CLEVELAND - The National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) has announced former Harper College Director of Athletics and Fitness Doug Spiwak as the 2023 recipient of the Association's L. William Miller Award. 
 
The L. William Miller Award is presented annually to a member of NATYCAA who demonstrates excellence in leadership, service and integrity in an athletics program at a two-year college or organization. The award is named after Miller, one of NATYCAA's Founding Fathers who enjoyed an illustrious career at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley, where he coached track and cross country from 1966-73 and was the director of athletics from 1966 through his retirement in 1994. 
 
Prior to his retirement in June of 2022, Doug Spiwak spent 33 years at Harper College. From 2004-22, he was at the helm of Harper's athletics program as the Director of Athletics and Fitness, and he served as the Head Athletic Trainer for the 15 previous years. During his tenure, Spiwak strengthened the women's programs, helped to transform the Hawks brand, supported the renovation of the Foglia Foundation Health and Recreation Center, and served as a tireless advocate for student athlete success on and off the field. 
 
The Harper Hawks won 27 national championships during Spiwak's career at Harper. 
 
Spiwak left an indelible mark on community college athletics at a local, regional, and national level. He served in numerous capacities over the last three decades, including serving as the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 4 Men's Region Director, Women's Assistant Region Director, Division I Tennis Chair, Football Chair and Division III volleyball chair for Region 4. He also served as president of NATYCAA in the 2018-19 academic year and presided over the 2019 convention in Orlando. 
 
Spiwak was honored as a 2019-20 National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year for the Junior College/Community Colleges division. Additionally, he served as the North Central Community College Conference (N4C) president from 2014-22. Spiwak also chaired the NJCAA National Student Athlete Success Council, among many other posts. 
 
Spiwak played an instrumental role in the $40 million renovation of the former Wellness and Sports Center, helping with the planning and construction process to reimagine the nearly 40-year-old building as a one-of-a-kind center promoting a holistic culture of wellness through a new model of academic, athletics and recreational opportunities and health services. 
 
In 2021, Harper athletics unveiled its Hall of Fame, which Spiwak helped guide through design, construction and completion. 
 
Spiwak graduated from the University of Illinois, then went on to earn his Master's in Exercise Physiology at Northern Illinois University. He is married to his wife Wendy and has two daughters named Mia and Abbie. 
 
About NATYCAA: Now in its 35th year, NATYCAA is the professional organization of two-year college athletics administrators and membership open to all two-year institutions from throughout the country. NATYCAA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 58^thyear. For more information on NACDA and the 18 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.