For Immediate Release: June 6, 2007
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

Binghamton University AD Thirer named Athletics Director of Year in Northeast

NACDA Release

VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton University Director of Athletics Joel Thirer has been selected as the AstroTurf Division I Northeast Region Athletics Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. Thirer will be recognized at the James J. Corbett Awards Luncheon on Friday, June 8 in Orlando, as part of the 42nd annual NACDA Convention being held at the World Center Marriott Resort.

Now finishing his 18th year at the helm of Binghamton's athletics program, Thirer has spearheaded the department's rise from a small-scale Division III offering to a current 21-sport Division I program that is one of the most successful in the America East Conference. Thirer has shown a steadfast commitment to building a high quality program that embraces the University's academic mission while enhancing its reputation. He has provided an infrastructure of staffing and facilities that has played a key role in the rapid rise of the program's success.

In 2006-07, the Bearcats won two conference titles and were runners-up in three more sports, attaining a top-3 finish in the America East Commissioner's Cup for the third straight year. After hosting back-to-back America East Men's Basketball Championship tournaments at the 5,142-seat Events Center, Thirer and his staff welcomed the women's conference tournament in 2007 and the school was chosen again to host the men's event in 2008.

In addition, Binghamton student-athletes earned a 3.0 or higher grade-point average both semesters during the 2006-07 school year. Since elevating to Division I competition in fall 2001, BU student-athletes have reached the 3.0 mark in nine of 12 semesters.

Also cited in NACDA's award selection was Thirer's creation of the Binghamton University Athletic Club and the Athletics Hall of Fame, along with his leadership in the design, planning and construction of the Events Center - one of the premier athletics facilities in the Northeast.

Thirer has a Ph.D. in sport psychology from Florida State University and holds positions as a professor of health and physical education, and as an adjunct professor in Binghamton's psychology department.

NACDA, now in its 42nd year, is the professional and educational association for more than 6,100 college athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 2,000 athletics administrators annually attend the NACDA Convention. Additionally, NACDA administers 10 professional associations for the separate business units that report directly to the athletics director.

All NACDA-member directors of athletics in the United States, Canada and Mexico who met the criteria were eligible for the award. Among the criteria were service as an AD for a minimum of five academic years; demonstration of commitment to higher education and student-athletes; continuous teamwork, loyalty and excellence; and the ability to inspire individuals or groups to high levels of accomplishments. Additionally, each AD's institution must have passed a compliance check through its appropriate governing body (i.e., NCAA, NAIA, etc.), in which the institution could not have been on probation or cited for a lack of institutional control within the last five years during the tenure of the current athletics director.