April 6, 2015
2015 NJCAA Service & Recognition Awards presented at annual meeting
TUCSON, Ariz. – The 2015 NJCAA Service and Recognition awards were presented in March during the opening ceremonies of the 74th NJCAA Annual Meeting.
Each year, the NJCAA recognizes individuals from its member institutions and national office staff that have excelled on the playing field or have exemplified the organization’s principles of leadership, achievement and service.
NJCAA APPRECIATION AWARD
Awarded by the NJCAA Executive Director to individuals and institutions that have provided the organization with extraordinary leadership, loyalty and service.
Norma Dycus | Sinclair Community College
Over the course of four decades, Norma Dycus has been an invaluable advocate for two-year college athletics. Her tireless efforts at Sinclair (Ohio) and with the NJCAA have resulted in a better environment for student-athletes, administrators, coaches and two-year collegiate sports as a whole.
Dycus has been an NJCAA officer since her election to second vice president for women in 2006. She moved into the role of first vice president for women in 2008 where she has remained for the past seven years. During her tenure, the organization has taken great strides towards ensuring that its student-athletes are provided with a valuable opportunity to advance their academic and athletic goals. Dycus also currently serves as the chair of the Health and Safety Committee and is a member of the Eligibility and Finance and Budget committees. In 2004, her leadership as an athletic director was recognized when she was presented with the NJCAA Loyalty Award.
Beginning her duty to the NJCAA in 1987, Dycus was elected as Region 12 assistant women’s director, a post she held for just three years before moving up to the role of women’s region director in 1991. During her time as a member of the board, Dycus has been an active participant – chairing the committees for women’s soccer and DII women’s basketball and serving on the Executive, Strategic Planning, Volleyball, Swimming & Diving and Field Hockey committees. Taking her responsibilities beyond the general reach of the organization, Dycus has also served as a representative for the National Alliance of Two-Year Collegiate Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA).
After earning her master’s degree in physical education from the University of Illinois in 1975, Dycus returned to MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois – where she earned her bachelor’s degree – to assume the position of coordinator of athletics for women. Following her stint at MacMurry, Dycus became the assistant athletic director at Sinclair where she coached softball and volleyball. In 2000, the college promoted her to athletic director and professor of physical education.
NJCAA LOYALTY AWARD
Awarded to an active athletic director of a member college who has worked to uphold the ideals of the NJCAA. Significant to this award is leadership in an athletic program exemplifying excellence both on the field and in the classroom.
Since arriving at Paradise Valley (Ariz.) in 2002, Silcox has provided a clear vision of academic success for his student-athletes as the college’s athletic director. Under his direction, the Pumas program has accumulated over 100 NJCAA individual student-athlete academic awards with over 60 teams receiving national recognition for their cumulative success in the classroom.
Silcox’s leadership has also procured success on the playing field. With his presence at the helm, Paradise Valley has claimed nine of the college’s 11 NJCAA championships. The Pumas cross country programs have established themselves among the nation’s elite, winning seven national titles since 2002.
Earning his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Riverside in 1981, Silcox first arrived in the NJCAA in 1984 as the Glendale (Ariz.) women’s basketball head coach. The Northfield, Minnesota, native was promoted to the position of assistant athletic director in 1989 where he remained for 13 years before moving to Paradise Valley.
GEORGE E. KILLIAN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – Photo
Awarded annually by the NJCAA national office staff to individuals dedicated to the organization’s ideals of volunteerism, achievement, service, leadership and excellence.
Thom McDonald | Region 11 Men’s Director
Over the last 12 years, few individuals on the NJCAA board of directors have played as pivotal a role in progressing the association than Thom McDonald. Elected as the men’s director for Region 11 in 2000, McDonald has provided the organization with an incomparable level of devotion. The commissioner of the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) has played an active role as chair of the DII Men’s Basketball Committee, enacting progressive changes such as the implementation of a data-driven seeding process for the division’s national tournament. McDonald also serves on the NJCAA Football Committee and is now in his first year as chair of the Wrestling Committee. His contributions as a poll voter for football, basketball and baseball have added integrity to the rankings in each of those sports. McDonald’s contributions on the gridiron have been showcased with his hosting of the Graphic Edge Bowl – one of the NJCAA’s most storied postseason football events.
