Rob Cashell has been voted the NAIA's Region I Athletic Director of the Year.
EOU's Rob Cashell Named NAIA Region I Athletic Director of Year
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Rob Cashell, Eastern Oregon University's seventh-year athletic director, has been named the NAIA's Region I Athletic Director of the Year, it was announced today.
The award is voted on by the athletic directors in Region I, which comprises NAIA institutions in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah and British Columbia.
EOU recently was awarded the league’s 2007-08 All-Sports Trophy, which is given annually to the most successful athletic program in the 11-member CCC.
Under Cashell’s leadership, Eastern Oregon recorded top-three finishes in six of eight sports, including winning outright CCC regular season titles in men’s and women’s cross country and men’s basketball, and sharing the regular season league title in women’s basketball. The Mounties finished second in men’s track and third in women’s track.
Eight of EOU’s 10 teams advanced to NAIA postseason play, including men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, and men’s and women’s basketball. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams reached the Sweet Sixteen of their respective national tournaments. The men’s basketball team made its first-ever NAIA Tournament appearance. Individually, the Mountaineers had five student-athletes attain NAIA All-America status and 50 earn all-conference recognition.
Academically, EOU’s overall GPA for student-athletes through winter term was 3.01, with 91 student-athletes earning Dean’s List recognition, 15 attaining NAIA Academic All-America status and 20 receiving Academic All-Conference honors throughout the year.
Cashell has also been instrumental in recent athletic facility development on the EOU campus, including the completion of renovations and upgrades to Quinn Coliseum, the replacement of the track and field throws facilities, and the renovation and naming of a softball field.