KSLSPORTS FEED

Utah Athletics Director Mark Harlan Named A.D. Of The Year

Mar 27, 2023, 9:49 AM

SALT LAKE CITY โ€“ย Utah Athletics Director Mark Harlan has been named A.D. of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

Harlan took over Utah Athletics five years ago when longtime director Chris Hill retired in 2018 and the Utes have continued to flourish in that time reaching new heights and records. The award recognizes Harlan in the FBS category for Utahโ€™s unprecedented success through the 2022 calendar year.

The Utes have been crushing it lately, not only in the field of play, but in the classroom and community as well. Utahโ€™s nearly 600 student-athletes have set records for academic performance and winning championships over the past few seasons marking a peak-era for the school in the Pac-12 since joining in 2011.

Mark Harlan Making Progress In The Face Of Adversity

Perhaps most impressive about Harlanโ€™s time at Utah has been the unusual hurdles heโ€™s had to help navigate the department through.

Most A.D.s arenโ€™t faced with three shocking student-athlete deaths (let alone one in an entire career) in the span of four years with one taking place right at the beginning of his tenure in Lauren McCluskey. In the middle of all of that, Harlan also had to figure out how to keep the department alive during a pandemic that shut down operations as we typically know them.

Despite all of that, Utah has come out on top hitting unprecedented levels of success in competition, fundraising, expansions, and sellouts.

โ€œMarkโ€™s steady guidance has anchored a department that has endured great tragedy and emerged stronger and more accomplished both on and off the field,โ€ said University of Utah President Taylor Randall. โ€œI am very happy for Mark. His leadership style, and vision to build a culture that keeps the best interests of our student-athletes front and center has earned him this award.โ€

Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for KSLsports.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.โ€“12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports

KSL 5 TV Live

KSLSports Feed

Follow @kslsports...

KSL Sports

AP: Philadelphia 76ers Hire Former Toronto Raptors Coach Nick Nurse

A person with knowledge of the decision says the 76ers have hired coach Nick Nurse weeks after he was fired by the Toronto Raptors.

20 hours ago

Follow @kslsports...

KSL Sports

Nevada Legislators Weigh Plan To Put MLB Stadium On Las Vegas Strip

Lawmakers are considering a proposal to finance and incentivize construction of a Major League Baseball stadium on the Las Vegas Strip.

20 hours ago

Follow @kslsports...

KSL Sports

Jimmer Fredette To Represent USA At FIBA 3ร—3 World Cup

Former BYU men's basketball star Jimmer Fredette will play for the United States of America at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup.

20 hours ago

Follow @kslsports...

KSL Sports

Local Teams Celebrate Memorial Day, Honor, Remember Servicemembers

Local sports teams around the state of Utah paid tribute to military servicewomen and servicemen on Memorial Day.

20 hours ago

Follow @kslsports...

KSL Sports

26 Years Ago: John Stockton Sends Utah Jazz To NBA Finals

26 years ago, basketball fans in Utah celebrated after Greg Gumbel declared, "John Stockton sends the Utah Jazz to the NBA Finals."

20 hours ago

Follow @kslsports...

KSL Sports

Counting Down Utah Footballโ€™s Best Plays From Each Game In 2022: Florida

In the lead up to the 2023 season we thought it would be fun to countdown the best play in each of Utah football's 14 games from 2022.

20 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Asian little girl playing arcade game on the computer machines at the shopping mall outlets...

Get Out Pass

Family Fun Activities in Utah You Have to Try This Summer

These family fun activities will entertain you all summer, so if you ever feel stuck in a rut wondering what to do, refer to this guide!

Woman IT specialist in elegant suit working on notebook computer in data center next to server rack...

Les Olson

Your Complete Guide to Outsourcing IT Services

This guide covers everything you need to know about the different benefits of outsourcing IT services to meet your small business needs.

diverse group of friends dance outside under string lights...

Lighting Design

5 Frequently Asked Questions About Outdoor Lighting

Read for the most frequently asked questions about outdoor lighting to help narrow the search for your home.

Stack of old laptops with dark background...

PC Laptops

Old Laptop Upgrades You Need to Try Before Throwing it Away

Get the most out of your investment. Try these old laptop upgrades before throwing it out to keep it running fast and efficient.

Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...

BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to Choose What MBA Program is Right for You: Take this Quiz Before You Apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.

Close up of an offset printing machine during production...

Les Olson IT

Top 7 Reasons to Add a Production Printer to Your Business

Learn about the different digital production printers and how they can help your company save time and money.

Utah Athletics Director Mark Harlan Named A.D. Of The Year