Scott Barlow | Region 12 Women’s Director
Now in his 15th year as athletic director at Lakeland (Ohio), Scott Barlow’s contributions to two-year college athletics have extended well beyond his institution. Since joining the NJCAA board of directors over 10 years ago, Barlow has provided an exceptional level of volunteer service. His dedication has been showcased with his diligent participation on numerous poll committees for volleyball and multiple divisions of women’s basketball. Barlow currently serves as a member on the Eligibility Committee, DI Women’s Soccer Committee and is a devoted chair for the DII Women’s Basketball Committee. He first joined the board in 2003 with his election as Region 12 assistant women’s director before moving into the region director role in 2006. Adding to his extensive resume of service, Barlow has held the title of commissioner for the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) since 2002. His contributions to two-year college athletics as a whole are highlighted by his service as a NATYCAA officer and Executive Committee board member.
NJCAA ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – Photo
Awarded to former NJCAA student-athletes who have displayed outstanding athletic ability in national, Olympic or international competition and possess excellent ethical character.
Her success continued on to the international level where she earned three bronze medals as part of the Jamaican 4x400 that claimed bronze at the Summer Olympics in Athens in 2004, Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012. Following the games in London, Williams-Mills was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. After her final surgery in January 2013, she worked her way back up to a competitive level and won the 400-meter dash at the 2014 World Diamond Championships.
Williams-Mills now travels the world to raise awareness from breast cancer. Her efforts on and off the track were also recognized in 2014 when she was inducted into the NJCAA Track & Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
NJCAA SERVICE AWARD – Photo
Awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the NJCAA on a national level for an extended period of time.
Sally Thalken | North Platte Community College
The winningest coach in the history of NJCAA DII volleyball, Sally Thalken has established herself as one of the most successful coaches ever in two-year college athletics. Having just completed her 34th season at North Platte (Neb.), Thalken’s 921 wins are the fourth-most all-time at any level of NJCAA volleyball. Since her arrival in 1981, the Knights have claimed five district titles yielding four appearances at the NJCAA DII Volleyball Championship along with participation at the 1984 NJCAA Volleyball Championship prior to the sport breaking into divisions. Thalken has had 11 players receive All-America honors, including Carolyn Williams and Michelle Jankovits who earned first team recognition. Her contributions to the sport were recognized by her peers in 2003 when she was inducted into the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Francis Flax | Brown Mackie College
A coaching icon in the state of Kansas and beyond, Francis Flax has stood as a pillar of excellence for over three decades in the NJCAA. After 31 years of coaching – nine at Highland (Kan.) and the last 23 at Brown Mackie (Kan.) – Flax has announced his retirement. His career ends with a total of 621 wins which stands as the fifth-most among active NJCAA coaches and ranks in the top 50 all-time. Flax is credited with both of Brown Mackie’s national championships, directing the Lions to the NJCAA DII men’s basketball title in 1998-99 and 2004-05. Brown Mackie also qualified for the national tournament in 1997, 1998, 2010 and 2013. Among Flax’s student-athletes are 13 NJCAA All-Americans and 113 that went on to receive scholarships at four-year colleges. At the professional level, Flax has had 17 former players compete overseas. Taking his service to two-year college basketball beyond his college responsibilities, Flax also served as president of the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches Association. The organization inducted Flax into its hall of fame in 2008.
Cleo Hill | Essex County College
Following a six-year career in the NBA from 1962-68, Cleo Hill returned to his home state of New Jersey to assume the role of men’s basketball head coach at Essex County. During his 24-year coaching career at the two-year level, Hill amassed 489 wins and a 79.3 win percentage which ranks as the seventh-highest all-time in NJCAA men’s basketball. During his tenure, the Wolverines collected three Region 19 championships and had nine players receive NJCAA All-America accolades. In 1975, Hill took on the position of athletic administrator at Essex County. By the time he stepped down in 1995, the Wolverines track and field program had gained elite status with six national championships under their belt. Hill was also active within the Region 19 leadership, serving on committees for soccer, cross country and men’s basketball.
