Wednesday, January 23, 2013

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Central Washington University athletic director Jack Bishop has received the 2013 Division II Athletic Directors Association (ADA) Lifetime Achievement award.

Bishop, who announced his retirement last fall efffective at the conclusion of the 2012-13 academic year in June, was one of two athletic directors to receive the award along with Kathleen Brasfield, former director of athletics at Angelo State University.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to athletic directors who have exemplified superior achievement during their career at the Division II level. 

"I am extremely proud and humbled by this award," Bishop said.  "The timing of such an award as you retire is a great way to go out.  All awards of this nature are a tribute to the great colleagues and student-athletes that I've been able to work with over the course of my career."

Bishop has spent the last 13 years at the helm of CWU, completing the university's transition from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to NCAA Division II. He previously spent time as athletics director at Southern Utah University (SUU) and assistant (for advancement) to the SUU President.

Since 1993, Bishop has championed the survival of Division II football in the West, serving in many capacities for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC), including on the NCAA Division II Football Championships Committee as task force chair, representative to the Division 2 ADA Board of Directors, GNAC Management Council (chair) and GNAC Finance Committee.

Throughout his tenure at CWU, he has facilitated upgrades to the Wildcat football, soccer, baseball and softball facilities and has spearheaded the development of conference tournaments to enhance post-season opportunities for student-athletes.

Bishop is a graduate of Southern Utah University and is the winningest football coach in the history of his alma mater. He was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

Brasfield was a fixture at Angelo State and NCAA Division II for more than 30 years and was hired as the women's athletics director in 1982. She led the entire department beginning in 2004, ultimately expanding it to 13 intercollegiate sports with the most recent additions being women's golf (2009) and women's indoor track (2011). 

"We are excited to honor these two outstanding advocates of Division II athletics," stated D2 ADA President Anita Barker, director of athletics at Chico State.  "Kathleen and Jack have led their respective institutions to unprecedented levels in Division II and the D2 ADA looks forward to recognizing them for their achievements over the years."

The Lifetime Achievement Award is the most prestigious award presented by the D2 ADA.  To be eligible for this award, a person must be at least 60 years old, or have spent at least 25 years in collegiate athletics, with a majority of those years as an AD. 

The honoree may be currently in the profession or retired.  The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes athletics directors who, over the course of his/her career, have made an exemplary contribution to Division II athletics and the student-athlete experience.