Dominican College of Blauvelt Director of Athletics and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Joseph S. Clinton is a 2021-22 NCAA Division II Cushman & Wakefield Athletics Director of the Year recipient. The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) made the announcement on March 15, 2022. Clinton and three additional DII honorees will be formally recognized during the NACDA’s 57th Annual Convention at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas on Tuesday, June 28.
“I am humbled to receive this honor and be recognized as one of the four Athletic Directors of the Year by my Division II peers, ” said Clinton. “It has been an honor and a blessing to be a part of the Dominican College Community and NCAA Division II athletics. I look forward to continuing to support the student-athletes of Dominican College in the years to come.”
Clinton is in his 33rd year as director of athletics and his 31st year as head men’s basketball coach.
Since coming to Dominican College in 1989, Clinton has overseen an athletic department that has grown from five sports to 17 sports and made the transition from an NAIA school to an NCAA Division II member. During his tenure, Dominican College sports have won numerous Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championships, NAIA Championship appearances, ECAC Championships, NCAA Regional Tournament appearances and one NCAA Championship appearance. In 2004, a local newspaper declared Dominican Athletic programs as one of the best in the tri-state area.
Clinton has also served on numerous NCAA committees, including serving as the NCAA East Region and National Chair for Division II Baseball and was the East Region Chair of the Men’s Basketball Committee for six years. He previously served on the NCAA East Region Men’s Golf, Men’s Soccer and Men’s Lacrosse Committees. Clinton currently serves on the East Region Men’s Basketball Committee. He is also a member of the National Association of Collegiate Director of Athletics (NACDA), the Athletics Directors Association (ADA) and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).
In 1996, he was recognized as the CACC Administrator of the Year. Clinton currently serves as the Second Vice-President of the CACC Director’s Council.
On the court, Clinton’s Chargers have made four straight NCAA East Regional Tournament appearances and five consecutive CACC Tournament Championship appearances, winning two titles. The Chargers have won 20+ games in four out of the last five years and nine times during his tenure. His career coaching record currently stands at 486-408. Clinton is a four-time recipient of the CACC Coach of the Year Award and is a three-time past recipient of the All-Metropolitan Coach of the Year Award.
The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced the 28 winners of the Cushman & Wakefield AD of the Year Award (ADOY) . The award spans seven divisions (NCAA FBS, FCS, Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year Institutions and Junior College/Community Colleges). Winners will be recognized in conjunction with the 57th Annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, prior to the Featured Session on Tuesday, June 28 at 4 p.m.
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.