Jackson, Mich. - The Crossroads League announced on Tuesday that Marian's Steve Downing has been named the 2022-2023 Crossroads League Athletic Director of the Year for the first time.
"I am extremely honored and humbled to be named the Crossroads League Athletic Director of the Year," stated Downing. "Given the league that our teams compete in at Marian, this is not only a tremendous recognition for myself, but for Marian University as well. This has been a great year for us at Marian, not only scoring second-place in the Crossroads League All-Sports Standings but leading the league as the national runner-up in the Learfield Directors' Cup is a perfect capper. I thank my tremendous staff at Marian, not only on the administrative side, but our coaches as well, who have helped make this year so extraordinary."
In addition to overseeing Marian's runner-up showing in the NAIA Learfield Director's Cup, Downing's Knights saw 14 teams advance to compete at a NAIA National Championship event and nine teams claim Crossroads League Championships during the 2022-2023 year. In addition to the 14 teams competing at NAIA Championships, Marian's cross country team sent one runner from each the men's and women's teams to the NAIA Championships, and the Marian cycling team finished in the top-three of the USA Collegiate Cycling omnium race.
The Marian teams posted considerable success on the national stage as well, with runner-up showings from women's soccer and men's bowling, a fourth-place finish from softball and women's outdoor track and field. Both of the indoor track and field teams, football, women's basketball, and volleyball programs finished in the top-10 in the final NAIA standings, and Marian's BMX cycling team won the USA Collegiate Cycling National Championship.
Other highlights included the Marian teams securing nine Crossroads League Championships, the most among any Crossroads League institution, while representing the CL through the hosting of five NAIA National Championship events during the year. Marian hosted the most NAIA Opening Round tournaments of any institution in the NAIA during the 2022-23 academic year.
Along with all the competitive success, Marian did strong work in the classroom as well with 23-of-24 teams earning NAIA Scholar-Team honors with collective grade-point averages of 3.0 and above.
The Crossroads League Athletic Director-of-the-Year honor is voted on by the 10 Athletic Directors from the Crossroads League and announced each summer.
Crossroads League Athletic Director of the Year Recipients
2022-2023 – Steve Downing, Marian
2021-2022 – Chad Briscoe, Grace
2020-2021 – Chad Briscoe, Grace
2019-2020 – Mark DeMichael, Indiana Wesleyan
2018-2019 – Mark DeMichael, Indiana Wesleyan
2017-2018 – Josh Gleason, Goshen
2016-2017 – Chad Briscoe, Grace
2015-2016 – Mark DeMichael, Indiana Wesleyan
2014-2015 – Mark DeMichael, Indiana Wesleyan
2013-2014 – Lori Culler, Huntington
2012-2013 – Tim Demant, Goshen
2011-2012 – Mark DeMichael, Indiana Wesleyan
2010-2011 – Angie Fincannon, Taylor
2009-2010 – Chad Briscoe, Grace
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