GREENVILLE, S.C. – Conference Carolinas has announced on Thursday that UNC Pembroke's Director of Athletics, Dick Christy, has been nominated for the Cushman & Wakefield National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Athletics Director of the Year Award for the 2023-24 academic year.
 
"Conference Carolinas is thrilled to be able to submit this nomination for Dick Christy as our nominee for the Cushman & Wakefield NACDA Athletic Director of the Year Award," Conference Carolinas Commissioner Chris Colvin said. "Dick is an integral part of everything we do in Conference Carolinas. His work in shaping the continued growth, while presenting ideas of professional growth within the league has given us all great standards."
 
Christy has been involved in athletics administration for 23 years and began his 12^th year at the helm of UNCP at the start of the 2024 season. The Chichester, Pa., native, was named the departments 10^th athletics director in May 2013. 
 
"One of the many blessings of Conference Carolinas has been the strength and collegiality of its AD Committee," said Christy.  "I've learned a tremendous amount from them and am beyond humbled to be chosen to represent them for this award. It is a great compliment to our university's leadership and the hard work of our coaches and staff."
 
Last athletics season alone under the leadership of Christy, the Braves claimed five Conference Carolinas Championships, picked up four runner-up Conference Carolinas Championship finishes, and had five teams participate in the NCAA Tournament. The Black & Gold also tallied 99 all-conference honors last season, had five student-athletes tabbed as Player of the Year, along with six student-athletes being named Freshman of the Year in their respective sports. 
 
In the classroom, 375 student-athletes from UNC Pembroke earned Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll nods. The department took home the coveted Joby Hawn All-Sports Trophy, and won the men's and women's cups as well. It was the first time in Conference Carolinas history that a school has won all three Hawn Cup trophies in back-to-back seasons.
 
The Cushman & Wakefield Athletics Director of the Year (ADOY) Awards program was created to honor intercollegiate Directors of Athletics for their commitment and administrative excellence within a campus and/or college community environment over the course of the last year. The award spans seven divisions (NCAA FBS, FCS, Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year Institutions and Junior/Community Colleges) and annually honors 28 athletics directors (four from each division).