2023 Appreciation Award

Appreciation Award

The Appreciation Award is handed out strictly at the discretion of the current NJCAA President & CEO to recognize superior contributions to the Association. This award can be bestowed to an individual, group or member college. To view a list of past winners, visit: Appreciation Award Past Winners

Mick McDaniel – Tompkins Cortland Community College (NY)

Mick McDaniel has served as the Chair of the NJCAA Board of Regents since its inception in 2018.  As the Chair, McDaniel has been instrumental in the Board of Regents navigating the ever-changing landscape of collegiate athletics that the association experienced including the relocating of the National Office to Charlotte, securing the association's first-ever national television agreement, the COVID-19 pandemic, student-athlete name, image, and likeness, emerging sports, and many more.  McDaniel's unwavering leadership has allowed the association to continue to progress as a governing body of two-year collegiate athletics.  

McDaniel also serves as the Director of Athletics and Recreation at Tompkins Cortland Community College. He also serves as the head coach of the men's soccer team and interim head coach of the women's soccer team. McDaniel has served as the Director of Athletics for over 26 years.  A former Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year, McDaniel also helped guide the Tompkins Cortland men's and women's golf programs as head coach for over a decade.  

McDaniel is one of the winningest soccer coaches in Region 3 history with a combined 150 wins between the men's and women's soccer teams. In 1995, McDaniel started the varsity soccer program at Tompkins Cortland, building it from the ground up to a nationally ranked program. Later, in 2005, he started working with the women's soccer team and led them to the playoffs for seven straight seasons while averaging more than 10 wins per year. McDaniel has coached nine NJCAA soccer All-Americans, sent dozens of players on to play at four-year schools, led his teams to multiple conference championships, and won numerous coach of the year honors from the conference and region.

For all 2023 NJCAA Honors and Annual Award Winners, visit: 2022-23 NJCAA Award Winners

For all NJCAA Honors, please visit: NJCAA Honors Home