Vanguard’s Wilson earns honor

Vanguard University Athletic Director Bob Wilson has been named one of four NAIA Athletic Directors of the Year by the National Assn. of Collegiate Athletic Directors.

Wilson, who recently completed his 18th year as Vanguard’s Athletic Director, was recognized for his commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, the Costa Mesa-based Vanguard campus and the surrounding community.

The criteria for consideration included at least five academic years as AD, commitment to higher education and student-athletes, continuous teamwork, loyalty and excellence and the ability to inspire individuals or groups to high-level accomplishments.

Wilson, a former men’s basketball coach for the Lions who coached basketball at the collegiate level for 24 years, was inducted into the NAIA Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.

He has served as president of the Basketball Coaches Assn., chairman of the NAIA basketball tournament, and president of the Athletic Directors Assn. He is Vice President of the Golden State Athletic Conference.

Before coming to Vanguard, Wilson, an Academic All-American and the starting point guard on the University of Wyoming men’s basketball team that made the NCAA Tournament in the late 1960s, served 10 years as athletic director at Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma.

Wilson is director of Vanguard’s NAIA Champions of Character program center, which will enter its ninth year in the fall.

Wilson will receive his award on Saturday at the NACDA’s 48th annual convention in Orlando, Fla.

Following the 2011-12 athletic year, Wilson was named Athletic Director of the Year by the NAIA Athletic Directors Assn.

He was also was named Athletic Director of the Year for the West Region by the NACDA in 2002.

— From staff reports