Orlando, FL -- The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced the 28 winners of the Under Armour AD of the Year Award (ADOY) today, and Bellarmine University's Scott Wiegandt is among the honorees.

The award spans seven divisions (NCAA FBS, FCS; Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year Institutions and Junior College/Community Colleges). Winners will receive their awards during the James J. Corbett Awards Luncheon on Saturday, June 15 at NACDA's 48th Annual Convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Florida.

NACDA Executive Director Bob Vecchione explains the ADOY Award is essential because it highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities.

"Since 1998, NACDA has been highlighting significant contributions made by athletics directors across all divisions of our membership," said NACDA Executive Director Bob Vecchione. "This award allows athletics directors to be recognized not only nationally, but also in their respective communities which heightens the awareness of their leadership position in the athletics enterprise."

Winners of the 2012-13 Under Armour AD of the Year Awards are: 

All NACDA-member directors of athletics in the United States, Canada and Mexico who met the criteria were eligible for the award. Among the criteria were service as an AD for a minimum of five academic years; demonstration of commitment to higher education and student-athletes; continuous teamwork, loyalty and excellence; and the ability to inspire individuals or groups to high levels of accomplishments. Additionally, each AD's institution must have passed a compliance check through its appropriate governing body (i.e., NCAA, NAIA, etc.), in which the institution could not have been on probation or cited for a lack of institutional control within the last five years during the tenure of the current athletics director.

Nominators were NACDA-member directors of athletics, institutional presidents and conference commissioners. Special Selection Committees composed of current and former directors of athletics, present and past NCAA and NAIA presidents, current and former commissioners and other key athletics administrators voted on nominees for the award. A complete listing of Selection Committee members can be found on NACDA's Web site at www.nacda.com. 

Scott Wiegandt: Now in his eighth year as Bellarmine's director of athletics, Wiegandt has grown Bellarmine's athletics program to national prominence among NCAA Division II, known both for its prowess in competition and as a national leader in game management and administration.

In the last three years, Bellarmine has hosted 12 NCAA Division II national championships, as well as the 2013 men's basketball Elite 8. Under Wiegandt, Bellarmine sports teams have seen improvement across the board and regularly contend for the All Sports Trophy in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. In 2010-11, Bellarmine brought home the national championship in men's basketball—the first national championship in Bellarmine's sports history.

Wiegandt also has overseen a dramatic upgrade in facilities, including the construction of the Owsley B. Frazier Stadium and the Eddie Weber Tennis Complex, as well as renovations to Knights Hall. He has represented Bellarmine on the national level, too, serving in leadership positions in organizations such as D2 ADA, NACDA and NAADD. He also serves on the Greater Louisville Sports Commission's board of directors. Wiegandt holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Bellarmine and earned All-America status as a senior pitcher for the Knights baseball team. 

Under Armour (NYSE: UA): is a leading developer, marketer, and distributor of branded performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. The brand's moisture-wicking synthetic fabrications are engineered in many different designs and styles for wear in nearly every climate to provide a performance alternative to traditional natural fiber products. The Company's products are sold worldwide and worn by athletes at all levels, from youth to professional, on playing fields around the globe. The Under Armour global headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland, with European headquarters in Amsterdam's Olympic Stadium, and additional offices in Denver, Hong Kong, Toronto, and Guangzhou, China. For further information, please visit the Company's Web site at www.underarmour.com.

About NACDA:  NACDA, now in its 48th year, is the professional and educational association for more than 6,500 college athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 2,200 athletics administrators annually attend the NACDA Convention. Additionally, NACDA administers 13 professional associations, including six for the separate business units that report directly to the athletics directors and two foundations.  For more information on NACDA, visit www.nacda.com.