SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2 CCA) has awarded Bob Boerigter, former director of athletics at Northwest Missouri State University and former commissioner of the MIAA, the 2019 D2 CCA Award of Merit.

Boerigter was presented his award on Tuesday, June 18, in conjunction with the D2 CCA summer meeting in San Diego.

"It is my honor and privilege, on behalf of the D2 CCA, to identify Bob Boerigter as the 2019 Award of Merit recipient," stated current D2 CCA President and Northeast-10 Commissioner Julie Ruppert. "Bob has been a key figure in developing Division II intercollegiate athletics into what it is today. From his time as Director of Athletics at Northwest Missouri State University to his service as the Commissioner of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Bob's dedication, leadership and passion for Division II has been instrumental in the division's growth. He's had his hands in expanding the MIAA conference, attracting the NCAA Division II Football Championship to Kansas City, and mentoring countless coaches and administrators all while maintaining the highest levels of professionalism and enthusiasm. Bob is an extremely worthy recipient of the CCA's highest honor."

After completing a bachelor's degree in physical education, Boerigter's career in collegiate athletics began in 1972 at Northwestern College, where he assumed the role of basketball, baseball, football and golf coach. In 1974, he earned a master of arts from the University of Northern Colorado and followed that with a Ph.D. from the University of Utah in '78.

Throughout a career that spanned 45 years, Boerigter served as director of athletics at five collegiate institutions, including NAIA member institution Hastings (Neb.) College, where he is a Hall of Fame inductee.

Following a fruitful tenure in the Cornhusker State, Boerigter spent nearly a decade as the director of athletics at Northwest Missouri State University, serving as the lead administrator for the department of athletics including recreational sports, club sports, campus recreation and the campus fitness center.

In 2010, he was appointed as the fourth full-time commissioner of the MIAA. During his time with the MIAA, he implemented an expansion program of both full-time and associate members to the conference. He oversaw the MIAA Centennial in 2012, serving as a principal figure in attracting NCAA national championships to sites within the MIAA membership. As Commissioner, Boerigter guided the conference through an era of immense success that saw the MIAA produce 10 national championships in six different sports.

Over nearly half a century in collegiate athletics, Boerigter served in multiple capacities on the national level. He was named Chair of the Division II Football Committee, served as a member of the Division II Championships Committee and the Planning and Finance Committee as well as on many other association-wide and Division II task forces. He also was the Chair of the Division II Management Council and served as a member of the NCAA Executive Committee. Finally, Boerigter served as a D2 ADA Board Member from 2003-08.

The Award of Merit is the highest honor presented by the D2 CCA and is reserved for individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the entire NCAA Division II membership and the Division II student-athlete experience.

Boerigter joins an extraordinary group of individuals who have been honored with the D2 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); Elwood "Woody" Hahn, former PacWest Commissioner (2009); Doug Echols, former SAC Commissioner (2010); Tom Brown, former GLIAC Commissioner (2011); Terri Steeb-Gronau, Vice President of NCAA Division II (2012); Nancy Mitchell, former Executive Director of the DII CCA (2013); Robert Hiegert, former CCAA Commissioner (2014); Butch Raymond, former commissioner of the NSIC (2015); Barry Blizzard, former WVIAC Commissioner (2016); Ruth Reinhardt, executive assistant for Division II at the NCAA (2017); and last year's recipient Mike Marcil, former Sunshine State Commissioner (2018).

About D2 CCA: Initiated in 1992 to promote its member conferences and institutions, D2 CCA has made its mark in providing a united front for NCAA Division II athletics. Created after the break-up of the College Division Commissioners Association, the D2 CCA continues to create lines of communication and opportunities for its member conferences. The D2 CCA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 55th year. For more information on NACDA and the 17 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.