Jim Southward | Mississippi Board for Community Colleges
A former football player at Northwest Mississippi, Jim Southward’s contributions to two-year college athletics in the Magnolia State extend back over three decades. Following a brief stint at the high school level, Southward was hired as an assistant football coach for Mississippi Delta in 1988. He soon was elevated to head coach where he would lead the Trojans to the NJCAA championship in 1993. Southward’s career path took a detour in 2002 when he was hired by the Mississippi Board for Community Colleges as the director of athletics activities, a position he still holds today. Serving as the commissioner for the Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges (MACJC), Southward’s role expanded in 2008 when he was elected to the NJCAA board of directors as the men’s director for Region 23. Under his leadership, the conference and region have experienced unprecedented success both athletically and academically.
NJCAA RETIREMENTS – Photo
The NJCAA recognizes those individuals who will be retiring from their service towards the NJCAA.
LuAnn Zimmick | Region 4 Women’s Assistant Director
A leader for 20 years in the NJCAA, Zimmick was elected by Region 4 to the position of women’s assistant director in 1995. She has provided an exceptional level of service and leadership in that role for the past two decades. A former assistant athletic director and a professor at DuPage (Ill.), Zimmick has been an invaluable asset for the women’s division and has played a major role on numerous committees within the organization. Her expertise has brought an appreciated perspective to the boards overseeing sports such as tennis, swimming and diving, volleyball and softball. Outside of her prescribed duties with the board, Zimmick has also lent her time to visit and evaluate potential NJCAA championship hosts for the Championship Events Committee. Outside of the association, Zimmick has also put in more volunteer hours to advance two-year college athletics as an executive member for NATYCAA.
Randy Stange | Region 6 Men’s Director
A long-time athletic director and men’s basketball head coach at his alma mater, Hutchinson (Kan.), Randy Stange has provided the NJCAA with a unique background and perspective since his election to Region 6 men’s director in 2006. His contributions to the association have been echoed by significant changes in the sports of men’s basketball, golf and track and field. Most notably, Stange has served as the chair of the DI Men’s Basketball Committee and helped implement the dramatic change of seeding and expanding the national tournament field. During his tenure at Hutchinson, the Blue Dragons have hosted numerous NJCAA championship events in the sports of basketball, softball and track and field. In February, Stange announced his resignation from Hutchinson to pursue an opportunity as athletic director for public schools in Springfield, Missouri.
Al Williams | Region 18 Men’s Director
Joining the NJCAA board of directors in 2004, Al Williams was elected by Region 18 to serve as assistant women’s director. Just three years later, the North Idaho athletic director moved into the position of men’s region director where he has served ever since. Chairing the NJCAA Wrestling Committee for five years, Williams provided an insightful perspective that has helped grow the association’s treasured sport. He also served as tournament director for the NJCAA Wrestling Championship in 2011 and 2014. Beyond the mat, Williams has been a member of the Executive, DI Men’s Basketball, DI Women’s Basketball, Districting and Track and Field committees. In men’s basketball, his input has played a vital role in the selection of at-large teams for the national tournament. Williams and North Idaho are in the process of moving their athletic program into the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC).
John Jackson | Region 21 Men’s Director
John Jackson has been a valued member of the NJCAA board of directors for over two decades. Elected as Region 21 assistant women’s director in 1993, Jackson quickly moved into the role of women’s region director where he made his presence felt as a member of the Nominations and Elections, DIII Women’s Basketball and DIII Women’s Soccer committees. Transitioning to the men’s side in 2001, Jackson’s contributions extended to nearly every committee for men’s sports. As a chair, he oversaw the committees for Standards and Ethics, DI Men’s Soccer and Men’s Lacrosse. Jackson was also part of the NJCAA Executive and Championship Events committees and served as an executive member with NATYCAA. A former NJCAA student-athlete at Dean (Mass.) – where he now serves as athletic director – Jackson is leading his alma mater into a new chapter of its storied history as the Bulldogs transition to an NCAA Division III program.
NJCAA SERVICE MEDALS
Awarded to individuals who have served for 10, 15, 20 or 25 years as an assistant region director, region director, officer, coaches association president or presidential representative.
20 YEARS OF SERVICE – Photo
LuAnn Zimmick | College of DuPage (Ill.)
