From Emory University Athletics
The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
(NACDA) has announced Emory University’s Tim Downes as one of
the 28 winners of the 2013-14 Under Armour Athletic Director of the
Year Award. The award spans seven divisions (NCAA FBS, FCS;
Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year Institutions and
Junior College/Community Colleges).
Downes, along with Thomas Calder of Johns Hopkins, Don Tencher of
Rhode Island Collge and Tracey Ranieri of SUNY-Oneonta, are the
four representatives from the Division III ranks to be
recognized.
2013-14 represented Downes’ seventh year at Emory, with the
Eagles winning national titles in both women’s swimming and
diving and women’s tennis. A total of 14 Emory teams
were represented in NCAA postseason action while six captured
University Athletic Association Championships. During
his tenure as Emory AD, Downes has seen the program win eight
national titles along with 53 UAA crowns. In addition to the
athletic success over the past seven years, Emory student-athletes
have shined in the class room as well, earning a total of 29 NCAA
Postgraduate Scholarships and 45 Academic All-American berths.
He has been active on the NCAA front, serving on the
Management Council, Championships Committee, Academic Issues
Subcommittee and Subcommittee on Legislative Relief.
“I haven’t played or coached a game nor taken an exam
in close to 25 years now, so I’ll accept this as a reflection
of knowing how to surround myself with some pretty great coaches
and administrators and the best scholar athletes in the
country,” Downes said of receiving the honor.
All NACDA-member directors of athletics in the United States,
Canada and Mexico who met the criteria were eligible for the award.
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.
Nominators were NACDA-member directors of athletics, institutional
presidents and conference commissioners. Special Selection
Committees composed of current and former directors of athletics,
present and past NCAA and NAIA presidents, current and former
commissioners and other key athletics administrators voted on
nominees for the award. A complete listing of Selection Committee
members can be found on NACDA's Web site at www.nacda.com.