CLEVELAND, Ohio (March 15, 2022) – Northern Arizona University Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics
Mike Marlow was named the 2021-22 Cushman & Wakefield Athletic Director of the Year (ADOY) for the Football Championship Subdivision in an announcement by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) on Tuesday.
Marlow will be recognized in conjunction with the 57th Annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, prior to the Featured Session, on Tuesday, June 28 at 4 p.m.
The ADOY Award highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities. Cushman & Wakefield is in its first year of sponsoring the award. The ADOY Award program is in its 24th year and has recognized a total of 535 deserving athletics directors to date.
Marlow is the fifth different recipient of the ADOY Award in Big Sky Conference history and first in NAU history. In the league, Marlow follows Wayne Hogan (Montana, 2002-03), Scott Barnes (Eastern Washington, 2004-05), Terry Wanless (Sacramento State, 2008-09) and Bill Chaves (Eastern Washington, 2012-13, 2015-16).
Marlow, who was hired as Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics on Dec. 13, 2017, recently oversaw the opening of NAU Athletics' Student-Athlete High Performance Center, the first athletics facility fundraised for on the NAU Campus. Along with the athletic highlights, Marlow partnered with the Health and Human Services academic department to create the Sims-Treharne Collaborative Research Center in the $47 million, 77, 000 square foot facility. There, health and human services students and faculty will perform research on student-athletes in a variety of areas.
In support of the Student-Athlete High Performance Center, Marlow secured the first, second, third and fourth million-dollar gifts to NAU Athletics. In the fiscal year of 2022, NAU Athletics will have secured more than $3,000,000 for the first time in history.
Following the 2020-21 year, NAU Athletics earned the Big Sky Presidents' Cup for the first time in seven years. NAU finished first in the league for both academics and athletics, with both the NAU men and women sweeping the Big Sky All-Sports Trophies.
Since Marlow's arrival in Flagstaff, NAU Athletics has captured 29 conference championships following the men's and women's indoor track & field and swimming & diving programs claiming titles last month. Additionally, NAU Men's Cross Country won its third Division I National Championship during Marlow's tenure last fall, and the men placed fourth at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships – the program's highest team finish ever – last weekend.
Marlow is active within the Big Sky Conference serving as chair of the league's Athletic Director Committee and Men's Basketball Committee, while also serving as a member on the Size, Structure & Quality Committee. He also serves on NAU Athletics' Hall of Fame Committee, State of Arizona Hall of Fame Committee and Emergency Action Committee.
Marlow is a 29-year veteran of intercollegiate athletics, having previously served as a senior level administrator at the University of Oregon (12 years) and Washington State University (seven years). Marlow began his career in the Big Sky Conference at the University of Montana and also served at the University of Idaho prior to spending nearly 20 years in the Pac-12 Conference.
Nominators for the ADOY Award were NACDA-member directors of athletics, institutional presidents and conference commissioners, as well as other respected intercollegiate athletics administrators. Special Divisional Selection Committees composed of current and former directors of athletics, current and former commissioners and other key athletics administrators voted on nominees for the award.
What They're Saying About Mike Marlow
"Mike has been a terrific collaborator with our two campuses and bringing the state of Arizona together with championship caliber programs to compete at the highest levels." - Dave Heeke, University of Arizona Director of Athletics
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Mike Marlow has the innate ability to connect and embrace with alumni athletes better than any administrator that I worked with in the 36 years that I was the Head Athletic Trainer at this institution." - Mike Nesbitt, Former Northern Arizona University Head Athletic Trainer
"What separates Mike from the other nominees is that not only does he excel in college athletics, but he is also the type of person that everyone on earth would be fortunate to have in their life. Those qualities carry over to his identity as a successful Athletic Director. He is authentic, hard-working, selfless, loyal, caring, no ego, passionate, and you will not meet a finer family man in your entire life." - Garrett Klassy, University of Nebraska Senior Deputy Athletic Director
"Facility enhancements, a strong focus on the well-being and academic success of NAU student-athletes, championships, and record fundraising are just a few of Mike's accomplishments, but what makes Mike stand out more than anything is his desire to elevate and inspire his student-athletes, his staff, NAU Athletics and the University as a whole." - Chris Nations, President of Nations Group
"My favorite thing about Mike is that he leads out department at the highest level yet never at the sake of losing his accessibility to coaches, athletes and staff. His door is literally open for us to drop in and talk about whatever is on our minds. I've never felt more a part of a team as I do in our department. In fact, when my program succeeds the first person I call is Mike – because I feel so connected to the environment he sets." - Mike Smith, Northern Arizona University Director of Cross Country and Track & Field
"From the day Mike came to NAU he has dedicated himself to building connections and being a part of the entire Lumberjack family. He is highly involved as part of NAU President Cruz Rivera's Leadership team. He shares his leadership, knowledge and experience to go beyond athletics and support other projects and programs that enhance the entire university." - Kimberly Ott, Northern Arizona University Associate Vice President for Communications
