GREENVILLE, S.C. – Dick Christy, the Director of Athletics at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke will be the official nominee from Conference Carolinas for the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Athletic Director of the Year Award for the 2023-24 academic year.
Christy will serve as the nomination for Conference Carolinas after receiving the honor from a vote among the current Directors of Athletics in the conference.
“Conference Carolinas is thrilled to be able to submit this nomination for Dick Christy as our nominee for the NACDA Athletic Director of the Year Award,” Conference Carolinas Commissioner Chris Colvin said. “Dick is an integral part of everything we do in Conference Carolinas. His work in shaping the continued growth, while presenting ideas of professional growth within the league has given us all great standards."
Dick Christy, a 23-year veteran in athletics administration, he began his 12th year in Pembroke after assuming the role as UNCP’s 10th athletics director in May 2013.
Dick Christy is a certified John Maxwell Leadership team member having gone through the process in March of 2022. The program is a three-track curriculum in sales, leadership and public speaking. By doing such he has elevated his ability to fundraise, public speaking, communicating with all demographics both on and off campus as well as in the community.
In the spring of 2024, he taught a sports leadership class on campus integrating some of his own personal experiences as a former student-athlete, but also the teachings of Maxwell on how to be a success leader, serving others and building sustainable, impactful relationships.
He instituted an athletic director text thread amongst Conference Carolinas to help celebrate conference championships, birthdays and milestones occurring amongst his colleagues.
He meets with and listens to the needs/wants of the student-athletes within the program to best serve them. This same philosophy goes with staff meetings and one-on-one meetings with his head coaches. Giving them some ownership in the outcomes allows for growth/belief within.
Here are some of the accomplishments the Braves had under Christy’s leadership in 2024.
- Five Conference Carolinas Conference Championships in 2024
- Four runner-up Conference Carolinas Championships in 2024
- Five teams participated in NCAA Championships in 2024
- 99 All-Conference laurels during the 2023-24 athletic season.
- Five student-athletes were crowned as Player of the Year in their respective sports.
- Six student-athletes took home Freshman of the Year honors.
- One NCAA Woman of the Year nominee - Top 3 Finalist 2024
- 375 Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll
- Two Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year awards
- Conference Carolinas Athletic Communications Staff of the Year
- Three NACMA Best of Awards
- Renegotiated shoe and apparel deal with Adidas
- Cash Bash brings in Record amount in 2024
- Baseball/Softball facility renovation started
- Nutrition Station - title, gift and expansion
- 2024 NCAA Award for Excellence finalists- American Indian Heritage Celebration
"One of the many blessings of Conference Carolinas has been the strength and collegiality of its AD Committee,” said Christy. “I’ve learned a tremendous amount from them and am beyond humbled to be chosen to represent them for this award. It is a great compliment to our university’s leadership and the hard work of our coaches and staff.“
The Cushman & Wakefield Athletics Director of the Year (ADOY) Awards program was created to honor intercollegiate Directors of Athletics for their commitment and administrative excellence within a campus and/or college community environment over the course of the last year. The award spans seven divisions (NCAA FBS, FCS, Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year Institutions and Junior/Community Colleges) and annually honors 28 athletics directors (four from each division).