Drake's Brian Hardin receives Athletics Director of the Year Award

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images attach

Drake athletics director Brian Hardin was among the recipients of the 2026 NACDA Athletics Director of the Year Award, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics announced March 17.

Hardin, hired by Drake in December 2017, is the second Bulldogs AD to earn this award, joining Sandy Hatfield Clubb (2013-14). Hardin is one of 28 winners of this year's award, and one of five in FCS Division I.

"I'm honored to have my name mentioned with the other recipients this year, but this award is not about athletics directors, it is about athletics departments," Hardin said. "We are blessed to have incredible people that serve Drake student-athletes as coaches and staff members. All that has been accomplished has been due to alignment we have with university leadership as well as a shared commitment to sustained excellence by all within our department. I'm proud Drake athletics has earned this recognition."

Hardin has ushered in the "golden era" of Drake athletics, school president Marty Martin said.

Bulldog teams have reached unprecedented highs during Hardin's tenure. Twelve programs have made a combined 37 appearances at NCAA Championships events over the past seven years with 17 regular-season titles and 14 conference tournament championships during that stretch. Fourteen of the 18 Bulldog athletics programs have recorded at least one top-three finish in their respective conference standings. This season, Drake's football, men's soccer, and women's soccer teams collected league titles.

Drake also became only the second private institution, and first in 63 years, to win the Missouri Valley Conference All-Sports Trophy during the 2023-24 year. The Bulldogs followed that with a third-place finish in the 2024-25 campaign.

Brian is a 1998 graduate of West Des Moines Valley High School.

2026 NACDA Athletics Director of the Year Award winners, in alphabetical order​

• John Ashaolu, Lewis University, Division II
• Keri Becker, Grand Valley State, University Division II
• Dan Blair, Northern Essex Community College, JC/CC
• Jamie Boggs, Grand Canyon University, DI-AAA
• Chad Briscoe, Grace College, NAIA
• Donnie Brooks, Macalester College, Division III
• Lisa Campos, UTSA, Division I FBS
• Monique Carroll, Chicago State University, DI-AAA
• Joe Castiglione, University of Oklahoma, Division I FBS
• Chasse Conque, UTRGV, Division I FCS
• Brent Davis, College of the Sequoias, JC/CC
• Rocko DeLuca, UC Davis, Division I FCS
• Scott Dolson, Indiana University, Division I FBS
• Ryan Erwin, East Texas Baptist University, Division III
• Jesse Godding, Nelson University, NAIA
• G. Anthony Grant, MIT, Division III
• Brian Hardin, Drake University, Division I FCS
• Curtis Janz, University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Division II
• Josh Looney, University of North Alabama, Division I FCS
• Ron Pavan, Cumberland University, NAIA
• Dan Radakovich, University of Miami, Division I FBS
• Reagan Rossi, College of Idaho, NAIA
• Reginald Ruffin, Tuskegee University, Division II
• John Scarpino, Palm Beach State College, JC/CC
• Jacqueline Schuman, University of Massachusetts Boston, Division III
• Tony Tompkins, Johnson County Community College, JC/CC
• Steve Waterfield, Oakland University, DI-AAA
• Alanna Wren, University of Pennsylvania, Division I FCS

Drake sports information contributed this report.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Drake's Brian Hardin receives Athletics Director of the Year Award

Continue reading...