CLEVELAND - The National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC) has announced its 2019 award winners:

• Frank Kara Leadership Award – David Reed, senior associate athletics director, compliance and student services, University of Kansas;
• Mike Cleary Organizational Leadership Award – Jacqie McWilliams, commissioner, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association;
• Rising Star Award – Marra Hvozdovic, director of compliance, ACC & Anthony Francis, associate athletics director, compliance, McKendree University; and   
• Division II Excellence Award – Scott Larson, deputy director of athletics, compliance, Lubbock Christian University

The award winners will be honored Sunday, June 9 during the NAAC Convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Florida. the 2019 NAAC Awards are presented by ComplyU.

"I am honored to announce the 2019 NAAC Award recipients," stated Eric Schneider, Membership and Awards Committee chair, and assistant athletics director for compliance at the University of Connecticut. "On behalf of the NAAC Board and Awards Committee, we want to congratulate all of our winners on their admirable achievements. We are honored to have so many deserving individuals, thank you to those who took the time to nominate them. We look forward to celebrating our honorees at the 2019 NAAC Convention."

The Frank Kara Award is NAAC's premier award. It is the highest honor that may be bestowed upon compliance professionals. This award, given annually, is named in honor of former University of Minnesota Director of Compliance Frank Kara who was a leader in the compliance field and best known for hosting the inaugural NAAC Workshop in 2006. Sadly, Frank lost his battle with cancer at the age of 40.

David Reed started at the University of Kansas in 2012 and was promoted to his current role as senior associate athletics director in 2015. Reed oversees the Compliance and Student Services Office, while serving as the lead person on all NCAA compliance related matters. Prior to Kansas, Reed held senior level leadership positions in compliance at the University of Miami, University of Pittsburgh and Marshall University. He also has been an active NAAC member serving on the Professional Development Committee, spearheading the ACE Mentoring Program. To review Reed's complete bio, click here.

The Rising Star Award recognized young compliance professionals who are considered to be emerging leaders within the compliance profession.

Marra Hvozdovic came to the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2016 as its director of compliance, from Florida State University.  In her current role, she is responsible for developing proactive and creative education for the ACC membership, such as monthly newsletter, managing ACC Compliance Twitter account and educational videos and presentations. Outside of the ACC, Hvozdovic is actively involved in NAAC she where is a member of the Marketing and Strategic Communications Committee and serves as a liaison to the Convention Committee. She is also a member of the CCACA and Women Leaders in College Sports, where she is currently chair of the Foundation Fund Committee. To learn more about Hvozdovic's path, click here.

Anthony Francis was named the associate director for compliance at McKendree University in 2017. Prior to his current position, he worked at California Baptist University in the compliance office for three years, ending in the assistant director of compliance role. Francis earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage and his master's from Cal Baptist. He is currently working to obtain his Doctorate of Education in organizational leadership. Francis's complete bio may be found here.


The Division II Excellence Award is a prestigious annual award given to a compliance professional who is a leader in the compliance field at the Division II level.

Scott Larson arrived at Lubbock Christian University (LCU) in 2012 to assist in LCU's transition to NCAA Division II. Arriving at LCU as their first-ever compliance individual, he has since initatied many compliance prgrams to ensure the university is compliant with the NCAA and Heartland Conference. Today, Larson not only oversees compliance but also handles the management of game cotnracts, external relations activities and strategic planning. He currently serves as the NAAC Division II Committee Chair, in addition to being on the NCAA DII Legislation Committee and the Heartland Conference Compliance and Goverance Committees. To learn more about Larson's path to his current position, click here.

The Mike Cleary Organizational Leadership Award is named after former NACDA Executive Director, Mike Cleary, and is given to an organizational leader (i.e., athletics director, general counsel, provost, president, commissioner, NCAA executive) who has demonstrated NCAA compliance leadership and a strong commitment to fostering a culture of compliance to NCAA rules within their organization.

Jacqie McWilliams, who is just the third full-time commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and first African-American to hold the position, is in her seventh year as Conference Commissioner. Prior to coming to the CIAA, McWilliams spent nine years at the NCAA, managing NCAA championships. While at the NCAA, she served as the Director of the Division I Women's Basketball Tournament, 2006-2009, and the Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, 2007-2012. She has a vast knowledge of compliance and governance, human resources and external relations. Commissioner McWilliams attended Hampton University and obtained her master's degree from Temple University, where she was inducted into their Gallery of Success. Additional biographical information on McWilliams may be found here.