Hoops Named GPAC Athletic Director of the Year

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Northwestern Vice President for Athletics Tony Hoops has been selected as the 2025-26 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Athletic Director of the Year.

The award is selected by a vote of the conference's athletic directors. As the conference recipient, Hoops advances as the GPAC nominee for the NAIA-ADA Athletic Director of the Year award.

"I am humbled and honored to be recognized by my outstanding colleagues in the prestigious GPAC conference for this distinguished award," said VP for Athletics Tony Hoops. "I share this award with our amazing athletic staff and administrative leadership team at Northwestern College who are deeply committed to our mission of Honoring Christ Through Excellence in Athletics each day."

Since arriving at Northwestern in 2023, Hoops has led the department to success on and off the field of play. During the 2025-26 athletic year, the Red Raiders captured eight GPAC team championships, made 12 national tournament appearances, posted a department-wide 3.32 GPA, and finished as the NAIA national runner-up in volleyball. Northwestern's men's programs finished atop the GPAC All-Sports standings, highlighted by top-three conference finishes in basketball, soccer, golf, and outdoor track and field.

Northwestern has been recognized as a Five-Star Gold level Champions of Character recipient by the NAIA in each year under Hoops, measured by character training, conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition, and character promotion. In addition to his emphasis on character growth, Hoops has emphasized enhancing the student-athlete experience through expanded fan engagement initiatives, the creation of the N-Dubs awards show, and the formation of the Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT).

Under Hoops' leadership, Northwestern raised more $950,000 this past year for the Raider Athletics Association annual fund, including the creation of the RAA Scholarship fund. Hoops initiated the annual Raiders Giving Day in 2023 which raised over $120,000 this year, bringing the three-year campaign total to more than $300,000.

Hoops also oversaw the completion of the Den Hartog Athletic Complex in fall 2025 and Colenbrander Plaza in spring 2026. Northwestern continues to invest in its athletic facilities with a new softball turf field scheduled for completion this fall and groundbreaking for the $11.9 million renovation of Korver Field and Northwestern's stadium planned for the fall. Under his leadership, Northwestern also expanded its athletic offerings by adding women's wrestling, which begins competition this winter.

"This award is a great affirmation of Tony's standout leadership and how blessed we are to have him at Northwestern College," Northwestern President Greg Christy said. "He exemplifies our Christian mission, cares deeply for his colleagues, our coaches, athletic staff and student-athletes. And Tony is highly respected across campus, in our community, the GPAC and throughout the NAIA."

Hoops serves as the GPAC representative on the NAIA-ADA Board of Directors and was elected to the Executive Council as the 3^rd Vice President this past year, chairing the education committee. He also serves on the Business of Small College Athletics (BOSCA) Advisory Board. He was one of four NAIA athletic directors nationally to receive NACDA Athletics Director of the Year honors in 2025.

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