VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton Director of Athletics Eugene Marshall, Jr. has been selected as a 2024-25 NACDA Athletics Director of the Year, the association announced Monday morning. Marshall will join other honorees across all divisions in the NCAA and NAIA at the 60th Annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention in Orlando, Fla. 

Having just reached his two-year mark at Binghamton in January 2025, Marshall has instituted dramatic change and success in a short period of time. In the 2024 calendar year, under Marshall's leadership, Binghamton:

• Captured the school's second straight America East Commissioner's Cup as the No. 1 athletics program in the conference (after not finishing higher than fifth in the previous five years)
• Crowned four conference championship teams plus three more regular season champions
• The seven combined titles are the most in the school's 24-year NCAA Division I tenure
• The athletics program displayed a wide range of success by producing an Olympian (Emily Mackay), a Major League Baseball draft pick (Nick Roselli), an All-American (Tsvetelina Ilieva) and 89 all-conference selections
• Three-quarters of the teams (16 of 21) finished in the top half of their conference standings and more than half (11 of 21) were in the top-3 of the final standings
• Produced a student-athlete grade-point average of 3.46 for the 2023-24 year – substantially higher than the 3.25 GPA of the campus student body
• Two-thirds of the student-athletes produced a 3.3 or higher GPA and more than half (55%) had a 3.5 or higher
• Had a school-record 14 teams earn a perfect 1,000 APR score

Marshall's candidacy was affirmed in letters of support from University President Harvey G. Stenger and America East Commissioner Brad Walker.

"This is a time of great change in NCAA Division I athletics and Gene also serves as a most trusted advisor to all campus leaders as a member of the University's Senior Officers Group," Stenger wrote. "His expertise and diplomatic approach help us understanding the shifting landscape in college athletics and how it relates to all corners of the University. In his short time here, Gene has pushed Binghamton's Athletic Department to do more, to be better and strive for excellence in all aspects of what it does."

"Gene's drive for success and the passion he displays for his student-athletes, coaches and staff make him an ideal candidate for this prestigious award," Walker wrote. "In my time in college athletics, I have met few administrators who are as fierce an advocate for his or her student-athletes, coaches, and staff as Gene. That passion has helped drive his department to unparalleled success and established a culture in which everyone can thrive."

In addition to the competitive success and academic achievement, Binghamton Athletics under Marshall's watch has seen unprecedented facility enhancements, conference-leading broadcast production, fundraising growth and fan accessibility.

"Gene has empowered our student-athletes and coaches to take talk openly about winning and to take pride in their success," Senior Associate AD John Hartrick wrote in his nomination. "He has worked tirelessly and communicated that we will provide the needed resources to support our student-athletes and make their college experience a valuable and memorable one. Gene also has strengthened relationships and collaborations across campus and has boosted an appreciation and respect for the value of athletics at an academically-centered university.

"Above all, Gene is a visible leader … always working ... always talking with student-athletes and staff and always at our home (and many away) events, showing his support. He is a hands-on leader who has much to offer, thanks to his 40+ years of college athletics experience. His direct interactions with our staff and 400+ student-athletes have significantly strengthened our morale and created a 'family' atmosphere. This is where Gene shines brightest."