The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced that Utah Valley’s Director of Athletics Dr. Jared Sumsion was named the Division I-AAA Athletics Director of the Year.
“NACDA is delighted to continue the tradition of the Athletics Director of the Year Award, celebrating a new class of leaders for 2023-24,” said NACDA CEO Pat Manak. “As an association, our mission includes nurturing future leaders, guided by today’s visionaries. It’s gratifying that 21 out of the 28 recipients this year are first-time awardees. We’re honored to contribute to the development of impactful athletics directors across the industry.”
Utah Valley hired Sumsion in May of 2019 after serving as the interim athletic director and senior associate athletic director for external operations.
In a news release from UVU, it highlighted the success of Utah Valley Athletics under Sumsion, which has seen hires of: Mark Madsen, Todd Phillips, Chris Lemay, Kyle Beckerman, Juli Erekson, Eddie Smith, and Dan Nielson among many other coaches in the past few years.
In Sumsion’s time, Utah Valley made six NCAA Tournament appearances and national rankings across multiple sports including Track and Field, Women’s Soccer and Cross Country.
Sumsion has also coordinated fundraising for UVU Athletics which has totaled over $60 million and a $2 million increase per year in corporate sponsorships.
Sumsion is a former UVU graduate and student body president and received his Doctor of Education.
“This honor belongs to the hardworking UVU student-athletes, dedicated coaches, gritty staff, supportive Utah Valley administration, and our fans/friends/donors! Every day I wake up energized to go to battle with these mighty Wolverines!” Sumsion said on an Instagram post @jared_sumsion.
Men’s Basketball head coach Todd Phillips and UVU President Astrid Tuminez both extended their congratulations on Instagram, Tuminez posted, “So well deserved. One of the best hires early in my tenure. Jared is a game-changer. Go, Wolverines!”
Utah Valley Athletics is heading into the final months of the Athletic year with Track and Field, Softball and Baseball all competing in the WAC.
