Robert Hiegert was presented with the DII CCA Award of Merit at the Conference Commissioners Association Meetings last week in Vancouver.

The Award of Merit is the highest honor presented by the DII CCA and is reserved for those individuals who have made the most exceptional contributions to the entire NCAA Division II membership and Division II student-athletes.

Hiegert served 16 years as Commissioner of the California Collegiate Athletic Association, one of the most successful conferences in NCAA history.

Under Hiegert’s watch, the CCAA has expanded from seven to 12 member institutions, implemented a full-time office staff, classified itself as a non-profit corporation, and developed a long-range Strategic Plan for future growth and development. Hiegert is also active nationally, currently serving as a ranking member of the Division II Conference Commissioners Association, a group he chaired as President from 2004-06.

Hiegert succeeded Dr. Tom Morgan in 1997 and commissioned the CCAA on an interim basis during the 1997-98 academic year before being named permanent Commissioner on May 23, 1998.

His association with the CCAA began in 1959 at Cal State Northridge, then known as San Fernando Valley State College, where he was a four-year starter on the baseball team and was named the Matadors’ Athlete of the Year in 1963. A 1964 graduate of SFVSC with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, Hiegert completed his master’s degree in 1966.

Following a short stint with Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Angels, Hiegert returned to Northridge in 1965 and, in 18 seasons as the school’s baseball coach, led the Matador baseball program to a 609-411-9 record (.596), two NCAA Division II Championships (1970, 1984), five regional titles, 11 postseason berths and six CCAA crowns. He was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Cal State Northridge Hall of Fame in 1999.

Initially named Cal State Northridge Men’s Athletic Director in 1978, Hiegert held the post until assuming the Director of Athletics for both departments (men and women) from 1988-95 before serving as an Associate Professor of Kinesiology at the university from 1995-98.

Most recently, Hiegert was named one of six to be inducted into the CCAA’s inaugural Hall of Fame class.

Hiegert joins an impressive group of individuals who have received the DII CCA Award of Merit: Noel Olson, former Commissioner of the North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1998); Bob Vanatta, former Commissioner of the Sunshine State Conference (1999); Fred Jacoby, former Commissioner of the Lone Star Conference (2000); Sonny Moran, former Athletic Director at Morehead State (KY) University (2001); Bill Moore, former Commissioner of the New England Collegiate Conference (2002); Mike Racy, former NCAA Vice President for Division II (2003); Dr. Adam Herbert, former President of the University of North Florida (2004); Dr. Kent Wyatt, former President of Delta State University (2005); Don Landry, former Commissioner of the Sunshine State Conference (2006); Dr. Charles Ambrose, former President of Pfeiffer University (2007); Arend D. (Don) Lubbers, former President Emeritus of Grand Valley State University (2008); Doug Echols, former SAC Commissioner (2009); Tom Brown, former GLIAC Commissioner (2010); Terri Steeb, Vice President of NCAA Division II (2012) and Nancy Mitchell, former Executive Director of the DII CCA (2013).