University of North Georgia Director of Athletics Lindsay Reeves was named NCAA Division II Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year for the 2015-16 school year.
Reeves was one of 28 winners announced by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Each of the 28 winners will be presented their awards at NACDA’s 51st Annual Convention during the James J. Corbett Awards Luncheon at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas on June 15.
The award highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities.
The award encompasses seven divisions — NCAA FBS, FCS, Divisions I-AAA, II and III, NAIA/Other four-year institutions and junior/community colleges — according to the NACDA website.
“I was very surprised and very humbled,” Reeves said. “I’m very proud to have our university as a part of that national exposure. It takes a team to be successful. I have support from the administrators, staff and athletes at our university. You can’t have the success without that support. If you’re not working together for that same success, you’ll never see it.”
Reeves is in her 16th year at UNG, and her sixth year as the AD. She is only the third AD in the history of UNG athletics.
As athletic director, Reeves oversees 12 NCAA Division II sports, 48 athletic department employees, nine facilities and over 225 student-athletes.
Under Reeves, UNG’s athletic programs have enjoyed success on and off the playing fields and courts, including a national championship for the softball team in 2015.
Reeves said she’s proud of many things in her six-year tenure, including the school’s first national championship (softball) and the great work on and off the field of the student-athletes.
“Many of our sports are excelling in making regional marks and advancing into the national level in terms of NCAA postseason. That’s been great,” Reeves said. “Our community service that our student-athletes engage in is just wonderful. We’ve been in the top three for the Make-A-Wish fundraising for the last five years. That’s a testament to our student-athletes who understand what it means to give back.
“Lastly, one of my proudest moments is their academic achievements,” said Reeves. “With 225 student-athletes, we’re averaging over 3.12 GPA in the classroom. That’s truly remarkable with all they’re trying to balance in their lives.”
The full list of AD of the Year honorees, which was announced Tuesday, also names Bill Fusco (Sonoma State), Jerry Hughes (Central Missouri) and Brian Swanson (Cal Poly Pomona) at the Division II level.
In the fall of 2014, Reeves was named the National Association of Collegiate Womens’ Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) NCAA Division II Administrator of the Year, presented annually to NACWAA members for significant contributions made as athletics administrators.
With the award from NACWAA, Reeves said she was “really honored,” and the announcement this week for her second award “took me by surprise.”
Her newest accolade pitted her against both men and women. She said winning it is “a little bit of a star in my pocket so to speak.”
“In the collegiate athletic directors position, it is a man’s world,” Reeves said. “To be honored as a top administrator in a man’s world, it is especially rewarding.”
Reeves began serving a four-year term on the NCAA Division II Management Council last fall. She is also serving on the Division II Academic Requirements Committee, Division II Management Council Identity Subcommittee, Division II Convention Planning Project Team and the Division II Military Pilot Project Team.
Reeves is also currently serving on the NACWAA Educational & Professional Development Committee.