Cleveland, Ohio (June 20, 2006)- Jack Powers, former executive director of the National Invitation Tournament, Manahttan College Director of Athletics, and Manhattan College Men's Basketball head coach and player, has been chosen as the recipient of the 25th NACDA/NIT Athletics Director Award.
Powers will receive his award at the 41st Annual Convention of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), June 20-23. The ceremony will be held on Wednesday, June 21, at the James J. Corbett Awards Luncheon. The Convention is being held at the Sheraton and Marriott Hotels in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Jack Powers has been executive director of the National Invitation Tournament since 1988. He had previously spent nine years as the athletics director at his alma mater, Manhattan College. In that time, Jasper athletics experienced tremendous growth in both the men and women's programs due to Powers' efforts. During his tenure, Powers was also a member of the Executive Councils of the Eastern College Athletic Conference and the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America; and was president of the Metropolitan Basketball Association, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and the Tri-State Soccer League. Additionally, Powers was Manhattan's representative to the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Association, the sponsoring body of the NIT.
Powers began his career as a high school basketball coach, but returned to his alma mater as the head men's basketball coach in 1968. He led the team for 10 seasons, posting a record of 142-114. In 1973, the Jaspers won the ECAC Holiday Festival and made four appearances in the NIT. These accomplishments were achieved without a home court as Manhattan played their home games at Madison Square Garden. After leaving Manhattan, Powers paced the sidelines nine more times as the head coach of the NIT All Stars.
The recipient of numerous awards, Powers was inducted into the Manhattan College Hall of Fame, Catholic High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, Brooklyn's Old Timer Hall of Fame, Brooklyn's Sports Foundation and the Mamaroneck High School Hall of Fame.
Powers earned his bachelor's degree at Manhattan, where he was captain of the basketball team his team senior year. He led the Jaspers to the NCAA tournament twice and the NIT once. He completed his collegiate career with 1,139 points and was a 1958 draft pick of the Syracuse Nationals. He also earned his master's degree from Hunter College.
On receiving word of his award, Powers said, "I would like to thank NACDA and Mike Cleary, NACDA's executive director, for selecting me to be the recipient of the 2006 NACDA/NIT Athletics Administrators Award. For the past 19 years as the executive director of the NIT, I have had the privilege to present this prestigious award to many giants in the field of athletics administration. This year, I am honored to join the ranks of these successful administrators who have made a positive impact on many student-athletes. Once again, I thank you for having considered me deserving of this award."
Past winners of the NACDA/NIT Athletics Directors Award include:
2005 - Gene Bartow, retired director of athletics, University of Alabama Birmingham
2004 - Frank Windegger, director of athletics, Texas Christian University
2003 - Chuck Boone, director of athletics, University of Richmond
2002 - Fred Jacoby, commissioner, American Southwest and Lone Star Conferences
2001 - Arnie Ferrin, director of athletics, University of Utah
2000 - Gary Cunningham, director of athletics, University of California Santa Barbara
1999 - Jack Lengyel, director of athletics, U.S. Naval Academy
1998 - Frank Rienzo, senior director of athletics, Georgetown University
1997 - Glen Tuckett, director of athletics, Brigham Young University
1996 - John Kaiser, director of athletics, St. John's University
1995 - Carl James, commissioner, Big Eight Conference
1994 - Scott Whitelaw, commissioner, Eastern College Athletic Conference
1993 - Tom Butters, director of athletics, Duke University
1992 - C.M. Newton, director of athletics, University of Kentucky
1991 - Bill Flynn, director of athletics, Boston College
1990 - Pete Carlesimo, executive director, National Invitation Tournament
1989 - Carl Maddox, director of athletics, Mississippi State University
1988 - Bob Woodruff, director of athletics, University of Tennessee
1987 - Ken Norton, director of athletics, Manhattan College
1986 - Bill Orwig, director of athletics, Indiana University
1985 - Ben Carnevale, director of athletics, College of William & Mary
1984 - Ray Meyer, director of athletics, DePaul University
1983 - Walter McLaughlin, director of athletics, St. John's University
1982 - Bud Jack, director of athletics, University of Utah
