SLIPPERY ROCK — Not a bad parting gift.

Paul Lueken, who officially retired as Slippery Rock University athletic director Jan. 1 after 26 years, has been named one of four NCAA Division II Athletic Directors of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

“It's an honor ... it's so humbling to receive an award like this, voted upon by your peers,” Lueken said.

Lonny Allen of Tiffin, Pennie Parker of Rollins and Suzanne Sanregret of Michigan Technological University are the other Division II award recipients. NACDA accorded four athletic directors from each of the seven collegiate divisions with the honor.

“This year we certainly could recognize every AD in the country with this award,” NACDA CEO Bob Vecchione said in a prepared statement. “We applaud the efforts of the men and women across the country who have served as source of inspiration and strength in leading their departments through this unprecedented time.”

Lueken was nominated for the award by SRU associate athletic director Torry Rollins. Joanne Leight is serving as SRU's interim athletic director until a permanent successor is hired over the summer.

Lueken credited many people at The Rock for working together during the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down athletics there for the fall and winter semesters.

“Everybody bought in,” he said. “Our plan was to focus on grades during this time, to keep everybody focused that way. All of our coaches and our athletic administrative staff were on board with our plan from the start.

“It's not coincidence that these last two semesters were the highest grade-point average among our student-athletes in history. I'm so proud of how hard everyone's worked.”

In Lueken's final semester at SRU, Rock student-athletes registered a 3.532 GPA. During his first semester on campus 26 years ago, they registered a 2.614.

Lueken received a letter from the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) when he retired, thanking him for his years of service and for the athletic environment he helped to create.

“That letter meant as much to me as anything,” Lueken said. “One of my big goals here was to give our student-athletes a positive experience.”

During Lueken's tenure, SRU”s annual scholarship funds rose from $300,000 to over $1.1 million, the athletic facilities have been upgraded and Rock teams won 39 PSAC championships, along with 11 individuals winning NCAA national titles.

“I certainly can't take credit for all of that,” Lueken said. “We've had a number of coaches who have been here a long time and our administrative staff has been excellent.

“We've had associate AD's, workers in the department, move on to successful careers of their own in college athletics. Many of our former student-athletes have gone on to successful, productive careers. That means a lot to me.”

Lueken and his family continue to live in Slippery Rock. He now has a consulting job in the PSAC office and serves as a game manager for high school athletics in District 10.

He watched SRU's baseball team win at Critchfield Park Friday afternoon before driving to Hermitage to serve as manager of a District 10 basketball playoff game.

“I absolutely love it, It's fun,” Lueken said. “I'm going to be around. I'm always available to help this university.

“I love this place. I love the people who work here. I want to see them keep moving things forward. We still want to win a national championship at Slippery Rock. That would be really fun.”