University of Delaware Athletics
Photo by: Mikey Reeves
Rawak Named 2023-24 NACDA Athletics Director of the Year
3/20/2024 11:00:00 AM | Delaware Athletics
CLEVELAND – University of Delaware Director of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation Chrissi Rawak has been named a 2023-24 National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Athletics Director of the Year, the organization announced Wednesday.
The ADOY Award highlights the efforts of athletics directors for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses, and their surrounding communities.
"This is an incredible honor," Rawak said. "While it may be my name that is being recognized, it is truly a department award. I am extremely fortunate to work with the best people in the business who are committed and passionate about what they do and the people we all serve. Our student-athletes are equally responsible for this recognition given their consistent effort and focus to succeed in all areas of their lives. I am incredibly grateful and proUD to represent the University of Delaware and the 302 each and every day."
2023-24 has been a tremendous year for Delaware, highlighted by an announcement to transition to FBS football, a move to Conference USA, the addition of women's ice hockey as a varsity sport, and continued success of its student-athletes in the classroom and in the realm of competition.
In November, the University announced the move to FBS football and transition to Conference USA effective July 1, 2025, which was spearheaded by Rawak and her staff along with support from the University and Board of Trustees.
A few days later, the institution announced the addition of varsity women's ice hockey and a membership in College Hockey America, effective July 1, 2025. This addition will become the 22nd varsity sport sponsored at UD.
Serving in her current role since June of 2016, Rawak leads a comprehensive department that includes 600+ student-athletes, 21 varsity programs, three spirit programs, and a campus recreation division.
In the classroom, Delaware student-athletes have continued to shine, posting a GPA of 3.0 or higher in 20-consecutive semesters, with the most recent semester at 3.3. The Hens also have been immersed in the department's BLUE program (Building Leaders Utilizing Education), which is an award-winning four-year educational curriculum supporting our student-athletes' transition from their collegiate experience through their transition out of sport after graduation. The program outcomes include Developing Leaders; Promoting Lifelong Health & Wellbeing; and Optimizing Career Readiness & Lifelong Employability. All student-athletes and spirit team members participate in several programs, workshops, and activities to assist them in becoming their best selves as Blue Hens now and after they graduate.
With an emphasis on the 302 community, Rawak has expanded UD's engagement in the State of Delaware. She's made it a priority to be engaged with members of the Delaware Chamber of Commerce and the Kent and Sussex Leadership Alliance. The Hens have also hosted multiple Blue Hen Business Forums to engage with local businesses. The initiative was kicked off in June of 2023 with the first annual 302 Tour where Delaware student-athletes, coaches, and staff are immersed in a variety of learning and service projects through the First State.
In competition, the Blue Hens are performing among the best in the country. Volleyball claimed the 2023 CAA Championship, defeating rival Towson on its home floor. Football finished the season ranked 10th in the country and won an FCS Playoff game for the second year in a row. Men's tennis became ranked for the first time in program history, checking in as high as 32nd in the nation. Swimming & diving posted another successful year at the CAA Championships with 10 total champions and its first-ever NCAA Tournament qualifier in swimming. All of this success comes with a spring semester ahead.
NACDA selects 28 winners over seven divisions (NCAA FBS, FCS, Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year Institutions and Junior College/Community Colleges) each year. Winners will be recognized in conjunction with the 59th Annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nev., at the beginning of the Association-Wide Featured Session on Tuesday, June 11, starting at 4 p.m.
"NACDA is honored to continue the tradition of the Athletics Director of the Year Award and recognize a new class of individuals for 2023-24," NACDA Chief Executive Officer Pat Manak said. "As an Association it is part of our mission to develop tomorrow's leaders led by today's decision makers, which is why it is so fitting that 21 of the 28 recipients of the ADOY award this year are first-time winners. We are proud to play a small role in growing the pipeline of athletics directors making an impact throughout the industry."
The ADOY Award program is in its 26th year and has recognized a total of 584 deserving athletics directors to date.
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 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. Additional history surrounding the ADOY award, including a list of past winners, can be found here.
Winners of the 2023-24 NACDA AD of the Year Awards are:
About NACDA: Now in its 59th year, NACDA is the professional and educational Association for more than 22,000 college athletics administrators at more than 2,200 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. NACDA manages 18 professional associations and four foundations. In addition to virtual programming, NACDA hosts six major professional development events in-person annually. The NACDA & Affiliates Convention is the largest gathering of collegiate athletics administrators in the country. For more information, visit www.nacda.com.
The ADOY Award highlights the efforts of athletics directors for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses, and their surrounding communities.
"This is an incredible honor," Rawak said. "While it may be my name that is being recognized, it is truly a department award. I am extremely fortunate to work with the best people in the business who are committed and passionate about what they do and the people we all serve. Our student-athletes are equally responsible for this recognition given their consistent effort and focus to succeed in all areas of their lives. I am incredibly grateful and proUD to represent the University of Delaware and the 302 each and every day."
