organization geared to the specific needs of athletics administrators who concentrate on the
compliance issues in intercollegiate athletics. NACDA assists in the managment of the
legislative compliance seminars in addition to NAACC's activities which coincide with the
NACDA Convention. Refer to the NAACC section for additional
information on the association.
CABMA
NACDA administers the College Athletic Business Management Association
(CABMA), an organization geared to the specific needs of athletics business
managers. CABMA holds its annual convention at the NACDA Convention. Refer
to the CABMA section for additional information on the association.
Football Championship Subdivision ADs (formerly Division I-AA)
NACDA administers the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association, an organization geared
to the specific needs of athletics administrators at the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision level. The Football Championship Subdivision ADA holds one of its annual meetings at the NACDA Convention. Refer to the FCS ADA section for additional information on the association.
Division I-AAA ADs
NACDA administers the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association, an
organization geared to the specific needs of athletics administrators at the
NCAA Division I-AAA level. Refer to the Division I-AAA section for
additional information on the association.
Division II ADs
NACDA administers the Division II Athletics Directors Association, an organization geared to
the specific needs of athletics administrators at the NCAA Division II level. Division II holds its
annual meetings at the NACDA Convention. Refer to the Division II ADA section for additional
information on the association.
NATYCAA
NACDA administers the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators
(NATYCAA), an organization geared to the specific needs of athletics administrators at the
junior and community college level. NATYCAA holds its annual meeting at the NACDA
Convention. Refer to the NATYCAA section for additional
information on the association.