Region 4 Women’s Assistant Director: 1995-Present
Bobby Hudson | Volunteer State Community College (Tenn.)
Region 7 Men’s Director: 1995-Present
15 YEARS OF SERVICE – Photo
Dean Myrick | Alabama Community College Conference
Region 22 Men’s Director: 2012-Present
Region 10 Men’s Director: 2000-2012
Rex Parcells | Hill College (Texas)
Region 5 Women’s Director: 2002-Present
Region 5 Women’s Assistant Director: 2000-2002
Wally Reynolds | McHenry County College (Ill.)
Region 4 Men’s Assistant Director: 2000-Present
10 YEARS OF SERVICE – Photo 1 | Photo 2
Jim Griffiths | Anne Arundel Community College (Md.)
Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association President: 2005-Present
Carl Heinrich | Johnson County Community College (Kan.)
Region 6 Women’s Director: 2008-Present
Region 6 Women’s Assistant Director: 2005-2008
Brenda Hampton | Iowa Western Community College
Region 11 Women’s Director: 2005-Present
Marci Henry | Northeastern Junior College (Colo.)
Region 9 Women’s Director: 2005-Present
Rod Lovett | Parkland College (Ill.)
Region 24 Men’s Director: 2005-Present
Mick McDaniel | Tompkins Cortland Community College (N.Y.)
1st Vice-President for Men: 2010-Present
2nd Vice-President for Men: 2009-2010
Region 3 Men’s Director: 2008-2010
Region 3 Men’s Assistant Director: 2005-2008
Jack Robertson | Faulkner State Community College (Ala.)
Region 22 Men’s Assistant Director: 2005-Present
Mary Young | Central Community College (Neb.)
Volleyball Coaches Association President: 2012-Present
Region 9 Women’s Assistant Director: 2005-Present
Each year, the NJCAA recognizes individuals from its member institutions and national office staff that have excelled on the playing field or have exemplified the organization’s principles of leadership, achievement and service.
NJCAA APPRECIATION AWARD
Awarded by the NJCAA Executive Director to individuals and institutions that have provided the organization with extraordinary leadership, loyalty and service.
Norma Dycus | Sinclair Community College Over the course of four decades, Norma Dycus has been an invaluable advocate for two-year college athletics. Her tireless efforts at Sinclair (Ohio) and with the NJCAA have resulted in a better environment for student-athletes, administrators, coaches and two-year collegiate sports as a whole.
Dycus has been an NJCAA officer since her election to second vice president for women in 2006. She moved into the role of first vice president for women in 2008 where she has remained for the past seven years. During her tenure, the organization has taken great strides towards ensuring that its student-athletes are provided with a valuable opportunity to advance their academic and athletic goals. Dycus also currently serves as the chair of the Health and Safety Committee and is a member of the Eligibility and Finance and Budget committees. In 2004, her leadership as an athletic director was recognized when she was presented with the NJCAA Loyalty Award.
Beginning her duty to the NJCAA in 1987, Dycus was elected as Region 12 assistant women’s director, a post she held for just three years before moving up to the role of women’s region director in 1991. During her time as a member of the board, Dycus has been an active participant – chairing the committees for women’s soccer and DII women’s basketball and serving on the Executive, Strategic Planning, Volleyball, Swimming & Diving and Field Hockey committees. Taking her responsibilities beyond the general reach of the organization, Dycus has also served as a representative for the National Alliance of Two-Year Collegiate Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA).
After earning her master’s degree in physical education from the University of Illinois in 1975, Dycus returned to MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois – where she earned her bachelor’s degree – to assume the position of coordinator of athletics for women. Following her stint at MacMurry, Dycus became the assistant athletic director at Sinclair where she coached softball and volleyball. In 2000, the college promoted her to athletic director and professor of physical education.
NJCAA LOYALTY AWARD
Awarded to an active athletic director of a member college who has worked to uphold the ideals of the NJCAA. Significant to this award is leadership in an athletic program exemplifying excellence both on the field and in the classroom.
