SUNY Oneonta Director of Athletics, Tracey Ranieri, has been selected as an Under Armour Division III Athletic Director of the Year as announced by The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).  Ranieri was one of 28 national winners and one of four in Division III that were selected for the honor.
 
The award spans seven divisions (NCAA FBS, FCS; Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year Institutions and Junior College/Community Colleges). Winners will receive their awards during the James J. Corbett Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, June 11 at NACDA's 49th Annual Convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Florida.
 
NACDA Executive Director Bob Vecchione explains the ADOY Award is essential because it highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities.
 
"Since 1998, NACDA has been highlighting the impressive contributions made by athletics directors across all divisions of our membership," said NACDA Executive Director Bob Vecchione. "This award allows athletics directors to be recognized not only nationally, but also in their respective communities which heightens the awareness of their leadership position in the athletics enterprise."
 
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.
 
Nominators were NACDA-member directors of athletics, institutional presidents and conference commissioners. Special Selection Committees composed of current and former directors of athletics, present and past NCAA and NAIA presidents, current and former commissioners and other key athletics administrators voted on nominees for the award. A complete listing of Selection Committee members can be found on NACDA's Web site at www.nacda.com.
 
Winners of the 2013-14 Under Armour AD of the Year Awards are:
 
Football Bowl Subdivision
Scott Barnes, Utah State
Thomas Boeh, Fresno State
Dan Guerrero, UCLA
Jim Weaver, Virginia Tech
 
Football Championship Subdivision
Rob Bernardi, Nicholls State
Troy Dannen, Northern Iowa
Sandy Hatfield Clubb, Drake
Hunter Yurachek, Coastal Carolina
 
Division I-AAA
Chris May, St. Louis
Jack McDonald, Quinnipiac
Kim Record, UNC Greensboro
Eric Sexton, Wichita State
 
Division II
Kevin Buisman, Minnesota State Mankato
Jim Johnson, Pittsburg State
Joan McDermott, Metro State
David Scott, West Florida
 
Division III
Thomas Calder, Johns Hopkins
Tim Downes, Emory
Tracey Ranieri, SUNY Oneonta
Don Tencher, Rhode Island College
 
NAIA
Jack Hank, Our Lady of the Lake
Troy Plummer, Grand View
Keith Spataro, Menlo
Shay Wyatt, Westminster
 
Junior/Community Colleges
Richard Holler, Westmoreland County CC
John Jackson, Dean College
Greg Silcox, Paradise Valley CC
Jack Sullivan, County College of Morris
 
Under Armour is a leading developer, marketer, and distributor of branded performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. The brand's moisture-wicking synthetic fabrications are engineered in many different designs and styles for wear in nearly every climate to provide a performance alternative to traditional natural fiber products. The Company's products are sold worldwide and worn by athletes at all levels, from youth to professional, on playing fields around the globe. The Under Armour global headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland, with European headquarters in Amsterdam's Olympic Stadium, and additional offices in Denver, Hong Kong, Toronto, and Guangzhou, China. For further information, please visit the Company's Web site at www.underarmour.com.
 
About NACDA
NACDA, now in its 49th year, is the professional and educational Association for more than 10,400 college athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 4,000 athletics administrators annually attend NACDA & Affiliates Convention Week. Additionally, NACDA manages 13 professional associations and three foundations. For more information on NACDA, visit www.nacda.com.
 
Article that appeared in the Oneonta Daily Star (May 16, 2014)
By Jessica Reynolds, Staff Writer
 
A national award announced this week proved that SUNY Oneonta's athletics department has its head in the game and is in good hands.
 
The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics announced Wednesday that the State University College at Oneonta's athletic director, Tracey Ranieri, is an Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year.
 
The prestigious award recognizes the efforts of athletic directors for their commitment and positive contributions to student athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities, according to a media release from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.
 
Ranieri, 49, said she was pleasantly surprised by the honor.
 
"When you get an award from your peers, it's incredibly meaningful," Ranieri, of Oneonta, said.
 
Ranieri, who is in her eighth year as the college's athletic director, said SUNY Oneonta's athletics program is one of the school's best kept secrets. But it isn't a secret anymore.
 
Ranieri said she will travel to NACDA's 49th Annual Convention on June 11 at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, where she will receive her award alongside 28 other winning collegiate athletic directors from across the country.
 
Ranieri has worked at SUNY Oneonta for 22 years, including 16 years as the women's soccer coach. In 2004, she received the esteemed SUNY Chancellor's Award for excellence in professional service and, in 2007, she received the City of Oneonta Trailblazer Award from the Commission on Community Relations and Human Rights.
 
As the school's athletics director, Ranieri oversees and supports a staff of more than 20 full-time coaches and athletic trainers and nearly 460 student athletes in 21 different sports, she said.
 
In addition, she manages a budget and facilities, schedules over 400 competitions per year and travels to competitions, promotes gender equity, holds meetings, keeps track of athletes' eligibility and works with other campus staff to support the overall student experience.
 
We make it our mission to have the experiences of student athletes be that of a student first and athlete second," Ranieri said, "which allows them to thrive in both environments. It's a win-win situation."
 
It takes a great deal of collaboration and working together to keep the coaches, faculty and administration on the same page, but the commitment to academic success as a first priority is woven into the fabric of the college, Ranieri said.
 
Geoffrey Hassard, SUNY Oneonta's assistant director of athletics and sports information director, said he is proud of Ranieri.
 
"This is an incredible honor for Tracey and our college," Hassard said. "She has been a tremendous leader and advocate for athletics locally, regionally and nationally."
 
Ranieri also serves on the Division III Management Council, which develops legislation that shapes the division, Ranieri said. She is in her second year of a four-year term for this position.
 
SUNY Oneonta athletes are enjoying an incredible year, Ranieri said.
 
"This has been our best year ever, not just in our academic pursuits, but also in winning numerous conference championships and having students named All-Americans," Ranieri said.
 
This year's highlights have included conference championship wins for the women's soccer team, the softball team and the outdoor track team, as well as many impressive performances in the State University of New York Athletic Conference.
 
"When people hear about our national championship wins, they're like, "Really? At Oneonta you can be the best in the country?" Ranieri said. "That's the kind of student athletes we're attracting though. When we have prospects come visit our campus, they just want to be coached by these intelligent, compassionate people who will help them achieve their dreams."
 
SUNY Oneonta's president, Nancy Kleniewski, said the college is "delighted" that NACDA chose Ranieri to receive the award.
 
"Her commitment to fostering the development of our student athletes, not only in their sports, but as scholars and contributors to the community beyond our campus, makes Tracey a role model," Kleniewski said.