WVU Tech's Howell named RSC Athletic Director of the Year 2019-20
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio – WVU Tech Director of Athletics Kenneth Howell has been voted by his peers as the 2019-20 River States Conference Athletic Director of the Year. Howell, in his 14th year at WVU Tech and his seventh year as Director of Athletics, led the Golden Bears to a successful 2019-20 year as a department. He also serves to better the conference and provide leadership in several ways.
In his nomination for the award, one of his peer athletic directors in the conference wrote:
"Kenny is not only a leader within his institution, but he is also considered a leader in our conference. He's a forward thinker who provides great insight and opinions for the sake of improving the athletics within the River States Conference. He is very deserving of the RSC AD of the Year award."
"We were so pleased that Kenny Howell was selected as the 2019-20 RSC Athletic Director of the Year," said WVU Tech campus president Carolyn Long. "It is a well-deserved honor and reiterates what we see in Kenny and in his work every day – dedication, commitment and heart. Kenny supports student-athletes, his staff and our entire campus community exceptionally.
"He is always cheering on others and their accomplishment, but he isn't one to boast or bring attention to the work he does. He just puts in the work every day to make sure that student-athletes and his colleagues on campus are supported. We are so glad that others see what we see and that his peers are recognizing him this way. We're so blessed to have him a part of the Golden Bear family."
WVU Tech teams were RSC postseason champion, regular season champion or postseason runner up in six of the nine sports that had their championship season completed this year. The athletic year was cut short after the winter sports championships due to COVID-19.
WVU Tech won postseason RSC Championships in men's cross country and men's soccer. In addition, the Golden Bears were RSC regular-season champions in men's and women's basketball and postseason runners-up in women's cross country and volleyball.
The Golden Bears also had a total of 99 RSC Scholar-Athlete Team honorees and led the conference with the most scholar-athletes in four different sports -- men's soccer, women's basketball, baseball and men's golf.
"It is an honor to be named as RSC Athletic Director of the Year," said Howell. "Our league is comprised of outstanding individuals who care about the health and well-being of our student-athletes and work diligently to ensure those goals are achieved. I am so privileged to work for a wonderful Campus President and be a part of what I consider, the best administration anywhere, here at WVU Tech.
"Our campus leaders ensure our students have all the necessary resources to be successful. This support gives our representatives the ability to recruit and educate top-tier student-athletes that win games and reach high academic achievements, at a STEM-focused and academically rigorous institution. WVU Tech coaches and support staff work tirelessly for all Golden Bears in our programs. The new heights reached by our athletics programs reflect the overall quality of our school. I want our student-athletes to know just how much we appreciate their commitment to being the best. Any recognition for WVU Tech Athletics, is a direct result of their hard-work and dedication. I am so fortunate to be just a small part of such a fantastic place."
Howell serves on the River States Conference Conduct in Competition Committee and the Awards Committee. He is also the RSC Athletic Director Liaison for Men's Golf.
Howell has been the Director of Athletics at WVU Tech since 2013. The Golden Bears joined the RSC – then known as the KIAC – for the 2015-16 school year. Howell was part of WVU Tech's campus move from Montgomery, W.Va., to Beckley, W.Va., for the 2017-18 year. WVU Tech sponsors 14 RSC championship sports as well as men's and women's swimming, wrestling and cheer.
YEAR BY YEAR -- RSC/KIAC ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
2019-20 – Kenneth Howell, WVU Tech
2018-19 -- Greg Cooper, IU Kokomo
2017-18 -- Joe Glover, IU Southeast
2016-17 -- Rusty Kennedy, Midway University
2015-16 -- Mark Perdue, Asbury University
2014-15 -- Jeff Lanham, University of Rio Grande
2013-14 -- Dan Swalga, Point Park University
2012-13 -- Joe Glover, IU Southeast
2011-12 -- Pat Mrozowski, Brescia University
2010-11 -- Wendy Hoffman, Midway College
2009-10 -- Jill Jokerst, St. Louis College of Pharmacy
2008-09 -- Pat Mrozowski, IU Southeast
2007-08 -- Pat Mrozowski, IU Southeast
2006-07 -- Pat Mrozowski, IU Southeast
2005-06 -- Pat Mrozowski, IU Southeast
2004-05 -- Pat Mrozowski, IU Southeast
2003-04 -- Pat Mrozowski, IU Southeast