FLORENCE, Ala. (March 16, 2026) – University of North Alabama Director of Athletics
Dr. Josh Looney was recognized by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics on Monday as a recipient of the 2025-26 NACDA Athletics Director of the Year award.
"Dr Looney has built a dynamic and accomplished Athletics program, and it is certainly with great pride that I, and the University of North Alabama community, congratulate him on this honor of being named NACDA Athletics Director of the Year," said UNA President Dr. Ken Kitts. "He leads North Alabama Athletics with integrity, innovation and excitement."
Since Looney's arrival in 2021, UNA Athletics has experienced transformational growth and unprecedented momentum. This includes competitive success at the Division I level, multiple conference championships, department records in the classroom, the launch of new athletic programs and executing the largest construction project in university history — Bank Independent Stadium.
"Congratulations to Dr. Looney on this tremendous honor," said Atlantic Sun Conference Commissioner Jeff Bacon. "Josh is a leader amongst leaders, and I am thrilled to see him recognized for all of the great things that are happening at North Alabama. I am certain there is more to come!"
Looney is one of four honorees from the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. NACDA presented 28 awards, four each in seven divisions: Football Bowl Subdivision, FCS, Division I-AAA, Division II, Division II, NAIA and Junior/Community College.
Looney said this award is not his alone.
"This recognition belongs to our entire UNA Athletics team and extends throughout campus — from President Kitts and UNA's executive council to our coaches and staff — who work together every day to move this department forward," said Looney. "That alignment has sparked a wave of Division I firsts, and the momentum shows we're only beginning. Lion Athletics continues to Raise the ROAR, and there are many more firsts ahead."
Under Looney's leadership, the department enjoyed a banner year in 2024-25.
Some of the key highlights include partnering with the UNA Foundation to secure private funding and community support to build two stadiums from the ground up — Mike D. Lane Field for baseball and Bobby Wallace Field for football. Both are part of the Bank Independent Stadium project. The baseball stadium opened in 2025, while the soccer and football stadium will open in 2026.
Bank Independent Stadium is the largest construction project in UNA history — academic or athletic — and is the school's first on-campus football stadium. This was a goal that UNA first unveiled in 1974 — over 50 years ago.
Another facility that took shape during this time was the Cox Creek Turf Practice Facility, which included the construction of an on-campus track. This facility has hosted soccer events, a spring football game and practices for the soccer, football and cross country programs.
Speaking of cross country, UNA announced the addition of women's flag football and men's and women's indoor and outdoor track for the 2026-27 season.
In competition, the Lions reached new heights with multiple conference championships. Men's cross country started the historic year with
Brian Bett winning the individual championship in Fall 2024. The men's basketball program was next, winning the ASUN Regular Season Championship and earning its first-ever NIT berth in 2025. The men's tennis program won both the regular season and postseason championship and became the first UNA program to receive an NCAA Division I postseason berth.
For the first time in program history, the UNA men's golf program sent an individual to an NCAA Regional with Xing Lou earning the honor in 2025. The women's tennis program also received an invite to the WNIT and won a quarterfinal match.
One of the shining accomplishments of the 2024-25 season was UNA hoisting the ASUN Men's All-Sport Trophy — just three years out of the transition to Division I. This marked the first men's all-sports trophy for UNA since the 1999-00 season in the Gulf South Conference.
Since 2023-24, UNA has had 13 programs set new ASUN or Division I win records.
As far as community support, UNA led the ASUN in attendance for men's basketball, softball and women's soccer. UNA was also top three in the conference for women's basketball, volleyball and football. UNA Athletics also experienced its top three fundraising years over the past five academic years. The Lions also topped $1.1 million in corporate sponsorship revenue for the first time in department history.
In the classroom, UNA also had success with its highest department-wide GPA on record at 3.28. UNA Athletics also set a record high APR of 995 in 2025. The previous high was a 987 in 2024. UNA also totaled more than 4,400 hours of community engagement in 2024-25.
Looney has also represented UNA on multiple campus-wide, conference-wide and national committees. Among those are his efforts on the FCS Football Championship Committee and as the AD chair of the new United Athletic Conference.
Looney will be recognized this June in Las Vegas.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
