The Division II Athletics Directors Association (D2 ADA) has selected Greg Waggoner (Eastern New Mexico University and Western Colorado University) as the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

"One of the highlights of my presidency was having the opportunity to call Dr. Greg Waggoner and share that he had been selected as the recipient of the prestigious D2 ADA Lifetime Achievement Award. Greg was truly honored, humbled, and extremely appreciative of this special recognition from his peers," stated D2 ADA President and the University of Charleston, Vice President and Director of Athletics, Dr. Bren Stevens. "Dr. Greg Waggoner's service, leadership, and passion for athletics has been extraordinary, and Eastern New Mexico University and Western Colorado University have been the beneficiary of his wisdom and caring ways."

Greg Waggoner

A native of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Greg Waggoner earned a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education from Western Colorado University (WCU) in 1980. In 1981, Waggoner went on to earn his Master of Arts in Secondary Education from WCU and a Doctorate in Sport Administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 1994. During his career, Waggoner served in various roles as a professor, coach, and in his most recent position as an Athletics Director.

At Western Colorado University in 1994, Waggoner served as Athletics Director for 20 years. While under his leadership, the Mountaineers won 11 NCAA Division II national team championships and 71 individual national championships. They also had 97 top 10 national team finishes, won 32 conference titles, had 575 individual All-Americans and produced 11 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. WCU was one of only four NCAA DII institutions to place in the top 45 of the Director's Cup for 19 straight years, finishing in the top 25 all but once during that span and placing 5^th three straight years (1999-2001). In 2010, WCU received the NCAA D-II Game Environment Award.

During his time at WCU, Waggoner increased fundraising and revenue within the athletics department, raising over $20 million and overseeing another $37 million in facility development, bringing significant improvement to WCU's facilities and resources. Also playing a big part in his role as AD, Waggoner recognized the importance of diversity and inclusion. He hired the first-ever Indian American head football coach in collegiate football history; the first African American head coach in WCU history; and the first woman at any NCAA level named National Coach of the Year for a men's sport.

Transitioning from WCU to Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) in 2016, Waggoner served as Athletics Director for three years prior to his retirement. Under his watch, the department experienced one of the most successful periods in ENMU history, bringing in a record-setting amount of funding and expanded facilities, including the completion, and opening of a $37M stadium. In academics, the Greyhounds won the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Academic Excellence Award for the highest overall GPA in the conference twice and had 144 student-athletes on the LSC Commissioner's Honor Roll. The program was home to 31 All-Americans, as well as several nationally ranked teams during his tenure.

President of D2 ADA in 2010-12, "Dr. Waggoner was involved with creating the first-ever D2 ADA Strategic Plan, and Greg further assisted with the creation of the DII ADA Academic Achievement Awards Program and helped to launch the D2 ADA Women and Minority Mentoring program. From my perspective, Greg embodies all the superb qualities that we would expect from a Lifetime Achievement Award winner," stated Stevens.

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 57^th year. For more information on NACDA and the 17 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.