WINONA LAKE – Chad Briscoe of Grace College was recognized for his outstanding work this week when he was announced as the Crossroads League Athletic Director of the Year.

Briscoe, who also won the award in 2010, served Grace, the Crossroads League and the NAIA on a number of levels this year.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award. I greatly appreciate and enjoy the friendships among the ADs in the Crossroads League,” Briscoe said. “I share this honor with the administration from Grace College and the incredible group of professionals that I get to work with every day.”

Briscoe served as the chair of the league’s athletic directors and fulfilled part of the league commissioner responsibilities while the national search for a new commissioner commenced.

At the NAIA level, he has helped initiate several “Champions of Character” initiatives, starting various sportsmanship summits for the league and local high school conferences. He currently is the league’s representative on the NAIA National Administrative Council and is the vice chair for the Championship Committee on the NAIA-NAC.

Under Briscoe’s leadership, Grace was approved as host of the NCCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s National Basketball Championships until 2020. He was also elected Second Vice President of the NCCAA this summer.

“Chad has been incredibly helpful to me personally during my transition to this new role, and I’m happy that he is being honored with this award,” said Crossroads League Commissioner Larry DeSimpelare. “Chad is extremely well-respected among his peers, and he has served Grace and the Crossroads League very well over the years.”

Grace enjoyed a successful season under Briscoe’s guidance. The Lancers debuted the Linnie and Bernard Key Track and Field Complex in April, marking Grace’s first home meet at the sparkling new track facility. In the fall, 1st Source Bank agreed to partner with the athletic department for the naming rights of Grace’s soccer stadium.

Grace also had 10 teams represented at national tournaments during the 2016-17 season, and the Lancers won numerous individual All-American, All-League and Scholar-Athlete awards.

Briscoe’s pursuit of Christian excellence translated into the classroom. Grace had a record 16 NAIA Scholar-Teams last July, and Lancer student-athletes posted an average GPA of 3.37 during the fall semester.

Additionally, Briscoe is the coordinator for the Interstate Church Softball Tournament, which raises funds each year for mission work in Paraguay, and he is active in his local church in Warsaw.

“Chad leads our athletic department in an exemplary fashion. His passion and dedication for Christian excellence is contagious, and our teams, coaches and student-athletes benefit every day from his leadership,” said Grace President Dr. Bill Katip. “We are blessed to have Chad lead our athletic department at Grace College, and this honor is very deserving for the type of servant leader that Chad is.”