CLEVELAND, OH – Former Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Lee A. McElroy will be inducted into the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2025 next week.
McElroy led the athletics department at RPI from 2015-23, where he oversaw 12 men's and 11 women's programs involving nearly 600 student-athletes, as well as the intramurals program, engaging over 2,000 students.
Prior to coming to Rensselaer, McElroy served as the director of athletics at the University at Albany from 2000-14. He came to UAlbany from American University, where he served as director of athletics for four years. Prior to that, he served as director of athletics at Sacramento State for seven years.
During his tenure at UAlbany, McElroy oversaw the growth of the university's athletics programs from Division II to a successful member of Division I. The department won 74 conference titles and earned 31 NCAA post-season appearances during that time. In 2013, McElroy and UAlbany opened a new multi-sports complex featuring Bob Ford Field, where the Great Danes football team began its first year as a member of what is now the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA).
UAlbany athletics teams won three America East Commissioner's Cups under McElroy's guidance (2007, 2013 and 2014). He served as President of the America East Board of Directors in 2007 and 2011.
McElroy served on the NACDA Executive Committee in 2000-01 before moving up the Officer ranks and becoming NACDA President in 2006-07. In 2008-09, he was recognized as a NACDA Athletics Director of the Year (ADOY). McElroy was honored by the McLendon Foundation in 2012 as part of its Minority Athletics Administrators Hall of Fame. In June 2014, he was named emeritus vice president and director of athletics by the State University of New York (SUNY).
In April 2022, McElroy was honored with LifePath's Third Age Achievement Award, designed to pay tribute to members of the Capital Region who make significant contributions to the community after turning 60.
McElroy still serves NACDA as a member of the Association's Board of Directors, Finance-Management Committee and Investment Committee. From 1996-2004, he was the chair of the Learfield Directors' Cup Committee.
