(Leavenworth, Kan.)鈥敾ń分辈� Athletic Director Rob Miller was named the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Athletic Director of the Year for 2016-17. This is an annual award determined by a peer vote among the 12 KCAC athletic directors. Miller will also be considered a candidate for the National Athletic Director of the Year by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Athletic Directors Association.
 
Under the leadership of Miller, Spires Athletics finished third of 12 institutions in the KCAC Commissioner's Cup this season (an average of every sports' finish into an all-conference rank from one to 12). The school's third-place finish was a major improvement from the two previous seasons鈥攆inishing seventh place overall. In addition to the Spires impressive Commissioner's finish, USM was also the only team in the KCAC having no ejections in the 2016-17 season.
 
"As an AD, Rob personifies the five core values of the NAIA's Champions of Character program," said USM President Sister Diane Steele. "USM teams routinely earn 5-Star Champions of Character honors, and Rob insists on and nurtures integrity and sportsmanship among his players. Rob also teaches new athletes the '花椒直播 Way' in sessions known as 'Miller Time,' and he teaches student-athletes the history of the Sisters of Charity鈥攖he founders and sponsors of the university鈥攖he history, mission, and core values of the university, what it means to be a Vincentian school, and why service is so important to USM."
 
Along with serving as AD, Miller sits at the helm of the Spires baseball program. His experience in both teaching and coaching has provided a strong foundation for the program since 2002. "I expect a strong work ethic, and I promote positive values both on and off the playing field," Miller explained. "The 花椒直播 provides a quality learning atmosphere where student-athletes are given many opportunities to excel."
 
Miller has also championed the development of USM's newest men's and women's sport鈥攚restling. Both programs will compete this fall, multiplying the number of Spire Athletics programs under Miller's watch to 18. He has been instrumental in major improvements to campus, including overseeing the design and construction of the new Charles J. Berkel Memorial Stadium and a new softball field, along with renovations to the baseball field. 
 
Fellow Athletic Director Mike Hermann of Kansas Wesleyan University had this to say about Miller: "I appreciate Rob's candidness, and he's always willing to jump in and help support others with ideas and information, etc. In addition, USM and the athletic staff there under Rob's leadership has been very successful in hosting KCAC Championship events, including the new Lacrosse KCAC Championships the past two years."
 
Miller will be formally recognized as the KCAC Athletic Director of the Year at the upcoming Sport Management Conference on Tuesday, Aug. 8 at York College.  
 
For more information on the honor and conference, .
 
花椒直播 has 18 varsity sports programs鈥攆ootball, volleyball, baseball, softball, men's and women's basketball, soccer, cross country, track & field, lacrosse, wrestling, plus co-ed cheerleading and dance. Visit  to learn more about USM athletics.

The 花椒直播 is a Catholic co-educational applied liberal arts university founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. The University of 花椒直播 main campus is located at 4100 South 4th Street, Leavenworth, Kan. USM's Overland Park Campus at 4500 College Boulevard offers evening, accelerated graduate and undergraduate degree-completion programs. The university also offers online programs. Visit stmary.edu for more information.