The National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) is proud to announce that Jeff Bain, Martin Methodist College, will be inducted into the Association's Hall of Fame at the 2023 NACMA Convention.
Bain will be formally inducted into the NACMA Hall of Fame at the Hall of Fame Induction on Monday, June 12 during the opening ceremonies and awards presentation of #NACMA23 presented by VenueEdge at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, FL.
"Throughout his career, Jeff has been instrumental in championing the small budget athletic departments," said current NACMA President and Senior Associate AD for External Operations at Maryland, Carrie Blankenship. "His dedicated efforts across countless years have brought a heightened awareness to the importance of engaging this group of professionals and programs within our industry, lifting up important voices and challenges faced by all. He has been a devoted leader within collegiate athletics for many years and is incredibly deserving of this Hall of Fame honor."
A NACMA Past President (2009-10) and member for countless years, Jeff Bain tirelessly encouraged marketing staff from non-NCAA Division I athletic departments to increase their engagement with the NACMA organization. The growth in number of individual NACMA members from these smaller institutions and the increased focus the NACMA organization now places on these areas of the membership is large in part due to Bain's cumulative efforts.
Bain came to Martin Methodist College (MMC), now the University of Tennessee Southern, in 1993 as the special assistant to the President, with responsibilities of overseeing the MMC athletics department's transition from a two-year institution to a four-year institution before taking over as athletics director. Bain retired in June 2021 after serving 28 years at the helm.
During his time at MMC, Bain provided leadership in an array of firsts; including: the creation of the MMC Sports Hall of Fame; the MMC Governor Ned McWherter Award of Excellence; MMC's Intercollegiate Athletics Policy and Procedure Manual; MMC's acquisition of land and the building of athletics venues at the school's East Campus Athletic Complex; Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC); Champions of Character Program; Student-Athlete Enhancement Program (S.O.A.R.); sport management curriculum and intern program; creative marketing and funding opportunities for sports programs; and the addition of 10 intercollegiate sports teams (women's soccer, men's and women's bowling, men's and women's tennis, women's golf, men's and women's swimming, co-ed competitive cheer and co-ed clay target).
Under his guidance, the athletics programs captured 61 Athletic Conference Championships, four NAIA National Championships (women's soccer in 2005 and 2007, men's soccer in 2013, and competitive cheer in 2016) and four Clay Target National Championships under the Association of College Unions International (ACUI) banner. In addition, Bain served on campus as an instructor of health education and sport management; as well as an instructor of character education within the NAIA Champions of Character and S.O.A.R. Programming.
Bain's vision and excellence has been recognized by his peers 12 times, earning NACDA Athletics Director of the Year (ADOY) recognition in 2021, 2008 and 2002. He was also inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2021 and the NACDA Hall of Fame in 2022. In addition, he was awarded the 2014 Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Athletics Director of the Year; as well as the TranSouth Athletics Director of the Year in 2013, 2009, 2007, 2001 and 2000. Bain was also named NAIA Region XI Athletics Director of the Year in 2001.
Bain served on MMC's Senior Executive Cabinet during his 28 years as athletics director. He is a Past President of NACMA and NAIA-ADA, after previously serving as a Board member and Officer for both Associations. He served 16 years on the TranSouth's Executive Committee as Treasurer. In addition, he completed a six-year term on the NAIA Region XI Management Committee, where he served as chair and presided on two NAIA National Councils. Bain was a member of the NACDA Executive Committee from 2015-19. Bain's leadership as NACMA President, Past President and a member exemplifies his passion and dedication to collegiate athletics marketing making him worthy of being called a NACMA Hall of Famer.
