Champions Club 12/2/2017 11:44:00 AM

Stars AD Abbott joins OCU Athletics Hall of Fame

OCU President Henry bestows honor onto Abbott on Saturday

OKLAHOMA CITY – Jim Abbott became a surprise fifth inductee into Oklahoma City University's Athletics Hall of Fame during the induction ceremony Saturday inside the Great Hall of the Tom & Brenda McDaniel University Center.
The 2017-18 OCU Athletics Hall of Fame class includes Abbott, former baseball standout Jeff McLaughlin, 2002 NAIA men's golf individual champion and current PGA TOUR golfer Tyrone Van Aswegen, the late Basil Wilkerson, who stood out for the OCU football program and the 2001 OCU women's soccer team.
Abbott oversees Oklahoma City's 22 intercollegiate athletic programs including more than 300 student-athletes. During his 15-year tenure, the Stars have collected 44 of their 66 national championships in all sports and their first Directors' Cup title in 2016-17.
"Although Jim was surprised, it was no surprise how deserving he is of the honor," Oklahoma City University President Robert Henry said. "I know of no athletic director in the country who has led a program as strong as OCU's. Scores of national championships and average GPAs above 3.0 – nobody does it better than Jim Abbott and his coaches and athletes."
Oklahoma City captured four NAIA championships in competitive cheerleading, women's basketball, women's golf and softball, propelling OCU to its first Directors' Cup crown as the No. 1 athletic department in the NAIA. The Stars achieved in the classroom with a 3.070 combined grade-point average in 2016-17.
Abbott recently was named National Athletic Director of the Year by the NAIA for the second time. He will be presented with his award during the NAIA national convention April 13-17, 2018 at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center in Kansas City, Mo. Abbott previously garnered the NAIA acclaim in 2008-09. He has been recognized as NAIA AD of the year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics in 2009-10 and 2014-15.
The Sooner Athletic Conference has honored Abbott as athletic director of the year five times. In 2016-17, the Stars won conference championships in baseball, women's basketball, women's cross country, men's golf, women's golf, softball and volleyball, sweeping both the regular-season and tournament titles in baseball, women's basketball, softball and volleyball.
Abbott serves as chief development officer for the OCU athletic department. OCU has completed more than $17 million in athletic facility construction and renovation projects including the Ann Lacy Stadium softball complex, OCU rowing's home Devon Boathouse, the Knight Strength and Conditioning Facility and the Jim Wade Athletic Office Suite. The Stars have established programs in competitive cheerleading, competitive pom/dance, volleyball and men's and women's cross country, rowing, track & field, wrestling and most recently, STUNT, under Abbott's guidance.
In addition to serving as OCU athletic director, Abbott is active as a member of the NACDA Executive Council, NAIA Membership Committee, Jim Thorpe Association Executive Council, vice chairman of the NAIA Hall of Fame selection committee, the Greater Oklahoma City Sports Consortium as treasurer, NAIA Athletic Director's Association Board of Directors and serves as staff sponsor for the OCU Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle.
Abbott has previously served as president of the NAIA Athletic Directors Association and as a member of the NAIA National Administrative Council. Abbott has been a panelist and presenter at numerous NAIA and NACDA conventions.
Abbott has worked in athletic and higher education administration for more than 30 years, including a previous stint at OCU as assistant athletic director from 1991-94. Abbott earned a master's of science degree in sports administration from the University of Oklahoma and bachelor's degrees in business administration and physical education from Huntingdon (Ala.) College.
Abbott and his wife Annetta have two children (Kyle and Katelyn).

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