MEDFORD, MA (March 27, 2023) - After leading the Tufts University Department of Athletics through a year that included many great achievements but unspeakable tragedy as well, John Morris was announced today as the winner of a NACDA Division III Cushman & Wakefield Athletics Director of the Year Award for 2021-22.
Hired in 2015, Morris has brought a tireless work ethic, passion for collegiate athletics and a charismatic personality to work with him every day. With his dedication to the role of Director of Athletics, he has changed the culture of the department with a focus on providing student-athletes with a transformational experience at Tufts.
"I have been incredibly proud and grateful for John's dedication to the combined academic and athletic aspects of the student experience, his passion for Tufts and commitment to maintaining the institution's stellar reputation, and his deep humanity in leading a continuously growing and improving athletic program," said Tufts President Anthony P. Monaco. "For these reasons and more, we're very pleased that John is being honored."
Humbly accepting the award, Morris sees it as recognition for the entire Athletics family at Tufts.
"It's a great honor to receive this recognition, and it belongs to our entire department and everyone associated with Tufts Athletics," Morris said. "It's truly a reflection of the collective work of our amazing student-athletes and coaches; our dedicated staff and wonderful campus colleagues; and our many loyal and supportive Jumbo alums, parents and friends. I am proud of what we have all been able to accomplish together, and I can't wait to see what the Jumbos achieve next."
The volume of the Jumbos' competitive successes peaked during the 2021-22 year. For the first time, Tufts won the Learfield Directors' Cup as the most successful NCAA Division III program, topping nearly 440 colleges and universities in this national competition. The Directors' Cup is awarded to the athletics program with the most broad-based participation and success in postseason competition, and the victory highlights the wide array of high-performing teams and student-athletes at Tufts. The Jumbos had 13 teams advance to at least the "Sweet 16" round of NCAA Tournament action, and eight student-athletes earned NCAA individual national titles.
"To win the Learfield Cup was a great accomplishment, but I believe what John truly values is to see the smile on a student-athlete's face after a big win and the pure joy we as coaches feel to know we put our kids in a position to succeed in their life's endeavors," said football head coach Jay Civetti. "For John, it's never been about the trophy, it's always about what and who it took to have the moment, the interaction, the experience."
However, the 2021-22 year also included a true tragedy in the fall when junior Madie Nicpon of the women's lacrosse team passed away due to an accident on campus. Morris guided the Jumbos through a period of mourning and then celebrating Madie's life.
"There really is no blueprint for something like this," said women's lacrosse head coach Courtney Shute. "John's response was a true testament to the high level of character he exudes. He went above and beyond to support our team and the entire Tufts athletics community in the days and months that followed. His instincts were genuine, heartfelt, and constant and through his leadership we began to slowly heal while finding meaningful ways to honor this incredible young woman."
The achievements of the 2021-22 Jumbos were just as significant in the classroom. When Morris presents the accomplishments of the Athletics program, he always opens with the way the student-athletes perform academically. In 2021-22, he spoke of how Tufts student-athletes received more NESCAC All-Academic honors than ever for carrying 3.50 grade point averages or better. The Jumbos' all-team GPA of 3.6 also reflects the department's emphasis on academic as well as athletic excellence.
Morris has been instrumental in building the infrastructure for Tufts Athletics' success in fundraising since his arrival. His skill at instilling a sense of trust and confidence in donors has had a widely positive effect for the entire Athletics community.
Under his leadership more new facilities have been built in the last five years than Tufts has seen in the last 75 years. In the 2022 calendar year, construction of a new baseball stadium (Sol Gittleman Park) started as did work on the new Tufts Tennis Center in the heart of the Athletics Complex on College Ave. At Ellis Oval the Baronian Field House locker room was renovated for the football and track & field teams and permanent lights and a video scoreboard were installed, while improvements were also made to the grass surface at Kraft Field. In Cousens Gym, an indoor golf training facility was opened and the recreation and general use locker rooms were also significantly renovated and upgraded.
"The most telling aspect of each of these projects is that while most will directly benefit our varsity programs, almost all will also significantly expand and enhance opportunities for intramurals, club sports, and general recreation and wellness for students, faculty, staff, and our neighboring communities of Medford and Somerville as well," said Mark Adzigian, Tufts' Director of Development for Athletics.
In 2022 Tufts also hired Vanese Barnes as it Tufts Athletics Future Leaders Assistant Coach Fellow for women's basketball, continuing a program that Morris helped establish in 2020 aimed at providing underrepresented students with a meaningful start to a successful career in intercollegiate athletics through master's-level education and practical work experience. A fourth class was also inducted into the Tufts Athletics Hall of Fame, which Morris initiated in 2018.
Among the many community service activities that Tufts Athletics supports, the Jumbos strong partnership with Team IMPACT was reinforced last year with five new teammates "drafted" to Tufts teams. Founded by Tufts alumni, Team IMPACT works to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses by pairing them with intercollegiate athletic teams.
With 30 sports at Tufts, Morris oversees 22 head coaches which in 2021-22 included national Coaches of the Year Adam Hoyt in women's swimming and Karl Gregor in men's tennis. The Jumbo staff also earned four conference Coach of the Year awards. Another hallmark of Morris' tenure is the vast improvements made by several Jumbo teams which had languished in the past, including men's rowing finishing as the national runner-up and men's tennis advancing to the NCAA "Final Four" in 2022.
"What differentiates John from other industry leaders is that, quite simply, he does it all and does it all exceptionally well," said Alexis Mastronardi, Senior Associate Director of Athletics at Tufts. "He is a dedicated and passionate leader, cares about everyone and everything and always finds a way. While directing a department with over a hundred employees, John is somehow able to find time for anyone who needs it."
In an unforgettable year for the Jumbos, John Morris led the way to these many impressive achievements by the department which are now recognized with this national honor.
"John has earned the respect of the university community as one of our senior leaders for the way in which has conducts himself with integrity, intelligence and good humor," said Ted Tye, Tufts Trustee and Chair of the Athletics Board of Advisors. "He has changed the culture of athletics at Tufts and built an exemplary program in so many ways."
For the full release by NACDA, click
HERE.
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