SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara Director of Athletics Renee Baumgartner was honored by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) on Monday morning by being named one of the 28 recipients of the 2022-23 Cushman & Wakefield Athletics Director of the Year Award. The ADOY Award highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities.
The award spans seven divisions (NCAA FBS, FCS, Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year Institutions and Junior College/Community Colleges). Winners will be recognized in conjunction with the 58th Annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Fla., at the beginning of the Association-Wide Featured Session on Tuesday, June 13, starting at 4 p.m.
Baumgartner, in her eighth year as the Broncos' director of athletics, is one of four athletic directors to be honored at the 1-AAA Division Level. The full list of winners can be found here.
"This award is a testament to all the incredible work done by our student-athletes, coaches, staff and administrators," Baumgartner said. "This university and our athletic department is special and full of dedicated Broncos who want nothing less than the best experience for our student-athletes."
Joining the program in 2015 after a great four-year stint at Syracuse University, Baumgartner has made a tremendous impact for the Broncos during her tenure. In the last year, Baumgartner has seen the national powerhouse women's soccer program win its third consecutive West Coast Conference title and win a game in the NCAA Tournament of the eighth year in a row. Izzy D'Aquila was named All-America, the third year in a row the program has had an All-America selection.
The men's basketball team has posted five consecutive winning seasons and back-to-back postseason appearances in the NIT. The Broncos posted a 23-10 record in 2022-23, their third 20-win campaign in the last four seasons (including the shortened 2020 campaign). Jalen Williams was drafted 12th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft and Brandin Podziemski was named 2022-23 WCC Co-Player of the Year.
Plenty of other Bronco sports have excelled as well in the last year. The volleyball team won a postseason match after being invited to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. Men's water polo reached the Western Water Polo Association semifinals for the first time since 2019. Softball finished third in the WCC for the first time since 2019 and the second time since the WCC incorporated softball in 2014. Nicholas Russell qualified for the NCAA National Championships in cross country and the men's rowing team made the IRA National Championships.
The 2022-23 year saw the Santa Clara Athletic Department as a whole make a tremendous step forward with Baumgartner overseeing the approval of 11 new assistant coach positions and the creation of three new units within the department – sports nutrition, counseling and sports psychology, and creative services. She also led the charge on a major renovation of Schott Stadium, home of Bronco Baseball. The stadium now features a state-of-the-art turf playing surface along with many other upgrades.
The Broncos have also excelled in the classroom. During the Fall 2022 quarter, Santa Clara student-athletes posted a 3.33 GPA. A total of 41 students posted a 4.0 GPA, 90 had at least a 3.80, 185 had at least a 3.50, and 303 had at least a 3.00.
Baumgartner earned her bachelor's degree in sports information/broadcast journalism from USC in 1987. Two years later, she completed her master's degree requirements in interdisciplinary studies at Oregon and in 1996, was awarded a Ph.D. from the school in educational administration.
Throughout her career, Baumgartner has been active on many committees, including the NCAA Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet, NCAA Men's and Women' Golf Committees, NCAA Amateurism Cabinet, NCAA Management Council and NCAA Legislative Review Committee. She was named to the NCAA Division I Council in August 2018 and is also on the board of directors for the San Jose Sports Authority.
