2025 NJCAA Athletic Director of the Year, presented by Reveal Suits

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

Michael Landers – Navarro College (TX)

Michael Landers is the Executive Director for Student Services and Athletics at Navarro. The Bulldogs have six teams competing at the NJCAA Division I level and also field teams in NJCAA Cheerleading and Esports. Landers currently serves on the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee, NJCAA Division I Football Committee, and NJCAA Appeals Committee. He is also the NJCAA Region 14 Men's Assistant Director and the Chair of the Southwest Junior College Football Conference. Since assuming the role as Athletic Director in 2018, Landers has seen his six Division I programs make 34 postseason appearances out of a possible 38.

Navarro student-athletes also excel in the classroom as 23 teams have been recognized as an NJCAA Academic Team of the Year, including four during the 2023-24 school year. Landers developed the Navarro 3.0 and Navarro 4.0 clubs to recognize and honor more than 100 student-athletes each year that earn a required number of transferrable hours with corresponding GPA based on similar criteria as the NJCAA Academic All-America recognition program.

Landers also emphasizes the importance of community service at Navarro. Landers created the Navarro Athletics Community Service program in which student-athletes have combined to average more than 3,000 hours per year since 2018-19. His initiative has grown to include a specified date each year where all Navarro College campuses close to allow all students, faculty, and staff to participate in a community service project. Last year, Navarro representatives accumulated 1,000 hours of community service in a single day to four different communities in three different service areas.

"For over 25 years as a Coach, Athletic Director, and Executive Director, he has mentored, managed, and led individuals to both team and individual success by ensuring that both the team and the individual grew as people and were being prepared for opportunities academically, athletically, and within their communities," Navarro College President Dr. Kevin Fegan said. "Michael Landers epitomizes the values and goals of the NJCAA, and I am very proud of him for being selected as the NJCAA AD of the year."

In 2023, Landers established the Region 14 Basketball Legends Club to honor and recognize former athletes, coaches, media members, and supporters of Region 14 basketball. He also created the Navarro Bulldog Hall of Fame, celebrating former athletes, coaches and supporters of the Navarro athletic programs. Outside of the NJCAA, Landers has served on the Corsicana YMCA Executive Committee since 2017 and is also a member of the WBCA and MBCA representing the junior college/community college level.

Landers has devoted 25 years of service to community colleges and the NJCAA. He was previously at Trinity Valley Community College as Head Women's Basketball Coach, Athletic Director, and Assistant Vice President for Student Services. Additionally, Landers led the creation of the athletics programming at Baton Rouge Community College where he served in a dual capacity as Athletic Director and Head Women's Basketball Coach.

For all 2025 NJCAA Honors and Annual Award Winners, visit: 2024-25 NJCAA Award Winners

For all NJCAA Honors, please visit: NJCAA Honors Home