EOU Athletic Director Rob Cashell
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Eastern Oregon University Athletic Director Rob Cashell has been named the 2009-2010 NAIA/Other Four Year West Region Athletic Director of the Year.
The Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year Award program, administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, honors athletic directors for their commitment and administrative excellence. The award spans seven divisions and winners will be recognized during NACDA’s 45th Annual Convention in Anaheim, California on June 24th at the James J. Corbett Awards luncheon.
"It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by NACDA and Under Armour" Cashell said. "I am very fortunate to work at such a special University that supports intercollegiate athletics and with outstanding staff and student athletes."
Cashell began his tenure as the director of athletics at Eastern Oregon University (EOU) in 2001. From the beginning, he has been instrumental in bringing significant change to the athletics program.
Under Cashell’s guidance, EOU has made several athletics facility upgrades totaling more than $3 million. In addition, athletic scholarships, which began in 2004, boast over a quarter of a million dollar endowment and nearly $450,000 in athletic aid will be distributed in 2010-11.
NACDA Executive Director Mike Cleary explains the ADOY Award is essential because it highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to campuses and their surrounding communities.
"Before the program's inception, our Honors and Awards Committee recognized a need for an award such as the AD of the Year," said Cleary, who oversaw implementation of the program to allow all NACDA Officers and Honors and Awards Committee members to participate in the awards process, should they be elected. "The program brings to light the exceptional jobs done by athletics directors across the country. These 29 winners exemplify that, providing us with a group of outstanding athletics directors who excel at their jobs."
In 2003, Cashell led the department in its successful attempt to seek sole membership in the NAIA and join the Frontier Conference in Football. Since the transition, EOU had 72 NAIA-Academic All-Americans, 43 NAIA Performance All-Americans and 44 teams participate in NAIA Championships. Furthermore, Cashell has served on various committees for the Cascade Conference, Frontier Conference and as the Region 1 Committee Vice-Chair.
Cashell’s hard work has been noticed. Since 2006, the EOU athletics department has placed first, second and third in the Cascade Collegiate Conference All-Sports Award balloting, which recognizes the best overall program in the conference. In 2007-08, Cashell was named the Cascade Conference and NAIA Region I Athletic Director of the Year.
In 2009-10 the Mountaineers enjoyed another stellar year on the fields and courts as well as in the classroom. EOU finished 3rd in the CCC All Sports Award race and had over forty individuals recognized as All-Conference. Chris Ware in football and Grace Deboodt in volleyball were named conference players of the year. In addition, thirteen athletes earned NAIA performance All-American status and eight teams participated in national competition. Sixty three earned Academic All Conference while seventeen were named COSIDA Academic All-Americans.
Prior to joining EOU, Cashell served as the first full-time Athletic Director at the University of Montana Western from 1996 to 2001.