Orlando, FL - RCSJ Roadrunner Athletics once again has received national recognition for excellence, being selected as the best overall non-scholarship athletic program in the country by the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) The Runners were the recipient of the Ron Case Cup, presented by Daktronics and named after former long-time Rowan College Athletic Director Ron Case.
The Runners are being honored as the 2024-25 Daktronics Cup Champion for overall program excellence in two-year college athletics in the NJCAA Non-Scholarship Division. This year 12 of the Roadrunners 16 teams earned trips to their National Championship tournaments led by the Baseball team which won the national tite. The athletic program, represented by AD Brian Rowan and Assistant AD Rich Cooper, was honored during the NACDA Convention at the World Marriott Resort in Orlando, FL.
"This is once again a testament to the hard work of our coaches and athletes as well as the support we receive from college administration, our Board of Trustees, and the entire campus community," commented AD Brian Rowan. "This is our eighth time winning this prestigious award and we are honored to have the award now named after former AD Ron Case."
Colleges in each division are allowed to use their top five finishes per gender at their highest level of competition to earn points for the Daktronics Cup. The champions of each competition score 20 points, second place scores 19, third place 18, etc. This is the fifth year that Daktronics has sponsored this award in conjunction with the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA).
NATYCAA announced recently the renaming of its prestigious Daktronics Cup to the Ron Case Cup presented by Daktronics. Case, who served as NATYCAA president in 1999-00, and was director of athletics at Rowan College at Gloucester County for 25 years, stewarded the Cup program from its 2004 inception through June 2024.
The top 3 in the 2024-25 NATYCAA Ron Case Cup standings for the best two-year college athletic programs in the nation are as follows:
1. RCSJ Gloucester
2. Joliet Junior College
3. Monroe College
Photo from L to R:
Tom Coughlin, National Sales Manager Daktonics Inc.; Rich Cooper, Assistant AD; Brian Rowan, Executive Director of Athletics; Ron Case, former Rowan College AD; Dr. Christopher Parker, President NJCAA
Roadrunner Athletics have captured eight NATYCAA Cups over the past 22 years and have garnered Top 5 finishes in the national standings in 19 of the last 21 seasons. The Roadrunners last won the NATYCAA Cup in 2024 with runner-up finishes in 2017, 2019, and 2021. This is the fourth NATYCAA Cup earned under the leadership of AD Brian Rowan.
Roadrunners Place Second in Running for Learfield Cup
Roadrunner Athletics also finished second in the nation in 2025 in competition for the nation's most prestigious award in collegiate athletics on June 9th, with the program placing runner-up for the Learfield Directors' Cup at the NACDA Convention.
The Learfield Directors' Cup recognizes the best two-year college athletic program in the country! Over 800 colleges are considered for this annual national award. RCSJ won the Cup in 2024 and previously captured the honor in 2012-13. Last year marked the first time the Runners were selected for the Learfield Directors' Cup under Executive Director of Athletics Brian Rowan.
The top 3 in the 2024-25 Learfield Directors' Cup standings for the best two-year college athletic programs in the nation are as follows:
1. Mt. San Antonio College
2. RCSJ Gloucester
3. Iowa Central CC
Brian Rowan Named NACDA Athletic Director of Year
In addition, RCSJ's Brian Rowan was selected as winner of The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Junior College Division AD of the Year Award (ADOY). The award spans seven divisions (NCAA FBS, FCS, Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year Institutions and Junior College/Community Colleges). Winners were recognized in conjunction with the 60th Annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Fla., at the beginning of the Association-Wide Featured Session on June 10.
Rowan was appointed the Executive Director for Athletics at Rowan College in July 2016, assuming the position from retired AD Ron Case. Rowan entered the position with a long and distinguished history of service to RCSJ both as an administrator and a coach. The Gloucester County native is proud to lead one of the nation's most successful Junior College athletic programs and the program has seen great success during his tenure earning four NATYCAA Cups and the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup in 2023-24. Roadrunner teams have won 5 NJCAA National Championships during his tenure and each of the 16 Roadrunner programs have won at least one NJCAA Region 19 title and advanced to their National Championship event.
This year 12 of the Roadrunners 16 teams earned trips to their National Championship events earning the Roadrunners the 2024-25 NATYCAA Cup as the top overall non-scholarship program in the nation and the 2nd place in the standings for the top overall two-year college athletic program in the nation. In addition to his duties on campus, Rowan serves on NJCAA National Committees in Baseball, Golf, and Tennis and Chairs the NJCAA Region 19 Baseball and Cross Country Committees.
"NACDA is proud to usher in a new class of Athletics Director of the Year Award winners for 2024-25 and recognize these servant leaders guiding their departments into a new age of intercollegiate athletics," said Pat Manak, NACDA Chief Executive Officer. "Each of the seven Divisions has at least one first-time honoree, including four brand new winners in the junior college ranks. These 28 individuals represent their institutions, conferences and the industry as a whole with a level of dedication and passion that shines through in their collective accomplishments."
To view more on Brian Rowan's award along with info on all award winners, visit:
https://nacda.com/news/2025/3/17/nacda-nacda-announces-2024-25-athletics-directors-of-the-year.aspx