Leon Costello, the director of athletics at Montana State University since 2016, has been awarded the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) AD of the Year for the 2023-24 academic year. Costello is one of four recipients from the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. The NACDA presented a total of 28 awards in seven divisions.
Under Costello’s leadership, Montana State University’s athletic programs have achieved unprecedented success. The school made history by finishing in the top three in each conference sport during the 2021-22 academic year. The men’s basketball team played in three consecutive NCAA tournaments, the women’s basketball team won 30 games, and the football team played for the FCS championship in 2021 and 2024.
Costello has overseen the department’s academic success, with student-athletes consistently maintaining a GPA of at least 3.0. He has also been instrumental in facility upgrades and expanding support staff for student-athletes, including hiring a sports psychologist and sports dietitian.
Costello’s career in collegiate athletics began at Northern Iowa in 2002 and included a tenure at South Dakota State before joining Montana State. He will be honored at the NACDA convention in June for his outstanding contributions to athletic administration.
Montana State University President Waded Cruzado commended Costello for his energy, focus, and dedication to enhancing the athletic program, expressing gratitude to Costello and the entire MSU community for their support. Costello, a former basketball player at Loras College, expressed his gratitude for the honor and excitement for the future of Bobcat Athletics.
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