Gene Doris named Regional Athletics Director of the Year by NACDA | Press Releases

Fairfield University Athletics Director Gene Doris was named the Division I Athletics Director of the Year for the Northeast at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Doris received his award this afternoon at the organization's 45th annual convention in Anaheim.

Doris was one of 29 athletics director honored at the event, which included all three divisions broken into four geographic regions - Northeast, Southeast, Central, and West. "Before the program's inception, our Honors and Awards Committee recognized a need for an award such as the AD of the Year," NACDA Executive Director Mike Cleary said, who oversaw implementation of the program to allow all NACDA Officers and Honors and Awards Committee members to participate in the awards process, should they be elected. "The program brings to light the exceptional jobs done by athletics directors across the country. These 29 winners exemplify that, providing us with a group of outstanding athletics directors who excel at their jobs."

All NACDA-member directors of athletics in the United States, Canada and Mexico who met the criteria were eligible for the award. Among the criteria were service as an AD for a minimum of five academic years; demonstration of commitment to higher education and student-athletes; continuous teamwork, loyalty and excellence; and the ability to inspire individuals or groups to high levels of accomplishments. Additionally, each AD's institution must have passed a compliance check through its appropriate governing body (i.e., NCAA, NAIA, etc.), in which the institution could not have been on probation or cited for a lack of institutional control within the last five years during the tenure of the current athletics director.

Nominators were NACDA-member directors of athletics, institutional presidents and conference commissioners. Special Selection Committees composed of current and former directors of athletics, present and past NCAA and NAIA presidents, current and former commissioners and other key athletics administrators voted on nominees for the award. A complete listing of Selection Committee members can be found on NACDA's website at www.nacda.com .

Fairfield Athletics has flourished under the guidance of Doris. His responsibilities include overseeing the varsity athletic program.

Under his guidance, the varsity athletic program has undergone many changes, including increasing the number of varsity sports to 20 and the improvement of athletic facilities, a softball field, an artificial turf field and the construction of a multi-million dollar athletic facility. Doris has seen the Stags win the overall MAAC Commissioner's Cup twice, while the men have won the Cup twice and the women's teams an impressive five times.

In 2004, Doris received the Constituent Supporter of the Year award from the Coastal Fairfield County Convention and Visitors Bureau for his role in bringing the 2004 NCAA Women's Basketball First and Second rounds to the Arena at Harbor Yard. Doris was also instrumental in securing the 2006 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Regionals, and the 2007 MAAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments. Fairfield also hosted the 2008 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament First and Second rounds and will co-host the 2009 and 2011 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey East Regional.

Doris remains active off campus, serving on both regional and national committees, as well as several MAAC committees. He has also served a term as president of the ECAC, the nation's largest athletic conference, and has sat on the Division I-AA Athletic Directors Football Committee.