Lewis-Clark State College’s Gary Picone has been named the NAIA West Region’s Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, the NACDA announced on Monday.
Picone was one of 28 winners selected by the organization and will be honored during the Hames J. Corbett Awards Luncheon this Saturday at the NACDA’s 46th annual convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Fla.
NACDA honors a winner from each of the four geographic regions – Northeast, Southeast, Central, and West – in each of the seven categories. Those categories are Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship subdivision, NCAA Division I without football, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA/Other 4-Year Institutions, and Junior/Community Colleges.
The criterion for the award includes commitment and positive contribution to campuses and their surrounding communities. Other criteria included demonstration of commitment to higher education and student-athletes; continuous teamwork, loyalty and excellence; and the ability to inspire individuals or groups to high levels of accomplishments. Additionally, each AD's institution must have passed a compliance check through its appropriate governing body in which the institution could not have been on probation or cited for a lack of institutional control within the last five years during the tenure of the current athletics director.
As well as serving as athletic director, Picone finished his first season as head baseball coach at LCSC after taking over for legendary coach Ed Cheff. Picone is in his second term as athletic director at LCSC. He served as athletic director during 1991-2000, and then became AD again in the summer of 2006.
Picone played baseball at LCSC during the 1973 and ’74 seasons. After graduation from LCSC, he joined the Warriors' coaching staff, which included the 1976 season, the first season LCSC qualified to participate in the NAIA World Series. He also spent five years playing for the Canadian National Team.
In 1980, he left LCSC to teach and coach in Canada. He returned in 1983 as the Warriors’ pitching coach. In 1989, the Trail, British Columbia, native was the executive director of the British Columbia Amateur Baseball Association, but returned to LCSC in 1991 as athletic director.
While athletic director, Gary helped bring the NAIA World Series back to Lewiston. The Series had previously been held in Lewiston during 1983-91, but then jumped around between four sites before returning to Lewiston in 1999. The Series is under contract to remain here at least through 2013.
Gary left as athletic director in 2000 to become pitching coach at Washington State University. He spent two seasons there before returning to LCSC as pitching coach in 2002. In the fall of 2003, Picone was involved with the Canadian National Team, serving as head coach during international play in Cuba.
In 1980, he left LCSC to teach and coach in Canada. He returned in 1983 as the Warriors’ pitching coach. In 1989, the Trail, British Columbia, native was the executive director of the British Columbia Amateur Baseball Association, but returned to LCSC in 1991 as athletic director.
While athletic director, Gary helped bring the NAIA World Series back to Lewiston. The Series had previously been held in Lewiston during 1983-91, but then jumped around between four sites before returning to Lewiston in 1999. The Series is under contract to remain here at least through 2013.
Gary left as athletic director in 2000 to become pitching coach at Washington State University. He spent two seasons there before returning to LCSC as pitching coach in 2002. In the fall of 2003, Picone was involved with the Canadian National Team, serving as head coach during international play in Cuba.
A year ago, Picone was named the NAIA’s Athletic Director of the Year.
