June 9, 2008
Dallas, Texas - University of Missouri Director of Athletics Mike Alden received a well-deserved honor from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) this week, when he was named the AstroTurf Athletics Director of the Year for the Football Bowl Subdivision's Central Region.
Alden will be honored at NACDA's 43rd annual convention at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas on Tuesday (June 10), during the James J. Corbett Awards Luncheon.
It's been a banner year for Mizzou Athletics, culminating with another NCAA Regional appearance by the Tiger Baseball program and a NCAA Super Regional berth on the softball diamond for second year head coach Ehren Earleywine. Overall, the Tigers had 16 of 20 sport programs qualify for postseason competition, including Gary Pinkel's Football team, which achieved a No. 1 national ranking, a Big 12 North Division crown and a resounding 38-7 win over Arkansas in the 2008 AT&T Cotton Bowl.
"This award is testimony to what Mike Alden has accomplished here at Mizzou," MU Chancellor Brady Deaton said. "While our student-athletes have enjoyed tremendous success on the field, they also have demonstrated their excellence in the classroom. As a result of Mike's leadership, MU's student-athletes have been ranked No. 1 in the Big 12 and top among all public BCS schools for their academic records. We are proud of the success of our athletic department and are looking forward to its very bright future," he said.
Academically, Missouri once again set the standard for Academic Progress Rates (APR) in the league, with seven of 20 programs being cited nationally for excellence in the classroom. Those seven nationally recognized programs ranked among the Top 25 in America, alongside such programs as Harvard, Stanford and Yale. Overall, Missouri led the Big 12 in APR in nine sports and had 14 of 20 teams rank among the Big 12's top two.
"I have the utmost respect for Mike and the job that he's done at Missouri," South Carolina Director of Athletics Eric Hyman said. "He has faced some adversity, but has handled all of his challenges in an exemplary fashion. I think the results speak volumes for the work he has done."
A special feature on all award recipients at NACDA's 43rd annual convention will be published in the June 9 edition of the Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal.