CLEVELAND – Today, the National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC) announced the development of the Organizational Leadership Award. This award will be given to an organizational leader (i.e., athletics director, general counsel, provost, president, commissioner, NCAA executive, etc.) who has demonstrated NCAA compliance leadership and a strong commitment to fostering a culture of compliance to NCAA rules within their organization.

1. Be employed as a full-time athletics director or some other representative from a campus, conference office or NCAA office (i.e., general counsel, provost, president, commissioner, NCAA executive, etc.) for a minimum of 2 years at the time of nomination.
2. Directly contribute to the organization’s culture and commitment to compliance with NCAA rules. This includes supporting preventative (i.e. rules education) and/or proactive efforts (i.e., implementation of compliance monitoring systems or conference/NCAA services to its members) of the organization’s compliance administrators. [Note: This does not preclude leaders who have seen their institution through a major infractions case as NAAC recognizes that often the best leadership is birthed through renewed commitment in response to the challenges associated with experiencing a major infractions case.]
3. Demonstrate strong support for the organization’s compliance administrators’ office and leadership.
4. Have a national presence on compliance-related issues or initiatives.
5. Serve as a positive role model.

To nominate a deserving individual for the Organization Leadership Award, click here.

In addition to the inaugural Organizational Leadership Award, the Association is also asking for nominations for the Frank Kara Leadership Award. The Frank Kara Leadership Award is NAAC’s premier award, and the highest honor that may be bestowed upon compliance professionals. This award is named in honor of former University of Minnesota Director of Compliance, Frank Kara, who was a leader in the compliance field and best known for hosting the inaugural NAAC Convention in 2006. Sadly, Frank lost his battle with cancer at the age of 40.

To be eligible for this award, the nominee must:
1. Be a NAAC member in good standing.
2. Be employed as a full-time compliance administrator at a collegiate institution, conference office or the NCAA at the time of nomination with a minimum of 5 years of full-time compliance experience.
3. Demonstrate leadership and vision for compliance initiatives both amongst his or her compliance peers and beyond to other collegiate leaders on their campus, conference office, and/or at the NCAA.
4. Demonstrate a commitment to furthering the compliance profession through active participation on NAAC committee(s).
5. Serve as a positive role model and mentor to other compliance administrators.

To nominate a member for the Frank Kara Leadership Award, click here.

Deadline to submit nominations for both awards is Thursday, April 1.

The awards presentation of the Inaugural Organizational Leadership Award and the Frank Leadership Award will take place on Tuesday, June 22, in conjunction with the NAAC Convention at the Marriott Hotel in Anaheim, Calif.