The Division II Athletics Directors Association (D2 ADA) has selected former Saint Leo University Vice President Director of Athletics Francis Reidy as one of two to be named the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to athletics directors who have exemplified superior achievement during their career at the Division II level. The University of Central Missouri's Jerry Hughes was posthumously honored.
"The contributions of these two individuals to the Division II community are truly unparalleled," stated D2 ADA President Mike McFarland, director of athletics at Bloomsburg University. "Their decades of service, leadership, and influence within Division II and beyond are nothing short of inspiring."
Francis Reidy retired from his position as vice president and director of athletics at Saint Leo University after more than 35 years of service. Reidy, who led the Saint Leo Lions to win 30 Sunshine State Conference championships, earn two national championships, and make 125 NCAA Division II championship appearances, retired in August of 2023.
When Reidy became director of athletics in 1999, the Lions had gone nearly 30 years with no conference championship wins, and many sports were at the bottom of the Sunshine State Conference. But that all changed in 2005 when the men's soccer team won the conference championship, paving the way for more victories within the athletics program to follow.
In addition to winning several championships, the Lions placed in the Learfield Directors' Cup Top 10 for NCAA Division II three times, including an amazing second place finish in 2015-2016. The Lions also won the Mayor's Cup four times, recognizing the Lions as the best overall Sunshine State Conference program.
Reidy's contributions to intercollegiate athletics also include serving as president of the D2 ADA; the NCAA Championships Committee, with one year of service as chair; and the NCAA Men's Basketball Committee, which he also chaired for year. He also made valuable contributions to the Sunshine State Conference.
On top of his competitive success, Reidy has been the recipient of many industry awards. He was recognized three times as the Under Armour National Athletic Director of the Year and was honored as coach of the year two times by the Sunshine State Conference. He also remains in the Saint Leo record books for the work he accomplished in his first role at the university as men's soccer coach. Reidy is the all-time winningest coach in Saint Leo men's soccer history with 139 wins.
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