Grace College Athletic Director Chad Briscoe, right, was named the Crossroads League’s AD of the Year for 2020-21. InkFreeNews photo provided by Grace College.

WINONA LAKE — For the third time in his distinguished career, Grace’s Director of Athletics Chad Briscoe was recognized as the Crossroads League AD of the Year.

Briscoe, who also won the award in 2010 and 2017, was voted by his peers within the league for the prestigious award.

“I am humbled to receive this award. It is a direct reflection of the tremendous work and investment from our coaches and student-athletes throughout the year. I am thankful for the platform we have been given at Grace College to live out and share Christ in the arena of athletics,” Briscoe said. “I serve alongside outstanding athletic directors in the league. They are all friends who sharpen me professionally and work with excellence on a daily basis.”

Grace enjoyed arguably its finest athletic season in school history during the 2020-21 school year.

In just one year, Grace doubled its number of national championships. The Lancers had three national crowns to its credit before the school year.

Men’s soccer, men’s tennis and men’s track and field all claimed their respective NCCAA national championships in 2020-21. Men’s tennis and men’s track and field won championships on the same day in the spring.

As a result of Grace’s success, the department was given the NCCAA’s Presidential Award for the first time in school history. The award is calculated based on team finishes at NCCAA national championship events.

Grace had nine sports qualify for NCCAA tournament, including three national champs and two national runners-up. Grace had seven sports represent the Lancers at NAIA national championships in 2020-21.

Both of Grace’s soccer programs qualified for NAIA Nationals this spring — marking a first-time accomplishment to have both qualify in the same season. The men’s track and field team ended the year ranked for the first time (No. 18). Men’s tennis, women’s soccer and women’s golf also ended the year ranked in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.

Briscoe is well-respected at the national level of the NAIA. He has been a member of the National Administrative Council (NAC) for the past six years. For the past three years, he was on the NAC’s Executive Committee, chairing the Championships and Competition Committee. He was recently elected to be the vice chair for the NAC’s Executive Committee this summer.

He was also the sport liaison for men’s basketball, helping guide the sport through its first-year transition to a single division national tournament. He was also a member of the inaugural NAIA Men’s Basketball Selection Committee.

Additionally he was elected to the NAIA’s National Coordinating Committee this summer.

Briscoe is also active within the NCCAA leadership, currently serving as the vice president.

Grace’s athletic facilities have seen a near complete overhaul since his appointment as AD in 2007. Grace has undergone major stadium projects for soccer, softball and track and field under Briscoe’s oversight.

Briscoe’s pursuit of Christian excellence translated into the classroom. For four straight years, all of Grace’s athletic teams have earned the NAIA/NCCAA Scholar-Team distinction (minimum team GPA of 3.00 or better).