Elon University's director of Athletics will be recognized in June alongside three other collegiate athletic directors during the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics' annual convention.
Blank – one of four national recipients of the 2016 award – will be recognized in June during NACDA’s 51st Annual Convention at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas.
Now in his 10th year at Elon, Blank has ignited ambitious expansions in the athletic department – including a restructuring of the Phoenix Club with emphasis on funding scholarships for student-athletes – as well as enhancements in academic progress, facility upgrades, marketing and fundraising.
“I would like to thank NACDA for this special recognition,” Blank said. “An honor of this type only occurs when you have great support around you and I am very appreciative of Elon University where I have a president, senior staff, and outstanding athletics staff that provide great support for our student-athletes and coaches that I am privileged to serve.”
Elon is ranked the No. 1 master’s university in the nation for study abroad by the Institute of International Education and Princeton Review. In order to ensure those transformational opportunities are open to student-athletes, Blank has led the organization and funding of team global experiences, combining academic experiences with competition in countries around the world. Since 2011, Phoenix student-athletes have studied abroad in Europe, Asia and Central America.
Since arriving at Elon, Blank has tripled annual Phoenix Club fundraising. Annual support has grown from $450,000 in his first year to over $1.34 million, while Phoenix Club membership has increased by over 58 percent. Additionally, Blank has raised over $29 million in funding for capital projects to support facility enhancements.
Blank led Elon’s move to the Colonial Athletic Association, which became official on July 1, 2014. The CAA geographic footprint is an attractive match with Elon’s student and alumni populations. Elon draws a large proportion of its enrollment from mid-Atlantic and New England states where many CAA schools are located. About 1,850 current students came to Elon from areas close to CAA member schools. Alumni populations in CAA cities are especially strong, with about 5,300 Elon alumni living within 50 miles of CAA member schools.
Phoenix programs have achieved both athletic and academic success under Blank’s leadership at Elon. Elon programs or individuals have won a combined 54 conference championships over the last 10 years, while teams or individuals have appeared in postseason play on 23 occasions. Elon teams have appeared in national rankings 21 times during Blank’s tenure, while 15 student-athletes have captured conference player of the year honors and 16 have earned freshman of the year laurels. Elon student-athletes have been equally successful in the classroom over the last decade, with 651 earning academic all-conference recognition.
Blank has been instrumental on the national scene of NCAA Division I athletics as well. Most recently, he served on the NCAA Division I Leadership Council from 2011-13, and from 2008-11, he served on the NCAA Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet. He has also served as a member of the NCAA I-AA Governance and Football Issues Committee. In 2005, he received the Gen. Robert R. Neyland Outstanding Athletics Director award from the All-American Football Foundation.
NACDA, now in its 51st year, is the professional and educational Association for more than 15,700 college athletics administrators at more than 1,700 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 5,500 athletics administrators annually attend NACDA & Affiliates Convention Week. Additionally, NACDA manages 15 professional associations and three foundations.
For more information on NACDA, visit www.nacda.com.