Former GVSU Athletic Director Tim Selgo Named GLIAC Tom Donahue Award Recipient

BAY CITY, Mich. — Former Grand Valley State University director of athletics Tim Selgo has been named the 27th recipient of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) "Tom Donahue Service Award." Selgo, who retired at the end of the 2015-16 year, received the award on the night before the conference's fall meetings, which are being held in Grand Rapids, Mich.

The Donahue Service Award is selected by administrators from around the league. It is presented to a current or former administrator at a conference school who made significant contributions to the GLIAC and intercollegiate athletics and exemplifies the highest standard of dedication to the league and its student-athletes set by former GLIAC commissioner Tom Donahue.

Selgo served 20 years as Grand Valley State's director of athletics and put his own stamp of leadership on Laker athletics. A promoter of a well-rounded athletic department, Selgo has been a key figure in the Lakers' rise to the top of Division II athletics. During his tenure, GVSU finished among the top two in the Learfield Sports/NACDA Director's Cup Standings for 14 consecutive years and won 11 titles. In addition, GVSU has won 17 straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Presidents' Cup titles as the top athletic program in the 16-team GLIAC. The Lakers' 21 all-time Presidents' Cup titles top all GLIAC institutions. Grand Valley State, which won 45 GLIAC titles prior to Selgo's arrival, has won 150 GLIAC titles since Selgo was appointed GVSU Athletic Director in 1996.

A son of a coach/teacher father and postmaster mother from a small town in Pettisville, Ohio, Selgo was completely devoted to Division II athletics and its athletics/academics balance. Under his administration, GVSU renovated Lubbers Stadium, including the installation of an artificial turf surface and lights , and the GVSU baseball and softball fields. Also constructed the Kelley Family Sports Center, outdoor track and field/lacrosse stadium and Rob Odejewski Weight Room. 

One of the most influential individuals in not only NCAA Division II but across all divisions of competition and administration, Selgo served as NACDA President in 2015-16, NCAA Management Council Chair in 2012 while serving on D2 Mangement Council from 2007-11. An extremely successful career brought on several distinguised awards: Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year: 2017; NACDA D2 AD of the Year: 2002, 2007, 2013; Toledo Athletic Hall of Fame: 2001; Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame: 2015; West Michigan Sports Commission Executive Board Member.

Prior to his arrival at Grand Valley State, Selgo was an Associate AD at the University of Toledo. While at Toledo Selgo was responsible for the day-to-day operations for Toledo's 10 women's and nine men's sports teams that competed at the Division I level in the Mid-American Conference. Selgo was instrumental in the marketing and promoting of all 19 sports that the Toledo athletic department sponsored. In 1985, he was named head women's basketball coach at Toledo. Selgo served as head coach of the Rockets women's basketball program for three years, turning around a program that is now at the top of the MAC.

"Tim's leadership as Grand Valley State University's athletic director is evident in the myriad of accomplishments made by our student-athletes and our teams over these past two decades. Ten Directors' Cup titles during his time is the ultimate testimony. His leadership has also been exercised in NCAA Division II and during his time in NACDA. It is said that achievements start at the top and this is the case with Tim. He is the best athletic director in the nation and completes his tenure at GVSU on top, where he should be. I will miss his passion for student-athletes and how he was able to create the environment for success through hiring great coaches, creating the sports complex, and most importantly stressing and achieving student success in the classroom." - GVSU President Thomas J. Haas, Aug. 5, 2015 (GVSU.edu)

The previous award recipients are: