June 6, 2007

Orlando, Fla. -

University of Northern Iowa director of athletics Rick Hartzell has been named one of 29 winners of the AstroTurf AD of the Year, as announced today by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

There are four geographic regions - central, west, southeast and northeast - and the membership is divided into seven categories.  Hartzell was honored by being the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) recipient for the central region.

"I am honored and humbled by this prestigious award," Hartzell said.  "However, this award is not really about me or what I have done.  It is all about the success of great student-athletes and the extraordinary work of excellent coaches and athletic department staff members who give so much to make all of our success happen.  UNI is a terrific institution and to have this honor bestowed upon me at my alma mater makes it even more special."

This past year, UNI teams claimed four conference or regional championships.  The Panthers posted a third-place finish in this year's Missouri Valley Conference all-sports standings - their second highest finish ever - and currently rank No. 88 nationally in the U.S. Sports Academy Director's Cup Standings.

UNI's men's track and field finished ninth at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field championships this past March, its highest finish ever.  The Panther volleyball team advanced to the second round of the 2006 NCAA tournament, while wrestling won its 22^nd straight West Regional title and advanced six wrestlers to the NCAA championships.  In addition, UNI's 431 student-athletes shined in the classroom, holding a combined spring cumulative grade point average of 3.00.

Winners will receive their awards this Friday (June 8) during the James J. Corbett Awards Luncheon at NACDA's 42^nd Annual Convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando.

Winners of the 2006-07 AstroTurf AD of the Year Awards are:

Football Bowl Subdivision

Jeremy Foley, Florida - Southeast

Dan Guerrero, UCLA - West

Jeffrey Hathaway, Connecticut - Northeast

Mark Murphy, Northwestern - Central

Football Championship Subdivision

Rick Hartzell, UNI - Central

Charles McClelland, Prairie View - West

Les Robinson, The Citadel - Southeast

Martin Scarano, New Hampshire - Northeast

Division I

Thomas O'Connor, George Mason - Southeast

Jim Schaus, Wichita State - Central

Joel Thirer, Binghamton - Northeast

Brian Quinn, Cal State Fullerton - West

Division II

Clint Bryant, Augusta State - Southeast

Earl Edwards, UC San Diego - West

Tim Seigo, Grand Valley State - Central

Tom Shirley, Philadelphia - Northeast

Division III

Bob Bonn, Carthage - West

Dick Kaiser, Defiance - Central

Cathie Schweitzer, Springfield - Northeast

Michael Vienna, Salisbury - Southeast

NAIA/Other 4-Year Colleges or Universities

Terry Bocian, Aquinas - Central

Cindy McKnight, Ursuline - Northeast

Bill Odell, Azusa Pacific - West

Steve Ridder, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical - Southeast

Junior College/Community College

Gary Broadhurst, Mohawk Valley Community College - Northeast

Mike Garcia, Canada College - West

Lynne Levesque, Brookhaven College - West

Bing Tyus, Polk Community College - Southeast

Dale Vos, St. Clair County Community College -- Central

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.