CLEVELAND – University of San Francisco Director of Athletics, Joan McDermott, has been named the secretary of the Division I-AAA Athletic Directors Association for the 2020-21 academic year. The association's officers and executive committee announced McDermott's appointment on Thursday.
 
Entering her second year as Athletic Director on the Hilltop, McDermott previously served on the 2019-20 DI-AAA ADA Executive Committee. Dr. Chris Reynolds, Bradley University Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, will serve as President. 
 
"This is a tremendous organization and opportunity," said McDermott.  "It's an excellent resource for me as I strive to help our department reach its full potential.  I look forward to working with Dr. Reynolds and the rest of the executive committee, and the opportunity to provide essential support to all the student-athletes, coaches, and administrators that make up the Division I-AAA."
 
In addition to serving on the executive committee, McDermott is also on the Women's Beach Volleyball Committee, which oversees collegiate beach volleyball across the country, including the NCAA Championship. Along with overseeing the competition and growth of the sport, the committee selects and seeds the eight-team national championship tournament held in May.
 
Under McDermott, USF finished the spring semester with a department record 3.56 GPA. USF had 216 student-athletes achieve a 3.0 or higher – 92% of the total number of student-athletes in the department.  She has also overseen the construction of the Sobrato Club, including the finalizing of the plans and building which is on track to be completed in late fall.
 
About the Division I-AAA ADA: 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 www.div1aaa-ada.com. 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.