Greg Silcox | Paradise Valley Community College
Greg Silcox has exemplified the NJCAA’s core values in over 28 years of service as a region director, athletic administrator and head coach in the association. During his tenure, his contributions have far exceeded his roles in positively impacting the lives of thousands of student-athletes.Since arriving at Paradise Valley (Ariz.) in 2002, Silcox has provided a clear vision of academic success for his student-athletes as the college’s athletic director. Under his direction, the Pumas program has accumulated over 100 NJCAA individual student-athlete academic awards with over 60 teams receiving national recognition for their cumulative success in the classroom.
Silcox’s leadership has also procured success on the playing field. With his presence at the helm, Paradise Valley has claimed nine of the college’s 11 NJCAA championships. The Pumas cross country programs have established themselves among the nation’s elite, winning seven national titles since 2002.
Earning his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Riverside in 1981, Silcox first arrived in the NJCAA in 1984 as the Glendale (Ariz.) women’s basketball head coach. The Northfield, Minnesota, native was promoted to the position of assistant athletic director in 1989 where he remained for 13 years before moving to Paradise Valley.
GEORGE E. KILLIAN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE – Photo
Awarded annually by the NJCAA national office staff to individuals dedicated to the organization’s ideals of volunteerism, achievement, service, leadership and excellence.
Thom McDonald | Region 11 Men’s Director
Over the last 12 years, few individuals on the NJCAA board of directors have played as pivotal a role in progressing the association than Thom McDonald. Elected as the men’s director for Region 11 in 2000, McDonald has provided the organization with an incomparable level of devotion. The commissioner of the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) has played an active role as chair of the DII Men’s Basketball Committee, enacting progressive changes such as the implementation of a data-driven seeding process for the division’s national tournament. McDonald also serves on the NJCAA Football Committee and is now in his first year as chair of the Wrestling Committee. His contributions as a poll voter for football, basketball and baseball have added integrity to the rankings in each of those sports. McDonald’s contributions on the gridiron have been showcased with his hosting of the Graphic Edge Bowl – one of the NJCAA’s most storied postseason football events.
Scott Barlow | Region 12 Women’s Director
Now in his 15th year as athletic director at Lakeland (Ohio), Scott Barlow’s contributions to two-year college athletics have extended well beyond his institution. Since joining the NJCAA board of directors over 10 years ago, Barlow has provided an exceptional level of volunteer service. His dedication has been showcased with his diligent participation on numerous poll committees for volleyball and multiple divisions of women’s basketball. Barlow currently serves as a member on the Eligibility Committee, DI Women’s Soccer Committee and is a devoted chair for the DII Women’s Basketball Committee. He first joined the board in 2003 with his election as Region 12 assistant women’s director before moving into the region director role in 2006. Adding to his extensive resume of service, Barlow has held the title of commissioner for the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) since 2002. His contributions to two-year college athletics as a whole are highlighted by his service as a NATYCAA officer and Executive Committee board member.
NJCAA ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – Photo
Awarded to former NJCAA student-athletes who have displayed outstanding athletic ability in national, Olympic or international competition and possess excellent ethical character.
Novlene Williams-Mills | Essex County College
From 2000-02, Novlene Williams-Mills made her presence felt at Essex County (N.J.) as one of the nation’s elite sprinters. A three-time NJCAA All-American, Williams-Mills won two NJCAA championships during her time with the Wolverines including the 400-meter dash at the 2002 NJCAA Indoor Championships. Following her stint with the Wolverines, Williams-Mills moved on to Florida where she’d earn NJCAA All-America honors five times.Her success continued on to the international level where she earned three bronze medals as part of the Jamaican 4x400 that claimed bronze at the Summer Olympics in Athens in 2004, Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012. Following the games in London, Williams-Mills was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. After her final surgery in January 2013, she worked her way back up to a competitive level and won the 400-meter dash at the 2014 World Diamond Championships.
Williams-Mills now travels the world to raise awareness from breast cancer. Her efforts on and off the track were also recognized in 2014 when she was inducted into the NJCAA Track & Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
NJCAA SERVICE AWARD – Photo
Awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the NJCAA on a national level for an extended period of time.
