Athletics
May 4, 2021
University of Portland Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam has been named the 2021 Builders' Award honoree, the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association (DI-AAA ADA) announced on Tuesday. The Builders' Award is presented to an individual who, for a minimum of five (5) years as an active I-AAA Director of Athletics, has contributed to the enhancement of the Association, their institution(s), and the profession as a whole.
"Scott Leykam's dedication to our profession and I-AAA specifically has made a significant impact throughout his years of service," stated Builders' Award Committee Chair and Director of Athletics at Niagara University, Simon Gray. "Having served on the I-AAA Executive Committee and as an Officer, including as President in 2019-20, Scott has been at the forefront of our organization's progress. Notably, Scott has ensured geographic representation among the membership and leadership of I-AAA."
Leykam has played an integral role in Division I Athletics for over 25 years. In his ninth year at the University of Portland, he has led the Pilots to impressive growth in student-athlete success both on and off the court, in addition to unprecedented fundraising and facility expansion during his tenure.
"It is humbling and unexpected to be named the winner of the 2021 Builders' Award," Leykam said. "The list of previous winners includes some of the best of the best in our industry and it is an honor to be included on that list. I would like to thank NACDA and all of those responsible for this amazing award."
After arriving on The Bluff, Leykam has continuously focused on three goals for the athletics department: delivering a premier student-athlete experience, enhancing the fan and alumni experience, and maximizing the Department's campus impact.
Portland also recorded its largest fiscal year fundraising number in history, under the leadership of Leykam. In addition, there was facility construction and improvement that went on to benefit all 16 varsity sports, as well as club and intramural programs. Most recently was the addition of the 35-acre Franz Campus, located on the banks of the Willamette River. The numerous other projects completed under Leykam include construction of the 'new' Etzel Baseball Field, the Franz Campus Soccer Practice Facility, the Pilot Academic Resource Center, Beauchamp Recreation & Wellness Center, Basketball Practice Facility, Vancouver Lake Boathouse, Chiles Center Live Video Production Control Room and installation of new HD video boards in the Chiles Center.
Portland athletics has also excelled in the classroom, with 73% of student-athletes earning WCC Commissioner's Honor Roll recognition, including 52 receiving 'Gold' honors for achieving a 3.75 or higher GPA. In addition, 77% maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 of higher. Over the last two years, the Pilots have seen a 97% graduation rate amongst its student-athletes. Outside of the classroom success, the student-athletes logged over 500 hours of community service in the summer of 2019.
Prior to coming to The Bluff, Leykam had a 13-year stint with Stanford Athletics, followed by four years with the West Coast Conference. Leykam has continuously demonstrated all the qualities that encompass the Builders Award.
Now in its 20th year, the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association's mission is to enhance initiatives common to its Division I-AAA membership (the Division I institutions that do not sponsor football), in particular, aspects related to their flagship basketball programs. For more information on the Division I-AAA ADA, please visit their website. The Division I-AAA ADA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 56th year. For more information on NACDA and the 17 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.
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