Allen named KCAC AD of the year

RustyAllen

RustyAllenFor his efforts during the past school year, Rusty Allen of Tabor College has been named the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Con?ference Ath?letic Director of the Year for 2011-12.

He will be recognized at the upcoming KCAC Sport Management Conference at Ottawa University Aug. 7.

The annual award is determined by a peer vote among the members of the KCAC Govern?ing Council. By virtue of receiving this award at the conference level, Allen will also be considered as a candidate for the National Athletic Director of the Year by the NAIA Athletic Directors Association.

?His service has been selfless throughout and is also thoughtful, forward-thinking and provides a level of stability to the conference,? KCAC Com?mis??sioner Scott Crawford said.

Since 2009, Allen has served as a member of the executive committee for the KCAC Governing Council in the roles of vice-chair (2009-11) and chair (2011-present). Allen will also begin serving on the NAIA National Letter of Intent co2mittee, per request of the committee chair.

Joe Zimmerman, athletic director for Friends University said, ?Rusty possesses the qualities that we all strive for in NAIA administration. His dedication to students, combined with his display of servant leadership, respect, integrity, responsibility, and adherence to sportsmanship have escalated Rusty to the forefront of out conference leadership team.?

Allen serves Tabor as vice-president of enrollment management and intercollegiate athletics. He has presided over athletics since 2008, only recently (2011) adding enrollment management to his title.

Allen oversees 19 sports with staff that exceeds 40, not including the five graduate assistants currently working with the athletic department. Athlete enrollment at Tabor College has reached 390 students, up 20 percent since 2008.

?Rusty is very deserving of this award,? said Jules Glanzer, Tabor president. ?His proactive leadership coupled with his commitment to excellence has made a significant impact at Tabor, in the KCAC, and in the NAIA. I am thrilled that his colleagues have recognized his positive leadership and significant accomplishments.?

Some of Allen?s most significant accomplishments came in updating the infrastructure of Tabor?s athletic facilities. In four years he has worked in virtually every aspect to build a new football stadium/track & field complex in partnership with the public school district and overhaul the college? baseball field and gymnasium.

In 2011-12, Tabor started a men?s and women?s bowling program. The college was chosen as one of nine opening round tournament hosts for NAIA Baseball and the Bluejays advanced to the championship game before falling to the eventual national runner-up, Rogers State.

Eighteen track and field athletes qualified for NAIA Outdoor nationals in 2012. NAIA named 16 Bluejays as Daktronics scholar-athletes and placed three on All-America teams (two baseball, one volleyball).

?One of the very best things I can say about Rusty is about his commitment to service,” Crawford said.

Prior to being named vice-president of athletics, Allen spent seven years as the head women?s basketball coach, stepping down after three straight seasons advancing to the of the NAIA D-II Women?s National Basketball Championship ?Sweet Sixteen.?

His accomplishments as women coach include two KCAC championships (2004-05, 2005-06) and two KCAC Coach of the Year awards (same years).

Allen resides in Hillsboro with his wife, Debbie, and their children Jordan, Jesse and Whitney.

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