March 31, 2011

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford's Jaquish & Kenninger Director of Athletics Bob Bowlsby is one of five nominees for Sports Business Journal's Athletic Director of the Year.

Also nominated are Tim Curley (Penn State), Chris Del Conte (TCU), DeLoss Dodds (Texas) and Chris Hill (Utah).

The winner will be announced at the fourth annual Sports Business Awards celebration at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City on Wednesday, May 18.

Among his many accomplishments, Bowlsby presided over the turnaround of Stanford's football program, which recorded a school record 12 victories this past season, capped off by a 40-12 victory over Virginia Tech in the Discover Orange Bowl. Stanford finished the season ranked fourth in both major polls, marking its highest year-end ranking since 1940, when it finished second in the AP poll. Stanford became the first FBS program to win 12 games four years after losing 11 contests.

Bowlsby was appointed to his position on April 25, 2006 after spending 15 years at the helm of the University of Iowa's athletics program. He directs a department that includes 35 intercollegiate varsity teams, plus the physical education department, club sports, open recreation and the Stanford Golf Course.

Under his administrative guidance, Stanford claimed its 16th straight Learfield Sports Directors' Cup, emblematic of the top overall athletic program in the country, last spring.