Bates College director of athletics Jason Fein, pictured in 2017. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal file photo

Bates College Athletic Director Jason Fein has garnered a national accolade, as he was named a Division III AD of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

Bates Athletic Director Jason Fein. Theophil Syslo photo for Bates College

In a Bates Colleges press release distributed Wednesday announcing Fein’s honor, it noted he received the award “In recognition of his leadership in the unprecedented past year.”

This is the second time Fein has won a Division III AD of the Year award from NACDA, first doing so during the 2015-16 school year while working at Drew University. He is one of four Division III honorees for the 2020-21 school year.

According to the press release, the ADOY Award highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities. Winners will be recognized leading up to and in conjunction with the 2021 NACDA & Affiliates Virtual Convention on July 27-28.

While Bates teams have not competed in intercollegiate athletics since the pandemic took hold in March last year, the press release stated that Fein and the Department of Athletics have been vital to Bates College’s efforts to continue operating successfully, while maintaining the team identities and structures so indispensable to the well-being of Bates student-athletes.

Fein oversaw the transformation of Underhill Ice Arena into a COVID-19 testing center, which was organized and staffed primarily by athletic coaches and staff. He also helped convert auxiliary gym space into an additional dining facility, which Bates assistant coaches helped staff.

The press release stated that among other initiatives this year, Fein instituted programming around equity and inclusion for the department. He also oversaw a number of changes to the college’s fitness facilities and programming to account for health and safety during the pandemic.

Nominators for the award were NACDA-member directors of athletics, institutional presidents and conference commissioners, as well as other respected intercollegiate athletics administrators.