Crouthamel Named 2005 Northeast Athletics Director of the Year

Lake Buena Vista, Florida – Syracuse University Athletics Director Emeritus Jake Crouthamel is the 2005 GeneralSports TURF Systems Athletics Director of the Year Award (ADOY) in Division I-A for the Northeast. Twenty-five individuals from four geographic regions (northeast, southeast, central and west) and representing six categories (Division I-A; Division I-AA/I-AAA combined; Division II, Division III; NAIA; and Junior/Community Colleges), in addition to a divisional International winner were recognized.

The award highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to campuses and their surrounding communities. The individuals were recognized during the James J. Corbett Awards Luncheon at NACDA's 40th Anniversary Convention at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

“Our Honors and Awards Committee recognized a need for an award such as the AD of the Year,” said NACDA Executive Director Mike Cleary, who oversaw implementation of the program to allow all NACDA Officers and Honors and Awards Committee members to participate in the awards process, should they be elected. “The program brings to light the exceptional jobs done by athletics directors across the country. These 25 winners exemplify that, providing us with a group of outstanding athletics directors who excel at their jobs.”

Crouthamel led Syracuse University to unprecedented success from 1978 through the announcement of his retirement in November, 2004, including one men's basketball national title, nine men's lacrosse national titles, 14 football bowl appearances and 22 overall Big East Conference championships in his 27 years of service as director of athletics. A founding father of The BIG EAST Conference, Crouthamel has served on several national committees including chair of the NCAA Football Issues Committee and as a member of the Division I Management Council, Division I Men's Basketball Committee and the College Football Hall of Fame Honors Court. His leadership resulted in the growth of the athletics program and its facilities. He orchestrated the addition of SU's women's lacrosse, soccer and softball teams. SU's athletics facilities also flourished under his direction, including the construction of the Carrier Dome in 1980, the Iocolano-Petty Football Wing in 1991 and its expansion in 2000, the Roy Simmons Sr. Coaches Center, the Stevenson Educational Center, the softball stadium, the renovation of the Hookway fields, and the $4 million renovation of Manley Field House and Coyne Field. He has earned both University and national honors including the 2002 Syracuse University Chancellor's Citation for Excellence, the 2000 NACDA Division I-A Northeast Region AD of the Year Award, the 1999 National Football Foundation John L. Toner Award, seven consecutive SU Chancellor's Awards for Public Service and was awarded the Honorary LetterWinner of Distinction in 1995. Crouthamel holds a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College and completed a three-year tour of duty in the U.S. Navy.

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 (i.e., NCAA, NAIA, etc.), 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.

2004-05 GeneralSports TURF Systems AD of the Year Award Winners

Division I-A

Jake Crouthamel Syracuse University Northeast

DeLoss Dodds University of Texas West

Dave Hart, Jr. Florida State University Southeast

Tim Weiser Kansas State University Central

Division I-AA/I-AAA

Scott Barnes Eastern Washington University West

Susan Hofacre Robert Morris University Northeast

Andrea Myers Indiana State University Central

Alan White Elon University Southeast

Division II

Michael Covone Barry University Southeast

Loren Ferre Washburn University Central

Dan Gavitt Bryant University Northeast

Barbara Schroeder Regis University West

Division III

Larry Bock Juniata College Central

Scott Carnahan Linfield College West

Suzanne Coffey Bates College Northeast

Kevin McHugh College of New Jersey Southeast

NAIA

Craig Bogar University of Mobile Southeast

Carroll Land Point Loma Nazarene University West

Pete Reese Cedarville University Northeast

Bryan Rizzo Madonna University Central

Junior/Community College

Bob Bottger St. Louis Community College Meramec Central

Scott Geddis Phoenix College West

Dan Minch Broome Community College Northeast

Robert Zelinski Central Florida Community College Southeast

International

Luc Gelineau University of Ottawa

Syracuse University Athletics