Athletic Department | 3/2/2016 1:00:00 PM

MADISON, N.J. (March 2, 2016) – Drew University Director of Athletics Jason Fein has been selected as a 2015-16 Division III Under Armour AD of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
 
The Under Armour AD of the Year Award program was created to honor intercollegiate directors of athletics for their commitment and administrative excellence within a campus and/or college community environment. The award spans seven divisions and annually honors 28 athletics directors (four from each division).
 
"This award shows that Jason's excellent work at Drew serves as an example for athletic administrators across the nation," said Drew's president, Dr. MaryAnn Baenninger. "Jason's focus on the well-being of student-athletes is emulated by the coaches in the athletic department, and his dedication has inspired his staff to match his commitment to each of the Rangers' intercollegiate programs."
 
Fein will receive his AD of the Year award during the James J. Corbett Awards Luncheon at the annual NACDA Convention, held this year in Dallas, Texas on June 15. Since the award's inception in 1998, this is Drew's first AD of the Year honor and also the first Landmark Conference AD to be selected since the league launched in 2007.
 
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.
 
The 2015-16 academic year marks Fein's eighth year at the helm of the Rangers' department. In his first seven years at Drew, he has brought a renewed energy and vision to the Ranger program, overseeing several new initiatives and drafting an athletic facilities master plan. Two initial pieces of the puzzle have been completed, including the new turf field at Ranger Stadium and the renovated varsity locker rooms in the Simon Forum.
 
Projects in progress currently include raising funds for improvements to Ranger Stadium, as well as new baseball and softball playing facilities. Fein has worked closely with university advancement to re-envision the Rangers development initiatives and start the Blue & Green Club, the official fundraising arm of Drew University Athletics, and fundraising initiative such as the Blue & Green Challenge. The cornerstone of these efforts culminate each year with the Blue & Green golf outing, a first class golf experience for alumni, parents and friends of Drew athletics.
 
An active member of the national athletic administrative scene, Fein has served for the past two years as Chair of the NCAA Division III Interpretations and Legislation Committee, and also serves on the NCAA's Diversity and Inclusion Working Group.  He previously served on the NCAA Woman of the Year Selection Committee as well. He is currently the President-elect of the College Athletic Administrators of New Jersey (CAANJ), and has previously served on the board of directors for the ECAC Sports Information Director's Association (ECAC-SIDA), also serving as the organization's president. He has served as a member of the NCAA Regional Soccer Selection Committee as well as the ECAC Regional Basketball Selection Committee.
 
Click here for the full NACDA Press Release