CHICAGO (March 3, 2020) – Loyola University Chicago Director of Athletics Steve Watson is one of 28 individuals to earn the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Under Armour AD of the Year award, it was announced today. Watson was one of four NCAA Division I-AAA (no football) athletics director selected for the award that spans seven divisions. 
 
Watson will receive his award at the NACDA Convention at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas on Tuesday, June 9.
 
The AD of the Year Award highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities.
 
"We talk a lot at Loyola about our success being 'Created by Culture' – this starts at the top with Steve," said Loyola Senior Vice President for Administrative Services Tom Kelly. "In his five years at Loyola, he has positioned the athletics department as a strategic university asset that regularly demonstrates its relevance and importance to our vibrant campus life, engaged alumni and sports fans in Chicagoland and beyond. I have always been impressed by Steve's ardent and single-minded focus on improving Loyola's student-athlete experience from his first day on the job. Steve has assembled and empowered a cadre of talented coaches and relentlessly focused them on competitive success, academic excellence and civic engagement. The results this year and in the last few years are evident and noteworthy at the conference and national level on all three dimensions of success: competition, classroom and community."
 
Since taking the reins of the Loyola athletics department in November 2014, Watson has helped the Rambler programs reach new heights. In just five short years, Loyola has won a NCAA championship (men's volleyball), reached the NCAA Final Four (men's basketball and men's volleyball), racked up a total of four NCAA tournament berths and ranked No. 1 in the nation in Graduation Success Rate (GSR).
 
During his five years at Loyola, Watson has orchestrated several facilities improvements, added staff positions, increased revenue streams, enhanced Loyola's national profile, and reenergized alumni and the fan base. His work was instrumental in the construction of The Alfie Norville Practice Facility, which opened its doors in August 2019, to provide a brand-new practice venue for Loyola's basketball and volleyball programs. He also played a key role in the installation of new videoboards in Gentile Arena, as well as the redesign of that facility's playing surface. Other notable facilities enhancements under Watson's reign include the creation of a new Hall of Fame atrium in Gentile Arena, the remodeling of the men's basketball locker room and the installation of a fueling station for student-athletes.
 
With Watson at the helm of the department, Loyola student-athletes have continued to achieve unprecedented success. During his tenure in Rogers Park, Loyola has earned 37 NCAA Public Recognition Awards for outstanding Academic Progress Rate scores, has ranked in the top two in the nation in Graduation Success Rate in each of the last five years, tying for first in 2017 and 2018, and produced a pair of Academic All-Americans.
 
"The future of our industry continues to look bright with athletics leaders like these at the helm of departments across the country," said Bob Vecchione, NACDA Chief Executive Officer. "Out of our 28 ADOY winners, 22 are receiving this honor for the first time in their careers. It is exciting and inspiring to see the new faces coming up through the ranks and earning well-deserved recognition for their efforts on their campuses."
 
"The elevation of Loyola's athletics program and the success of Rambler teams since Steve Watson's arrival in Chicago six years ago is certainly not coincidental," Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner Doug Elgin said. "Steve's vision and dynamic leadership has raised Loyola's athletics profile. He has created a very positive culture in the athletics department and the results have been dramatic."
 
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 consecutive 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, in which the institution could not have been on probation or cited for a lack of institutional control during the tenure of the current athletics director. 
 
Nominators were NACDA-member directors of athletics, institutional presidents and conference commissioners, as well as other respected intercollegiate athletics administrators. Special Divisional Selection Committees composed of current and former directors of athletics, current and former commissioners and other key athletics administrators voted on nominees for the award.