Judd named Division II Administrator of the Year by NACWAA
Judd will receive NACWAA's 2013 Administrator of the Year award in San Diego in October.
- August 5, 2013
Cal State East Bay's new director of athletics was the recipient of a prestigious award recently in recognition of the outstanding achievements and success of women working in athletics.
Sara Lillevand Judd has been named the 2013 Division II Adminstrator of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA).
The Administrator of the Year award, sponsored by Jostens, is presented annually to NACWAA members for significant contributions made as athletics administrators. The eight national honorees will be celebrated on Oct. 15 in San Diego at the 2013 Jostens Administrator of the Year luncheon.
Judd has been part of Pioneer Athletics for 16 years, first as the head women's basketball coach and most recently as the senior associate athletics director for compliance and senior woman administrator. In May, she was named the new director, succeeding Debby De Angelis, who recently announced her retirement after 12 years at CSUEB.
"Sara is an excellent role model for our student-athletes and a leader among her peers," said De Angelis, who nominated Judd for the award. "She's an athlete, coach, senior administrator, mother, cancer survivor, and now the director of athletics for Cal State East Bay. It was my honor to nominate the best woman I know as Division II Administrator of the Year."
After the 2007-08 season, Sara stepped down from coaching in order to join the administrative staff. For the next three years, she helped guide CSUEB athletics through the complex process of regaining membership into NCAA Division II and joining the California Collegiate Athletic Association. She was instrumental in aiding CSUEB's move from a non-scholarship program to one that exceeds the minimum of $250,000 in athletic financial aid, while coming into compliance with NCAA Division II rules for scheduling, recruiting, scholarships and eligibility.
In 11 seasons at the helm of Pioneer women's basketball, Judd compiled the most victories (172) and best winning percentage (.585) of any Cal State East Bay women's basketball coach. The Pioneers won 15 or more games in nine of 11 seasons under Judd and twice won 21 games (21-8 in 2002-03 and 21-6 in 2003-04). The Pioneers qualified for postseason play in all but her first season as coach, and she was named Coach of the Year for the Cal Pac Conference in 2000-01.
Before arriving at Cal State East Bay, Judd served as an assistant coach for UC Davis, her alma mater, during the 1996-97 season, a year which saw the Aggies finish 29-3 and record their first-ever Final Four appearance. She also served as assistant coach at Wellesley College in Massachusetts from 1991-1995.
"NACWAA is pleased to celebrate and honor these women who work diligently each day to represent their institutions and conferences in extraordinary ways," said Jane Miller, NACWAA awards committee chair and board of directors member. "Their commitment to the advancement of women at all levels of our profession ensures a bright future for those who aspire to a career in athletics. By honoring these inspiring women, we thank them for their outstanding service and leadership."