2026 Mary Ellen Leicht Service Award
Mary Ellen Leicht Service Award
Founded in 1959, the NJCAA Service Award is the most tenured honor handed out by the association. It is given to those – most often not an athlete – who have made significant contributions to two-year college athletics on a national level for an extended period of time. Annually, one Service Award can be reserved for a member of the media. In 2017, the NJCAA renamed the honor to the Mary Ellen Leicht Service Award in recognition of the 28 years of dedicated service by its third Executive Director. To view a list of past winners, visit: Mary Ellen Leicht Service Award Winners.
Jerry Smith – Arizona Western College
Jerry Smith has served as Athletic Director for Arizona Western College for over 20 years. Since arriving at Arizona Western in 2005, Smith has overseen a period of sustained excellence for Matador Athletics. During his tenure, the program has recorded more than 3,000 wins and maintained a winning percentage above .700 across seven sports. Stability across programs has been a hallmark of his leadership, with current head coaches combining for 67 seasons at the institution.
Under Smith's direction, Arizona Western College has captured 34 region championships, made 18 appearances in NJCAA Championship Tournaments, and earned six title game appearances, including three runner-up finishes.
In addition to competitive success, Smith has emphasized academic achievement among student-athletes. More than 250 individuals have earned NJCAA All-Academic recognition, and multiple teams have consistently received All-Academic honors. Smith has also played an important role in strengthening community connections in Yuma, supporting the growth of the Matador Athletic Association and expanding scholarship opportunities for student-athletes.
Beyond the campus level, Smith has contributed extensively to conference and national leadership. He has served as president of the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) and the Western States Football League, while also holding a long-standing role as the NJCAA Region 1 Women's Director. At the national level, he currently serves on the NJCAA Board of Regents and multiple committees, including the NJCAA Division I Volleyball Committee and the NJCAA Championship and Events Committee.
Prior to his time at Arizona Western College, Smith spent nine seasons as head basketball coach and Athletic Director at Eastern Oklahoma State College before moving into executive leadership roles, including Vice President of Student Services and Director of Development. His career reflects a sustained commitment to advancing opportunities for student-athletes and strengthening collegiate athletic programs nationwide.
Dr. Tim Drain – Tyler Junior College (TX)
Dr. Tim Drain's tenure at Tyler Junior College has been marked by consistent success and stability across multiple athletic programs. Dr. Drain originally came to Tyler in 1999. He then was named Athletic Director and Vice President for Athletics and Student Life in 2002. In 2018, Tyler Junior College leadership decided to split those positions, and Dr. Drain transitioned to focus on his VP role. He has since been promoted to Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs at Tyler. Under his leadership, the Apaches have developed a strong reputation both regionally and nationally, as Tyler has won 44 total NJCAA national championships during Dr. Drain's tenure at the school.
Throughout his career, Drain has prioritized both athletic and academic achievement. Student-athletes at Tyler Junior College have regularly earned conference and national academic honors, reflecting a department-wide commitment to success in the classroom as well as in competition.
In addition to his work on campus, Dr. Drain has played a significant role in conference and national leadership. He has been actively involved in the NJCAA through committee service and administrative leadership, helping to guide policy, championship structure, and the overall direction of junior college athletics. Dr. Drain currently serves as the Chair of the NJCAA Tennis Committee on which he helped guide the NJCAA tennis landscape through a divisional change in 2025-26. He is also a member of the NJCAA Division I Men's Golf Committee.
Dr. Drain's contributions extend into the East Texas community, where he has supported initiatives that connect student-athletes with local organizations while also strengthening support for Tyler Junior College athletics through fundraising and outreach efforts.
Dr. Drain has been recognized three times as an Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year in the Community College/Junior College division, earning the distinction in 2012, 2015, and 2018. He also received the NJCAA's George E. Killian Award of Excellence in 2010 and was inducted into the NJCAA Men's Soccer Hall of Fame in 2013 in recognition of his contributions to the sport. Dr. Drain has been an active member of the National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) where he was selected as President for the 2014-15 term.
For all 2026 NJCAA Honors and Annual Award Winners, visit: 2025-26 NJCAA Honors Announced
For all NJCAA Honors, please visit: NJCAA Honors Home