CLEVELAND – The Division 2 Athletics Directors Association (D2 ADA) has selected Roger Thomas as the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
 
Thomas is being recognized for his exemplary contribution to Division II athletics and the Division II student-athlete experience over the course of his 40-plus year career.
 
"It is with great enthusiasm that the D2 ADA bestows its highest honor on someone with such a distinguished career as a coach and an administrator," stated D2 ADA President and Pittsburg State University Director of Athletics, Jim Johnson. "Roger is someone who has been a friend and mentor to many people and is an absolute legend in our business. He had an amazing career on the sideline as a coach and leader ofx men, as well as a commissioner and athletics director. He has made countless contributions to Division II athletics. I know Roger as both a treasured friend and a colleague and my most sincere congratulations goes out to him for this well-deserved honor. As an Association, we thank him for his dedication to his conferences, institutions, communities, coaches and, most importantly, the many student-athletes he mentored. We are proud to recognize him with our most prestigious award."
 
Thomas most recently served as Director of Athletics at the University of Mary from 2008 until his retirement in 2017.
 
After earning a bachelor's degree in physical education from Augustana College, Thomas went on to receive a master's degree from the University of South Dakota. His storied career began in 1969 as a football coach. After serving in a variety of coaching roles for numerous organizations, Thomas traveled to the University of North Dakota where he would embark on a 31-year journey in Division II athletics. In 1986, Thomas took over as head football coach at UND, where he led the Fighting Sioux to nine consecutive winning seasons, three consecutive North Central Conference titles and garnered Coach of the Year honors nine times. In 1999 his leadership transitioned him into administration, serving as UND's Director of Athletics for six years.
 
Under Thomas' leadership, UND captured two NCAA Division II titles and drastically expanded the athletics footprint. He oversaw the opening of the Ralph Engelstad Arena, the Betty Sioux Center and the Alerus Center, while providing a positive atmosphere for coaches and staying committed to the student-athlete's academic performance.

Following nearly two decades at the University of North Dakota, Thomas spent three years at the North Central Conference, serving as commissioner until its demise in 2008. That same year, he was named Director of Athletics at the University of Mary. During his tenure with the Marauders, Thomas led the transition from NAIA into Division II and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Thomas also guided the Marauders to 34 NCAA championship appearances, 68 All-American honors, 10 NSIC titles and his staff brought home 11 Coach of the Year awards. Thomas expanded the UMary athletics brand by negotiating a new western North Dakota TV contract in order to promote UMary athletics and Marauders weekly features. He also oversaw the addition of swimming in 2016 and his last contribution to the University was a new state-of-the-art athletics fieldhouse.
 
A 2014 University of North Dakota Hall of Fame inductee, Thomas was a part of the NCAA Membership Committee and the NCAA Management Council during his career. As head coach, he amassed a 90-43-2 record, making him the winningest coach in University of North Dakota history.
 
Throughout a career that spanned four decades, Thomas went from football coach to director of athletics to conference commissioner of the North Central Conference and closed his career as the University of Mary Director of Athletics. Receiving the D2 ADA Lifetime Achievement Award is another gleaming example of the profound impact and contributions of Thomas' career as a Division II athletics administrator. Thomas retired from his post at the University of Mary in June 2017.
 
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 a minimum of 25 years in collegiate athletics, with a majority of those years as an athletics director. The honoree must be retired or no longer serving as an active athletics director. 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.
 
About D2 ADA: The D2 ADA is the first organization of its kind to provide educational and networking opportunities; enhancement of acceptable operating standards and ethics; and establishment of the overall prestige and understanding of the profession of Division II athletics directors. For more information about the D2 ADA, please visit www.div2ada.com. The D2 ADA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 54^th year. For more information on NACDA and the 17 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.