2024 NJCAA Athletic Director of the Year

NJCAA Athletic Director of the Year

The NJCAA Athletic Director of the Year, presented by Reveal Suits, is awarded to an NJCAA Athletic Director who best exemplifies the overall purpose of leading their institution, athletic department, student-athletes, and community through positive initiatives and contributions.

Created in the spring of 2020, the NJCAA Athletic Director of the Year is part of the NJCAA Annual Awards that honor three distinct categories across the association - Athletic Director of the Year, Sports Information Director of the Year, and Athletic Trainer of the Year. These awards represent individuals who strive to create the optimal student-athlete experience on their campus while also performing duties that go far beyond the institutional level.  To view past winners, visit: NJCAA Annual Award Past Winners

Brett Monaghan – Indian Hills Community College (IA)

Dr. Brett Monaghan is the Vice President, Student Development & Operations and Athletic Director at Indian Hills. He currently chairs the NJCAA DI Softball Committee, NJCAA Women's Wrestling Committee, and the NJCAA Sports Governance Committee. Monaghan is in his sixth year as chair of softball, second consecutive year of women's wrestling, and first year as sports governance chair. He also serves as the Women's Director for NJCAA Region 11.

As athletic director, Monaghan oversees 19 varsity sports including 16 that compete at the NJCAA Division I level. Under his leadership, the athletics department has grown its sport offerings through the debut of men's and women's wrestling, sports shooting, competitive cheer, dance, men's and women's track and field, and women's golf. The Warriors have captured 11 national championships and amassed hundreds of academic All-Region and NJCAA All-Academic individual and team honors under his guidance. Indian Hills has also undergone multiple renovations which Monaghan has overseen including upgrades to the softball field, Tom Arnold Net Center, indoor and outdoor baseball facilities, new wrestling practice facility, baseball locker room, and the weight room.

Making his way to Indian Hills in 2012, Monaghan stepped onto campus as an assistant baseball coach. Previously having head coached at Iowa Wesleyan College for five years, he joined the Indian Hills coaching staff after leading his team to a regular season victory and tournament championship.

Monaghan earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Northern Iowa and completed his doctoral degree at Iowa State University.

For all 2024 NJCAA Honors and Annual Award Winners, visit: 2023-24 NJCAA Award Winners

For all NJCAA Honors, please visit: NJCAA Honors Home