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Homer Rice Award
The Homer Rice Award is presented annually to an athletics director with a distinguished career, who has made a significant impact on this profession and intercollegiate athletics. This award is presented in honor of Homer Rice, the Founder and first President of the Division 1A Athletic Directors Association.
- The nominee must have served as a Director of Athletics for at least ten years at Division 1A Institutions;
- He/She must have made significant and meaningful contributions to intercollegiate athletics;
- He/She must have been retired from a Division 1A Athletic Directors position for at least one year;
- The nomination must be from a current member of the Division 1A Athletic Directors Association as a result of a thorough and extensive process.
Congratulations to Mr. Andy Geiger, recipient of the 2009 Homer Rice Award
Andy Geiger served as Director of Athletics at The Ohio State University for 11 years. His time at Ohio State was known as the "Golden Era" for Buckeye athletics, resulting in new facilities, national championships, fiscal stability and academic excellence.
Geiger was one of college athletics most respected leaders. In June 2004, he was honored as the Division I-A Northeast Region Athletics Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. In 2003, he received the John L. Toner Award, which is presented annually to the college athletics director of the year, and the Sports Business Journal Award as director of the year.
At Ohio State, Geiger oversaw a program with 36 varsity sports, more than 900 student-athletes and an annual operating budget that exceeds $80 million. Under his direction, the Buckeyes, who are completely self-supporting financially, have done nothing but prosper.
Under Geiger's watchful eye, Ohio State's men's and women's teams qualified for NCAA postseason play on a regular basis. They also did well in the classroom, where in 2004, 403 student-athletes attended the annual Scholar-Athlete awards banquet, which requires a grade point average of 3.00 or better. In his last two years, Ohio State had more student-athletes named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team than any other school.
Because of Geiger's commitment, Ohio State student-athletes and fans are able to enjoy some of the finest facilities in all of college athletics. Those facilities allow Ohio State to now host Big Ten, regional and national championship competition, bringing notoriety to the university, the city of Columbus and the state of Ohio.
A "hands-on" administrator, Geiger attended as many practices and games as his busy schedule will permit. He enjoyed spending time with the student-athletes and coaches of all the sports and was a favorite of the student-athletes because of his genuine concern for their well being, both in the classroom and on the athletic field. He believed strongly in a quality experience for all student-athletes.
Geiger's hobbies include golf and all music, especially jazz. He also enjoys fly-fishing, model trains (he has a garden railroad in his back yard) and spending time with his family.
A past member of the Columbus Jazz-Arts Board, Geiger hosts a two-hour weekly radio show called "Classic Jazz Masters."
Past Recipients of the Homer Rice Award
- 2008
- C.M. Newton
University of Kentucky - 2007
- Vince Dooley
University of Georgia - 2006
- Marty Davis
University of Memphis - 2005
- John Swofford
UNC Chapel Hill - 2004
- Tom Butters
Duke University
- 2003
- Jack Lengyel
US Naval Academy - 2002
- Dr. Gene Hooks
Wake Forest University - 2001
- Frank Windegger
Texas Christian University - 2000
- Jim Jones
Ohio State University