CLEVELAND – The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced that NACDA Past President and Hall of Famer Lee McElroy has been selected as the recipient of the 60th James J. Corbett Memorial Award, the highest honor one can achieve in collegiate athletics administration. McElroy's career in college athletics spans over 40 years, a run that included serving as director of athletics at RPI, University at Albany, American University and Sacramento State. He will be honored in conjunction with the 61^st Annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nev., at the beginning of the Association-Wide Featured Session on Monday, June 8, starting at 4 p.m.
 
"Lee McElroy has been a trusted colleague, mentor, and friend to countless administrators during the course of his career," said NACDA Chief Executive Officer Pat Manak. "He consistently represents and advocates for all that is inherently good in college athletics and continues to do what is needed to move our industry forward. Lee is a welcomed addition to the storied group of Corbett Award recipients and is more than deserving of this 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 (LSU), was NACDA's first president in 1965. Additionally, McElroy 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.
 
"I am humbled and honored to receive the 2026 James J. Corbett Memorial Award," said McElroy. The past recipients of the Corbett Award represent the highest standards of excellence guided by integrity, character, and accountability. On behalf of my family, colleagues, former student-athletes and various stakeholders, I thank you for your trust and support. Last but certainly not least, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to Pat Manak and the NACDA Family for their continued investment and development of the best leaders in our industry."
 
McElroy spent the majority of his time in the AD chair leading the athletics department at the University at Albany from 2000-14.

During his tenure at UAlbany, McElroy oversaw the growth of the university's athletics programs from Division II to a successful member of Division I. The department won 74 conference titles and earned 31 NCAA post-season appearances during that time. In 2013, McElroy and UAlbany opened a new multi-sports complex featuring Bob Ford Field, where the Great Danes football team began its first year as a member of what is now the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA).

UAlbany athletics teams won three America East Commissioner's Cups under McElroy's guidance (2007, 2013 and 2014). He served as President of the America East Board of Directors in 2007 and 2011.
 
He came to UAlbany from American University, where he served as director of athletics for four years. Prior to that, he served as director of athletics at Sacramento State for seven years.
 
McElroy started his career in athletics administration in 1981, working in academic support as senior associate athletics director at the University of Houston (UH). During that time he served as president of N4A in 1988.

McElroy served on the NACDA Executive Committee in 2000-01 before moving up the Officer ranks and becoming NACDA President in 2006-07. In 2008-09, he was recognized as a NACDA Athletics Director of the Year (ADOY). McElroy was honored by the McLendon Foundation in 2012 as part of its Minority Athletics Administrators Hall of Fame. In June 2014, he was named emeritus vice president and director of athletics by the State University of New York (SUNY).
 
Following his time at UAlbany, McElroy led the athletics department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) from 2015-23 as associate vice president and director of athletics. At RPI, he oversaw 12 men's and 11 women's programs involving nearly 600 student-athletes, as well as the intramurals program, engaging over 2,000 students.

In April 2022, McElroy was honored with LifePath's Third Age Achievement Award, designed to pay tribute to members of the Capital Region who make significant contributions to the community after turning 60.

McElroy still serves NACDA as a member of the Association's Board of Directors, Finance-Management Committee and Investment Committee. From 1996-2004, he was the chair of the Learfield Directors' Cup Committee. Most recently, he was inducted into the NACDA Hall of Fame in 2025.

McElroy earned a bachelor's degree in political science and history from UCLA in 1970. He later received a master's degree from the University of Southern California (USC), and a doctorate from the University of Houston (UH).
 
About NACDA: Now in its 61st year, NACDA is the professional and educational Association for more than 24,000 college athletics administrators at more than 2,300 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. NACDA manages 19 professional associations and four foundations. In addition to virtual programming, NACDA hosts and/or has a presence at seven major professional development events in-person annually. The NACDA & Affiliates Convention is the largest gathering of collegiate athletics administrators in the country. For more information, visit www.nacda.com.