BLOOMINGTON — In a year already defined by unprecedented athletic achievement, Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson has reached a historic personal milestone. On Monday, March 16, 2026, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) named Dolson the 2026 NACDA Athletics Director of the Year.
Dolson is the first athletic director in the 127-year history of Indiana University to receive this prestigious national honor. He is one of only four recipients selected in the Division I FBS category for 2026 and will be formally recognized during the NACDA Convention in Las Vegas on June 9.
The award follows a 2024-25 campaign that ranks among the most successful in the department’s history. Under Dolson’s leadership, IU has seen a surge in both team and individual excellence. Six different student-athletes captured individual NCAA championships during the 2024-25 season—the highest single-season total in school history. Thirteen of IU’s 24 varsity programs have earned first- or second-place finishes in the Big Ten during his five-plus years at the helm.
Dolson has successfully navigated a rapidly shifting collegiate landscape, including the evolution of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal.
The “Cignetti Effect” and a Perfect Season
While success has been widespread across all programs, the centerpiece of Dolson’s tenure remains the historic transformation of the IU Football program.
Just two years after hiring head coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers completed a perfect 16-0 season, culminating in the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship with a 27-21 victory over Miami in January. The season saw the program’s first Big Ten title since 1967 and produced the school’s first-ever Heisman Trophy winner, quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
| Key Football Milestones (2025-26) | Achievement |
| Final Record | 16-0 (Modern Era NCAA Record) |
| National Title | 2025 CFP National Champions |
| Conference | Big Ten Champions |
| Individual Honor | Fernando Mendoza (Heisman Trophy) |
Dolson, an IU alumnus who previously served 11 years as Deputy Director of Athletics, has been credited with fostering a culture of “competitive excellence” while maintaining high academic standards. Earlier this month, his leadership was recognized on a national stage when he was invited to a White House roundtable to discuss the future of college athletics.
“This is a department-wide recognition,” Dolson said following the announcement. “It’s an indication that things are going well, but we have a lot more work to do to build on this success.”
“Proud to be a Hoosier!” – Local sentiment remains high as the university prepares to celebrate this latest addition to an already crowded trophy case.
