KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced Monday the selection of the late Michael J. Schell, second full-time commissioner of the River States Conference, as the 2025 recipient of the Charles Morris Administrator of the Year award. Schell's selection to one of the NAIA's top honors was announced Monday as part of the annual NAIA Awards Day. 

The Charles Morris Administrator of the Year award is named in honor of the former NAIA Associate Executive Director, and recognizes administrators in all phases of NAIA athletic programs (including FARs, eligibility chairs, commissioners, sports chairs and more) on college campuses and/or administrators of affiliated conferences.

Schell served as the Commissioner of the River States Conference from 2018 to 2025, serving as just the second full-time commissioner in the league's more than 100 year history. During Schell's tenure as commissioner, the River States Conference experienced a period of unprecedented growth, both in on the court success and in the overall student-athlete experience across the league.

Prior to his time with the River States Conference, Schell served 14 years as Director of Athletics at Oregon Tech and six years as Assistant Director prior to that. At Oregon Tech, Schell oversaw the Athletics Department, which included 13 intercollegiate sports, club sports, intramural sports, a recreation center and outdoor program operations. 

Schell was named the Cascade Collegiate Conference Athletic Director of the Year on three occasions and was named the NAIA/Region I Athletic Director of the Year in one of those years.  He received Oregon Tech’s President’s Staff Award for “outstanding contributions to the university” in 1998-99 and the Student Affairs Department Most Valuable Partner award in 2014.

Schell served the NAIA dutifully during his more than three decades of service, serving on numerous committees, including most recently as a member of the National Administrative Council.

A native of Oregon, Schell earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electronics Engineering Technology from Oregon Tech in 1995, spending almost 35 years in the NAIA between his time as a student and as an administrator.

Schell will be honored at the annual NAIA Convention, held in Kansas City, Missouri in April of 2026.