Sally Thalken | North Platte Community College
The winningest coach in the history of NJCAA DII volleyball, Sally Thalken has established herself as one of the most successful coaches ever in two-year college athletics. Having just completed her 34th season at North Platte (Neb.), Thalken’s 921 wins are the fourth-most all-time at any level of NJCAA volleyball. Since her arrival in 1981, the Knights have claimed five district titles yielding four appearances at the NJCAA DII Volleyball Championship along with participation at the 1984 NJCAA Volleyball Championship prior to the sport breaking into divisions. Thalken has had 11 players receive All-America honors, including Carolyn Williams and Michelle Jankovits who earned first team recognition. Her contributions to the sport were recognized by her peers in 2003 when she was inducted into the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Francis Flax | Brown Mackie College
A coaching icon in the state of Kansas and beyond, Francis Flax has stood as a pillar of excellence for over three decades in the NJCAA. After 31 years of coaching – nine at Highland (Kan.) and the last 23 at Brown Mackie (Kan.) – Flax has announced his retirement. His career ends with a total of 621 wins which stands as the fifth-most among active NJCAA coaches and ranks in the top 50 all-time. Flax is credited with both of Brown Mackie’s national championships, directing the Lions to the NJCAA DII men’s basketball title in 1998-99 and 2004-05. Brown Mackie also qualified for the national tournament in 1997, 1998, 2010 and 2013. Among Flax’s student-athletes are 13 NJCAA All-Americans and 113 that went on to receive scholarships at four-year colleges. At the professional level, Flax has had 17 former players compete overseas. Taking his service to two-year college basketball beyond his college responsibilities, Flax also served as president of the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches Association. The organization inducted Flax into its hall of fame in 2008.
Cleo Hill | Essex County College
Following a six-year career in the NBA from 1962-68, Cleo Hill returned to his home state of New Jersey to assume the role of men’s basketball head coach at Essex County. During his 24-year coaching career at the two-year level, Hill amassed 489 wins and a 79.3 win percentage which ranks as the seventh-highest all-time in NJCAA men’s basketball. During his tenure, the Wolverines collected three Region 19 championships and had nine players receive NJCAA All-America accolades. In 1975, Hill took on the position of athletic administrator at Essex County. By the time he stepped down in 1995, the Wolverines track and field program had gained elite status with six national championships under their belt. Hill was also active within the Region 19 leadership, serving on committees for soccer, cross country and men’s basketball.
Jim Southward | Mississippi Board for Community Colleges
A former football player at Northwest Mississippi, Jim Southward’s contributions to two-year college athletics in the Magnolia State extend back over three decades. Following a brief stint at the high school level, Southward was hired as an assistant football coach for Mississippi Delta in 1988. He soon was elevated to head coach where he would lead the Trojans to the NJCAA championship in 1993. Southward’s career path took a detour in 2002 when he was hired by the Mississippi Board for Community Colleges as the director of athletics activities, a position he still holds today. Serving as the commissioner for the Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges (MACJC), Southward’s role expanded in 2008 when he was elected to the NJCAA board of directors as the men’s director for Region 23. Under his leadership, the conference and region have experienced unprecedented success both athletically and academically.
NJCAA RETIREMENTS – Photo
The NJCAA recognizes those individuals who will be retiring from their service towards the NJCAA.
LuAnn Zimmick | Region 4 Women’s Assistant Director
A leader for 20 years in the NJCAA, Zimmick was elected by Region 4 to the position of women’s assistant director in 1995. She has provided an exceptional level of service and leadership in that role for the past two decades. A former assistant athletic director and a professor at DuPage (Ill.), Zimmick has been an invaluable asset for the women’s division and has played a major role on numerous committees within the organization. Her expertise has brought an appreciated perspective to the boards overseeing sports such as tennis, swimming and diving, volleyball and softball. Outside of her prescribed duties with the board, Zimmick has also lent her time to visit and evaluate potential NJCAA championship hosts for the Championship Events Committee. Outside of the association, Zimmick has also put in more volunteer hours to advance two-year college athletics as an executive member for NATYCAA.
