University of Albany´s Lee McElroy Will Receive Under Armour Div. I FCS Northeast Region Athletic Director of the Year - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Westlake, Ohio – University at Albany’s Lee McElroy has been chosen to receive the Under Armour Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Northeast Region Athletic Director of the Year Award for the 2008-09 academic year. McElroy will be recognized during NACDA’s 44th Annual Convention at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort on Saturday, June 20 during the James J. Corbett Awards Luncheon.

McElroy is completing his ninth year of providing leadership for the school’s NCAA Division I 19-sports intercollegiate athletics program for men and women. He served as president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) in 2006-07.

In 2008-09, UAlbany captured six America East Conference championships in field hockey, women’s volleyball, men’s indoor track, women’s golf, men’s outdoor track and women’s outdoor track, plus won its second consecutive Northeast Conference football title. Volleyball and field hockey advanced to NCAA Tournament play, while several track athletes qualified for national competition.

Under McElroy’s guidance, the Great Danes have won 37 conference championships, two IC4A track & field crowns and made 15 NCAA appearances in men’s basketball, men’s lacrosse, softball, women’s volleyball, baseball and field hockey. UAlbany was awarded the Stuart P. Haskell Jr. Commissioner’s Cup as America East’s top athletic program in 2004-05. The Great Danes recently finished second in the Commissioner’s Cup standings for the third consecutive year.

McElroy has been a member of NACDA Executive Committee, a chair of the Directors’ Cup Committee, has served as president of the America East Conference Executive Committee and has gained national prominence for his roles with numerous professional organizations and NCAA committees. He was honored with the 2004 General Robert R. Neyland Outstanding Athletic Director Award by the All-American Football Foundation.

In one of his first moves when appointed athletics director in July 2000, McElroy spearheaded a successful search for a broad-based athletic conference when the University accepted an invitation to join the America East Conference in the 2001-02 academic year. He has led the development of a master to plan to upgrade the institution’s athletics and recreational complex, including the recent construction of John Fallon Field, the home to UAlbany men’s and women’s lacrosse, and Alumni Turf Field, an adjacent area used for field hockey and as a multi-use recreational field for UAlbany students.



Paw Prints: UAlbany’s Lee McElroy is among ten current athletics directors named by the NCAA to new program called the NCAA Champions Forum. Eleven football coaches from past NCAA Expert Coaches Academies will join the group in an effort to bring minority coaches closer to the mindset of athletics directors who hire head football coaches. The NCAA Champions Forum will take place June 18-19 in Orlando in conjunction with the NACDA convention.