2023-24 has been a tremendous year for Delaware, highlighted by an announcement to transition to FBS football, a move to Conference USA, the addition of women's ice hockey as a varsity sport, and continued success of its student-athletes in the classroom and in the realm of competition.
In November, the University announced the move to FBS football and transition to Conference USA effective July 1, 2025, which was spearheaded by Rawak and her staff along with support from the University and Board of Trustees.
A few days later, the institution announced the addition of varsity women's ice hockey and a membership in College Hockey America, effective July 1, 2025. This addition will become the 22nd varsity sport sponsored at UD.
Serving in her current role since June of 2016, Rawak leads a comprehensive department that includes 600+ student-athletes, 21 varsity programs, three spirit programs, and a campus recreation division.
In the classroom, Delaware student-athletes have continued to shine, posting a GPA of 3.0 or higher in 20-consecutive semesters, with the most recent semester at 3.3. The Hens also have been immersed in the department's BLUE program (Building Leaders Utilizing Education), which is an award-winning four-year educational curriculum supporting our student-athletes' transition from their collegiate experience through their transition out of sport after graduation. The program outcomes include Developing Leaders; Promoting Lifelong Health & Wellbeing; and Optimizing Career Readiness & Lifelong Employability. All student-athletes and spirit team members participate in several programs, workshops, and activities to assist them in becoming their best selves as Blue Hens now and after they graduate.
With an emphasis on the 302 community, Rawak has expanded UD's engagement in the State of Delaware. She's made it a priority to be engaged with members of the Delaware Chamber of Commerce and the Kent and Sussex Leadership Alliance. The Hens have also hosted multiple Blue Hen Business Forums to engage with local businesses. The initiative was kicked off in June of 2023 with the first annual 302 Tour where Delaware student-athletes, coaches, and staff are immersed in a variety of learning and service projects through the First State.
In competition, the Blue Hens are performing among the best in the country. Volleyball claimed the 2023 CAA Championship, defeating rival Towson on its home floor. Football finished the season ranked 10th in the country and won an FCS Playoff game for the second year in a row. Men's tennis became ranked for the first time in program history, checking in as high as 32nd in the nation. Swimming & diving posted another successful year at the CAA Championships with 10 total champions and its first-ever NCAA Tournament qualifier in swimming. All of this success comes with a spring semester ahead.
NACDA selects 28 winners over seven divisions (NCAA FBS, FCS, Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year Institutions and Junior College/Community Colleges) each year. Winners will be recognized in conjunction with the 59th Annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nev., at the beginning of the Association-Wide Featured Session on Tuesday, June 11, starting at 4 p.m.
"NACDA is honored to continue the tradition of the Athletics Director of the Year Award and recognize a new class of individuals for 2023-24," NACDA Chief Executive Officer Pat Manak said. "As an Association it is part of our mission to develop tomorrow's leaders led by today's decision makers, which is why it is so fitting that 21 of the 28 recipients of the ADOY award this year are first-time winners. We are proud to play a small role in growing the pipeline of athletics directors making an impact throughout the industry."
The ADOY Award program is in its 26th year and has recognized a total of 584 deserving athletics directors to date.
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 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. Additional history surrounding the ADOY award, including a list of past winners, can be found here.
Winners of the 2023-24 NACDA AD of the Year Awards are:
| Winner | Institution (at the time of nomination) |
| Football Bowl Subdivision | |
| Jeff Bourne | James Madison University |
| Julie Cromer | Ohio University |
| Rick George | University of Colorado |
| Desireé Reed-Francois | University of Missouri |
| Football Championship Subdivision | |
| Kery Davis | Howard University |
| Jason Donnelly | Furman University |
| Martin Newton | Samford University |
| Chrissi Rawak | University of Delaware |
| Division I-AAA | |
| John D'Argenio | Siena College |
| Chris May | Saint Louis University |
| Chris Reynolds | Bradley University |
| Jared Sumsion | Utah Valley University |
| Division II | |
| Rachel Burleson | Franklin Pierce University |
| Kirby Garry | Cal State Monterey Bay |
| Lisa Goddard McGuirk | Gannon University |
| Michael Mominey | Nova Southeastern University |
| Division III | |
| Jennifer Baker | Johns Hopkins University |
| Drew Galbraith | Trinity College |
| Kristin Hughes | Smith College |
| Angel Mason | Berry College |
About NACDA: Now in its 59th year, NACDA is the professional and educational Association for more than 22,000 college athletics administrators at more than 2,200 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. NACDA manages 18 professional associations and four foundations. In addition to virtual programming, NACDA hosts six major professional development events in-person annually. The NACDA & Affiliates Convention is the largest gathering of collegiate athletics administrators in the country. For more information, visit www.nacda.com.
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