Story Links NACDA Release WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University Director of Athletics Vaughn Williams has been selected as one of the 2024-25 NACDA Athletic Directors of the Year, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics announced on Monday. Williams is one of four Division II athletic directors and one of 28 from across collegiate athletics who’ll […]
WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University Director of Athletics Vaughn Williams has been selected as one of the 2024-25 NACDA Athletic Directors of the Year, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics announced on Monday.
Williams is one of four Division II athletic directors and one of 28 from across collegiate athletics who’ll be recognized in conjunction with the 60th annual NACDA and Affiliates Convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Fla., at the beginning of the Association-Wide Featured Session on Tuesday, June 10, starting at 4 pm.
The ADOY Award highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities. It spans seven divisions across college athletics.
“I am humbled, surprised and grateful to receive this honor,” said Williams, who is in his fifth year at Bentley. “I am accepting this on behalf of the amazing student-athletes, coaches, athletic staff, university staff and alumni who support Falcon athletics. Athletic Director of the Year speaks to the commitment and hard work of the Bentley community to be the best version of ourselves in every way.”
“As the Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students at Bentley University, it has been my honor to work with Vaughn on a daily basis since his arrival on campus in the midst of the pandemic. I could not be prouder of the accomplishments and growth of Bentley Athletics under his leadership,” praised J. Andrew Shepardson.
“NACDA is proud to usher in a new class of Athletics Director of the Year Award winners for 2024-25 and recognize these servant leaders guiding their departments into a new age of intercollegiate athletics,” said Pat Manak, NACDA chief executive officer. “These 28 individuals represent their institutions, conferences and the industry as a whole with a level of dedication and passion that shines through in their collective accomplishments.”
Williams has been a driving force in the success and growth of Bentley University Athletics since his arrival on campus in 2020. Over the past year, there have been numerous achievements, many of them firsts, on the playing fields as well as significant accomplishments in terms of academic successes and student-athlete development.
In December 2024, Bentley captured its second straight NCAA Division II Women’s Volleyball East Region title and became the first Northeast-10 Conference team to reach the national semifinals after a first-round upset of undefeated and number one-ranked Ferris State in the Elite Eight.
The fall season also saw women’s cross country claim the program’s first-ever Northeast-10 Conference championship and Caitlin Burmester become the Falcons’ first NCAA Division II East Region champion since 2013. Men’s cross country qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships for the first time since 2016, women’s soccer earn its second NCAA Division II berth in program history, football posted an 8-2 record, and women’s golf debuted as Bentley’s 24th varsity sport.
Later tonight, women’s basketball will be hosting Holy Family University in the NCAA Division II East Regional championship game with an Elite Eight berth on the line. And on Saturday, the hockey team will face Holy Cross on the road in its first Atlantic Hockey championship game in 19 years.
Men’s basketball finished in a tie for second in the Northeast-10, baseball is off to a strong start this spring, and both men’s and women’s lacrosse are nationally-ranked.
Bentley finished the fall 2024 semester 20th in the Learfield Cup standings, the university’s best ever during the fall, and placed 85th in the Learfield, Bentley’s highest finish since 2013-14.
Bentley was second in the 2023-24 Northeast-10 President’s Cup standings, the highest finish for the Falcons since 2015-16, and was second following the fall 2024 semester.
In addition, Bentley finished second in Division II in the NCAA Academic Success Ratings, the eighth straight year the university has been in the top two nationally, with an ASR of 98. During the fall semester, Bentley student-athletes achieved a 3.42 grade point average with 86 percent earning a 3.0 for the term.
Williams added to the Bentley staff this season with several new positions focused on the development of student-athletes. Currently, he is spearheading a renovation of the Dana Athletics Center, the home of the basketball and volleyball teams, with construction scheduled to get underway later this spring.
“Since his arrival at Bentley, Vaughn has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the student-athletes, coaches, staff, and the broader university community,” said Associate Director of Athletics Courtney Finn. “Under his leadership, the athletic department has not only achieved remarkable success in competitions but has also grown in areas of student engagement, academic excellence, and community involvement.”
“I have had the privilege of working with Vaughn for over four years, and I have been at Bentley for 30 years,” said Associate Director of Athletics Kevin Loftus. “In this time, Vaughn has continued and enhanced the great successes of our past, particularly in academics and our strength as an athletic department.”
Williams has also been a leader regionally and nationally. He is a member of the NCAA Division II Management Council and serves as the Chair of the Northeast-10 Conference Athletic Directors.
Williams also received an Athletic Director of the Year award from NACDA in 2017, when he was at Kennesaw State University.
The others from Division II to receive ADOY recognition are Kevin Buisman (Minnesota State), Traci Murphy (Daemen) and Chris Ratcliff (Rogers State), and others from New England institutions are David Benedict (Connecticut), Thorr Bjorn (Rhode Island), Drew Marrochello (Boston University) and Michael Whelan (Wesleyan).Fans can subscribe via this link to follow NE10 NOW on FloSports this season. The partnership between the NE10 and FloSports works to provide funds back to the athletic departments of the Northeast-10 Conference in support of student-athletes while promoting the league on a national platform.ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 11 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.– Release provided by Bentley athletic communications – Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
