2022 NJCAA Athletic Director of the Year
NJCAA Athletic Director of the Year
The NJCAA Athletic Director of the Year, presented by Reveal Suits, is awarded to an NJCAA Athletic Director who best exemplifies the overall purpose of leading their institution, athletic department, student-athletes, and community through positive initiatives and contributions.
Created in the spring of 2020, the NJCAA Athletic Director of the Year is part of the NJCAA Annual Awards that honor three distinct categories across the association - Athletic Director of the Year, Sports Information Director of the Year, and Athletic Trainer of the Year. These awards represent individuals who strive to create the optimal student-athlete experience on their campus while also performing duties that go far beyond the institutional level. To view past winners, visit: NJCAA Annual Award Past Winners
Jose Barron - New Mexico Military Institute
Jose Barron was named New Mexico Military Institute's Athletic Director on July 1, 2014, and has been employed at the institution since the fall of 2003 when he was hired as an athletic trainer. During that time, Barron became associate director of athletics, overseeing the growth of the Broncos' sports medicine program as well. As the head of the athletics department, Barron manages both junior college and high school divisions, 24 sports programs, and a budget exceeding 3 million. This includes staying abreast of the differing rules and regulations impacting each student-athlete and athletic program. In addition to ensuring eligibility standards are met for the athletic teams, Barron's oversight includes managing a staff of over 40 people, all of the Broncos' attendant athletic facilities, and a newly-developed E-sports program.
In the military school landscape, Barron's role as athletic director includes coordinating with the Chief Academic Officer and the Dean of Students (Commandant), to manage an education approach that aligns with the school's values. His involvement and leadership ensures that every student-athlete will be supported in both educational endeavors as well as character and leadership development from the Commandant's office.
During the 2021-22 academic year, New Mexico Military's football program won the 2021 NJCAA Division I Football Championship over Iowa Western, its first and under first-year head coach Kurt Taufa'asau. The volleyball team has played in the national tournament seven of the last nine years, finishing runner up at the 2021 NJCAA Division I Volleyball Championship and third place four years ago. The school's tennis programs have finished in the top-20 in the nation continually and an individual player took second place this season. The Broncos' basketball and baseball programs have reached their respective regional tournaments.
The Broncos' on-field success is strong, as is the department's overall grade-point average of 2.82 (January through December 2021). 184 NJCAA student-athletes contributed to the GPA and each student-athlete must maintain proficiency in academics and in the corps of cadets in order to play their sport. Barron and his staff work in coordination with the academic dean and the commandant of cadets to manage a whole-person approach to education and learning, ensuring that every athlete is trained in character and leadership development, and supported in their educational endeavors. Barron has used medical expertise to serve on a board for the Governor of New Mexico. He assisted many local programs with guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During his 18-year tenure, Barron has been responsible for numerous improvements to the Broncos' athletic facilities, including the current renovation of Cahoon Armory, turning it into a modern athletic structure complete with offices, a sports medicine facility, an indoor training area, and weight rooms. The completion of this project will greatly enhance the overall student-athlete experience at New Mexico Military Institute while providing an opportunity to host camps, clinics, and other events on campus.
For all 2022 NJCAA Honors and Annual Award Winners, visit: 2022 NJCAA Award Winners
For all NJCAA Honors, please visit: NJCAA Honors Home