2024 ACAC Athletic Director of the Year
Edmonton, AB (May 21, 2024) –
Athletic Director of the Year |Jordan Richey | NAIT Ooks:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is proud to announce Jordan Richey of the NAIT Ooks has been named the 2023-2024 ACAC Athletic Director of the Year.
Richey is in his fifth year as the Director of Athletics & Recreation at NAIT. He has dedicated over 20 years to the institution in various leadership roles, including coach, game day supervisor, sports information officer, assistant manager, and manager. His extensive experience and commitment have significantly impacted NAIT and the wider ACAC community.
This year, under Richey's leadership, NAIT Athletics has seen several transformative initiatives. One notable achievement is the organizational restructuring that unified Athletics, Recreation, and Recreation Facilities into a single department, enhancing the support system for student-athletes and the NAIT community. Additionally, Richey successfully reintroduced NAIT into ACAC Golf and Cross-Country after a hiatus since 2014.
Richey's influence extends beyond NAIT. He chaired the ACAC Championship hosting protocols committee and spearheaded a NAIT committee that secured three ACAC Hall of Fame nominations. His contributions to the development of future athletic and recreation facilities on the Blatchford lands are set to have a lasting impact. Collaborating with NAIT's Advancement Office, he established a major endowment for NAIT Athletics, resulting in four new perpetual scholarship awards for student-athletes. Furthermore, he revived the NAIT Ooks Scholarship Golf Tournament, achieving three consecutive sell-outs after a decade-long hiatus.
Jordan Richey's commitment to the academic success of student-athletes is evident. He raised the GPA standard for athletic scholarships, which has led to improved academic performance. Richey also implemented a support system for struggling student-athletes, emphasizing their overall well-being and success without compromising their athletic involvement. His focus on academic excellence is reflected in the structure of head coaching contracts, which prioritize student-athlete academic success, leading to improved GPA, retention, and graduation rates.
Beyond academics and athletics, Richey has fostered a culture of community engagement. He established the NAIT Athletics Community Service Award, recognizing the community contributions of student-athletes, aligning with the CCAA community service award. Under his guidance, each business unit at NAIT sets objectives for community involvement, further embedding this value into the department's ethos. Additionally, he created an administrative position dedicated to community engagement, underscoring the importance of giving back.
Richey's leadership is characterized by his holistic approach to excellence, understanding that success in competition is intertwined with success in the classroom and community. His genuine and authentic leadership style has made him a respected figure within NAIT, the ACAC, and the CCAA. He has encouraged all athletics staff to participate in ACAC committees, emphasizing NAIT's leadership role within the conference.
Richey's influence also extends to regional and national levels through his involvement in various committees. He has been an ACAC Executive member for over eight years and currently serves as the ACAC Executive Member at Large. His roles have included Chair of the Sports Sustainability Committee and Marketing & Communications Committee, and he has served as ACAC and CCAA Badminton Convenor. He has consistently represented the ACAC at CCAA meetings.
The 2023-24 season has been remarkable for NAIT's athletic teams under Richey's guidance. The NAIT Ooks achieved notable success, including winning the ACAC and CCAA Men's Volleyball Championships, the ACAC Women's Hockey Championship, and several medals in Men's Soccer, Badminton, and Curling. Additionally, six student-athletes qualified for the Golf CCAA National Championships and two for the Cross-Country CCAA Nationals, marking a return to these sports after 14 years.
NAIT Athletics and Recreation Manager Andy MacIver praised Richey's impact: "Jordan has had a tremendous impact on NAIT Athletics since assuming the Athletics Director role. He has a wealth of experience across NAIT, the ACAC, and CCAA in a variety of roles, and his passion is second to none when it comes to post-secondary athletics."
Jordan Richey's dedication, leadership, and commitment to excellence have earned him the well-deserved recognition as the 2023-24 ACAC Athletic Director of the Year. His transformative contributions to NAIT and the ACAC continue to inspire and uplift student-athletes, coaches, and the broader community.
Congratulations, Jordan!
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About the ACAC: The ACAC is the governing body for intercollegiate athletics in Alberta. Its mission is to provide competitive collegiate sport experiences, promote academic achievement and be a leader of sport development in Canada.
For more information on the ACAC, please visit our website: www.acac.ab.ca
For additional information, contact:
Mark Kosak, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Chief Executive Officer
403-875-7329
markk@acac.ab.ca
Kayla Blacquiere, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
kaylab@acac.ab.ca