Randy Stange | Region 6 Men’s Director
A long-time athletic director and men’s basketball head coach at his alma mater, Hutchinson (Kan.), Randy Stange has provided the NJCAA with a unique background and perspective since his election to Region 6 men’s director in 2006. His contributions to the association have been echoed by significant changes in the sports of men’s basketball, golf and track and field. Most notably, Stange has served as the chair of the DI Men’s Basketball Committee and helped implement the dramatic change of seeding and expanding the national tournament field. During his tenure at Hutchinson, the Blue Dragons have hosted numerous NJCAA championship events in the sports of basketball, softball and track and field. In February, Stange announced his resignation from Hutchinson to pursue an opportunity as athletic director for public schools in Springfield, Missouri.
Al Williams | Region 18 Men’s Director
Joining the NJCAA board of directors in 2004, Al Williams was elected by Region 18 to serve as assistant women’s director. Just three years later, the North Idaho athletic director moved into the position of men’s region director where he has served ever since. Chairing the NJCAA Wrestling Committee for five years, Williams provided an insightful perspective that has helped grow the association’s treasured sport. He also served as tournament director for the NJCAA Wrestling Championship in 2011 and 2014. Beyond the mat, Williams has been a member of the Executive, DI Men’s Basketball, DI Women’s Basketball, Districting and Track and Field committees. In men’s basketball, his input has played a vital role in the selection of at-large teams for the national tournament. Williams and North Idaho are in the process of moving their athletic program into the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC).
John Jackson | Region 21 Men’s Director
John Jackson has been a valued member of the NJCAA board of directors for over two decades. Elected as Region 21 assistant women’s director in 1993, Jackson quickly moved into the role of women’s region director where he made his presence felt as a member of the Nominations and Elections, DIII Women’s Basketball and DIII Women’s Soccer committees. Transitioning to the men’s side in 2001, Jackson’s contributions extended to nearly every committee for men’s sports. As a chair, he oversaw the committees for Standards and Ethics, DI Men’s Soccer and Men’s Lacrosse. Jackson was also part of the NJCAA Executive and Championship Events committees and served as an executive member with NATYCAA. A former NJCAA student-athlete at Dean (Mass.) – where he now serves as athletic director – Jackson is leading his alma mater into a new chapter of its storied history as the Bulldogs transition to an NCAA Division III program.
NJCAA SERVICE MEDALS
Awarded to individuals who have served for 10, 15, 20 or 25 years as an assistant region director, region director, officer, coaches association president or presidential representative.
20 YEARS OF SERVICE – Photo
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LuAnn Zimmick | College of DuPage (Ill.)
Region 4 Women’s Assistant Director: 1995-Present
Bobby Hudson | Volunteer State Community College (Tenn.)
Region 7 Men’s Director: 1995-Present
15 YEARS OF SERVICE – Photo
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Dean Myrick | Alabama Community College Conference
Region 22 Men’s Director: 2012-Present
Region 10 Men’s Director: 2000-2012
Rex Parcells | Hill College (Texas)
Region 5 Women’s Director: 2002-Present
Region 5 Women’s Assistant Director: 2000-2002
Wally Reynolds | McHenry County College (Ill.)
Region 4 Men’s Assistant Director: 2000-Present
10 YEARS OF SERVICE – Photo 1 | Photo 2
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Jim Griffiths | Anne Arundel Community College (Md.)
Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association President: 2005-Present
Carl Heinrich | Johnson County Community College (Kan.)
Region 6 Women’s Director: 2008-Present
Region 6 Women’s Assistant Director: 2005-2008
Brenda Hampton | Iowa Western Community College
Region 11 Women’s Director: 2005-Present
Marci Henry | Northeastern Junior College (Colo.)
Region 9 Women’s Director: 2005-Present
Rod Lovett | Parkland College (Ill.)
Region 24 Men’s Director: 2005-Present
Mick McDaniel | Tompkins Cortland Community College (N.Y.)
1st Vice-President for Men: 2010-Present
2nd Vice-President for Men: 2009-2010
Region 3 Men’s Director: 2008-2010
Region 3 Men’s Assistant Director: 2005-2008
Jack Robertson | Faulkner State Community College (Ala.)
Region 22 Men’s Assistant Director: 2005-Present
Mary Young | Central Community College (Neb.)
Volleyball Coaches Association President: 2012-Present
Region 9 Women’s Assistant Director: 2005-Present