CLEVELAND — The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced that NACDA Past President and Hall of Famer Judy Rose has been selected as the recipient of the 55th James J. Corbett Memorial Award, the highest honor one can achieve in collegiate athletics administration. During her tenure at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, Rose was one of the most successful and well-respected athletics directors in the nation. She served as 49ers director of athletics for 28 years and was a member of the athletics department for 43 years. Rose will be honored in conjunction with the 56^th Annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention, to be held virtually, July 27-28.
 
"Judy Rose is a pioneer in women's athletics and a trailblazer in NACDA's history," said Bob Vecchione, NACDA chief executive officer. "Throughout her career, the impact she has had on student-athletes, aspiring administrators and even veterans in the industry is remarkable and inspiring. We are grateful for her influence and the guidance she continues to provide in shaping the new wave of athletics leaders who are following in her footsteps. Recognizing Judy in the year leading up to the 50th Anniversary of Title IX adds an historic element to this prestigious honor."
 
The Corbett Award is presented annually to the collegiate administrator who "through the years has most typified Corbett's devotion to intercollegiate athletics and worked unceasingly for its betterment." Corbett, athletics director at Louisiana State University, was NACDA's first president in 1965. Additionally, Rose will receive an honorary degree from the Sports Management Institute (SMI), an educational institute sponsored by NACDA and the universities of Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Southern California and Texas.
 
"It is difficult to adequately express how deeply humbled I am to be the recipient of the 2021 James J. Corbett Memorial Award," Rose stated. "It is a great honor to be listed beside so many distinguished administrators, many of whom I've been fortunate to work alongside and others whose reputations speak for themselves. I am truly in awe that my peers chose to include me in such prestigious company."
 
At the time of her appointment as UNC Charlotte athletics director in 1990, Rose was just the third female to be put in charge of a Division I program. In 1999-2000, she became the first female to serve on the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee. She served a five-year term (2000-04) on that committee. She also served as NACDA President for the 2003-04 academic year.

Chief among her accomplishments is the systematic growth of the 49ers program. That growth culminated with the unveiling of the Charlotte 49ers football program in 2013 -- a start-up program that played two years as an FCS Independent member before moving to the FBS, and Conference USA (C-USA) in 2015. In 2012, the football fieldhouse was named by donor Dale Halton in her honor: Judy W. Rose Football Center.

Rose oversaw the 49ers' moves from the Sun Belt Conference to the Metro Conference to Conference USA to the Atlantic 10 and back to C-USA in 2013-14. She oversaw the 49ers growth into a program that is fully-funded at the NCAA level for athletics scholarships. She helped develop over $100 million worth of athletics facilities, which have enhanced playing venues, academic services, strength and conditioning programs, training and medical support to improve the experience of each and every student-athlete.

Rose was also instrumental in attracting national sporting events to Charlotte such as the 1994 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four, the 1996 NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four, the 1999 and 2000 NCAA Men's Soccer College Cups as well as a variety of NCAA Men's Basketball tournament rounds.

In 2001, Rose was honored by NACDA as an Athletics Director of the Year. After she stepped down from the AD chair at UNC Charlotte, she was named AD Emerita at the university in May 2018. In November 2018, Rose began work as a consultant for the NJCAA.

Rose received a bachelor's degree from Winthrop University and a master's degree from the University of Tennessee, where she served as an assistant women's basketball coach under the legendary Pat Summitt.
 
"To borrow from the African proverb that states, 'It takes a village to raise a child,' I can attest that it takes a village to lead an athletics department," said Rose. "I am grateful to UNC Charlotte and former Chancellors Jim Woodward and Phil Dubois, my tremendous colleagues in the 49ers athletics department, and my family, all with whom I share this honor. Thank you NACDA for allowing me to be a part of such a diverse and inclusive leadership organization."
 
About NACDA: NACDA, now in its 56th year, is the professional and educational Association for more than 22,000 college athletics administrators at more than 2,200 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 6,500 athletics administrators annually attend NACDA & Affiliates Convention Week. Additionally, NACDA manages 17 professional associations and four foundations. For more information on NACDA, visit www.nacda.com.