OCU’s Athletics Director, Jim Abbott, was recently named the Sooner Athletic Conference’s Athletic Director of the Year.
SAC athletics directors vote for the recipient of the award annually, and the director with the highest vote count receives the award.
This is Abbott’s sixth time receiving the honor. He previously won in 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2013-2014, 2015-2016, and 2016-2017.
He was also named NAIA Athletic Director of the Year for 2016-2017 and 2008-2009.
Within the past year under Abbott’s leadership, the Stars won SAC titles in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, women’s golf, women’s soccer, softball and volleyball. The Stars also won the men’s cross country national championship and finished as national runner-ups in women’s basketball, competitive cheerleading and softball.
Over the course of his career, the athletic department at OCU has seen substantial growth, including the implementation of men’s and women’s cross country and track, volleyball, men’s and women’s rowing, men’s and women’s wrestling, competitive cheerleading, competitive pom/dance, and STUNT. Abbott has also overseen more than $17 million in athletic facility construction and renovation.
Abbott said despite being named the recipient, other people are equally responsible for the athletic department’s success.
“It’s always very nice and humbling to win,” Abbott said. “However, I also know that administrators like me get recognized because everybody else around here did an exceptional job.”
Abbott said in particular, students and coaches contribute to the department’s success.
“Our students are phenomenal and they succeeded academically, socially and competitively last year,” Abbott said. “Our coaches are responsible for bringing those students here, and they create strategies and practice plans that help prepare students for competition and life. If all of those things come together then old guys like me get recognized alongside them.”
Breanna Horn, psychology sophomore, competes as a cheerleader for OCU. She said under Abbott’s guidance, the athletics department emphasizes academic achievement.
“Under his leadership, the athletics programs here really stress academics, and they really stress that we are a student before an athlete,” Horn said. “They really try to help us keep on track to accomplish the careers that we set out for ourselves.”
Horn said Abbott cares for each sport at OCU.
“He fought for cheer to be an NAIA sport and now we’ve been an NAIA sport for about two years,” Horn said. “He really cares about each program.”
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