What is NACDA and What does it do?

NACDA Mission Statement

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 22,000 individuals and more than 2,200 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 representatives each from the College and University Divisions, the Junior/Community College Division and several At-Large members.

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 issues facing today's athletics administrator. One of six annual events hosted by NACDA, the Convention caters to administrators 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 in different areas of the athletics department. High profile speakers have included have included General Paul Selva, Dr. Chris Howard, John Skipper, Lieutenant General Michelle Johnson, Senator Claire McCaskill, Rece Davis, 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.

NACDA Athletics Director of the Year (ADOY) Award
The NACDA Athletics Director of the Year (ADOY) 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 seven divisions (NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division I-AAA, Division II, Division III, NAIA/Other Four-Year, JC/CC) and annually honors 28 athletics directors (four from each division). Recipients receive their awards at the annual NACDA Convention.

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 nearly 200 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 previously awarded 136 postgraduate scholarships, four to student-athletes from the Pigskin and Kickoff Classic Football Games, six to minority students who attended 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.

LEARFIELD Directors' Cup
This program honors four all-sports champions in the NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community Colleges. 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 crystal trophy.

Athletics Administration
The official journal, published four times a year by NACDA; Athletics Administration is primarily written by and for NACDA members. It focuses on current issues in collegiate athletics administration.