June 6, 2007

EVANSTON, Ill. -- The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced the 29 winners of the AstroTurf AD of the Year Award (ADOY) on Wednesday. Northwestern University Director of Athletics Mark Murphy was named the winner in the Football Bowl Subdivision Central Region for his commitment, efforts and contributions during the 2006-07 athletics season.

There are four geographic regions: northeast, southeast, central and west; while the membership is separated into seven categories: Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A); Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA); Division I (formerly Division I-AAA); Division II; Division III; NAIA; and Junior/Community Colleges. One winner was selected in each of the seven categories, for a total of 29 honorees. Winners will receive their awards during the James J. Corbett Awards Luncheon at NACDA's 42nd Annual Convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Murphy led a banner 2006-07 athletics campaign at Northwestern, which included four NCAA national titles (one team, three individual), two conference championships and a total of nine teams that qualified for NCAA competition (fencing, men's and women's golf, women's lacrosse, men's soccer, softball, men's swimming, women's tennis and wrestling).

Murphy also led the charge in developing the athletic department's first-ever formal strategic plan, which resulted in a comprehensive document outlining 12 strategic goals and accompanying tactics. The plan was completed with input from units throughout campus and was implemented at the beginning of the 2006-07 academic year.

Women's lacrosse led the way on the playing field, winning its third-straight national championship and fourth-straight American Lacrosse Conference (ALC) title while shattering several NCAA records along the way. Kristen Kjellman, one of four first-team All-Americans, was awarded the Tewaaraton Trophy for the second-straight year and the Honda Sports Award for a third-straight year, both of which are awarded annually to the nation's top player.

The softball team made its second consecutive trip to the Women's College World Series, finishing third overall and setting a school record with 52 wins after advancing all the way to the NCAA final round in 2006. Tammy Williams was a first-team All-American while Garland Cooper was named a first-team academic All-American by ESPN The Magazine.

The men's soccer team went further than any team in school history, advancing all the way to the NCAA quarterfinals, one win from the NCAA College Cup. The team posted 14 wins -- one shy of the school record -- and saw senior-to-be Dave Roth named to the 2006 Soccer America Men's College MVP team -- the equivalent of a first team All-America honor.

The women's tennis team captured its record-tying ninth-straight Big Ten championship while Alexis Prousis and Georgia Rose each earned All-America honors for their finishes at the NCAA Championships.

Several student-athletes took home NCAA individual titles, including wrestling's Jake Herbert who helped the Wildcats to a program-best fourth place finish at the NCAA Championships. In addition, Matt Grevers and Mike Alexandrov each captured individual titles in men's swimming. That duo also teamed up with Kyle Bubolz and Bruno Barbic to win the NCAA title in the 400 medley relay as Northwestern finished sixth at the NCAA's -- its highest finish in the modern era.

With the athletics year nearing completion, Northwestern is currently 27th in the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup standings, which would be the best finish ever for the department. Last year, Northwestern finished sixth among Big Ten schools for the second-straight year after not placing higher than 10th in any previous season.

"I am very excited about the future of our program," said Murphy. "We offer student-athletes a truly unique combination -- a chance to receive a first-class education at one of the top universities in the country while playing athletics at the highest level. I think we can serve as a role model for schools nationally by showing that you can combine excellence in athletics with excellence in academics."

NACDA, now in its 42nd year, is the professional and educational association for more than 6,100 college athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 2,000 athletics administrators annually attend the NACDA Convention. Additionally, NACDA administers 10 professional associations for the separate business units that report directly to the athletics director.

Football Bowl Subdivision Winners:
Jeremy Foley, University of Florida (Southeast)
Dan Guerrero, UCLA (West)
Jeffrey Hathaway, Connecticut (Northeast)
Mark Murphy, Northwestern (Central)