2023 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
Jim Gerwitz – Mineral Area (MO)
Jim Gerwitz, a former Mineral Area College baseball coach and student-athlete, is in his third year as Athletic Director at Mineral Area College. Gerwitz has worked at Mineral Area since 1997 when he began working as a part-time assistant baseball coach while he finished his bachelor's degree. Gerwitz served as the head baseball coach for the Cardinals from 2004-2011 and was a full-time criminal justice instructor from 1999-2018.
As the Athletic Director, Gerwitz is responsible for overseeing all of the Cardinals' sports programs including men's and women's basketball, volleyball, softball, baseball, track & field, cross country, men's and women's soccer, men's golf, and esports. Under Gerwitz's leadership, the Mineral Area athletic program has experienced incredible growth and success. The Cardinals have recently added men's and women's soccer, cross country, track & field, men's golf, and esports to the college's sports offerings.
Gerwitz has been instrumental in implementing multiple facility upgrades and improvement projects on campus in Park Hills including the construction of the Bob Sechrest Fieldhouse and the remodeling of locker rooms, weight rooms, and other athletic facilities. Gerwitz also played a major role in Mineral Area securing two large digital scoreboards for the fieldhouse and soccer field, greatly enhancing the experience for student-athletes and fans.
Gerwitz was also responsible for the implementation of "Athletic Viability", a program to show the Mineral Area campus the value athletics brings to the college and Park Hills community. On the national level, Gerwitz is actively involved as the Region 16 Women's Director, Chair of the NJCAA Division I Women's Golf Committee, and a member of the NJCAA Division I Volleyball Committee.
After graduating from Hazelwood Central, Gerwitz began his collegiate baseball career as a student-athlete at East Central Community College (MO). He was an all-conference and all-region player as a catcher and then later transferred to Mineral Area College for the 1994-1995 season. He continued his all-conference and all-region statistics at Mineral Area as a third baseman. Gerwitz has an associate degree from Mineral Area, a bachelor's degree in criminal justice administration from Central Methodist University, and earned his master's degree in criminal justice administration from Lindenwood University.
For all 2023 NJCAA Honors and Annual Award Winners, visit: 2022-23 NJCAA Award Winners
For all NJCAA Honors, please visit: NJCAA Honors Home