Jeff Price, former Sinclair athletics director and head men’s basketball coach who recently accepted the associate head coach position for the University of Central Arkansas men’s basketball program, is leaving the conference with a bang – named the Michael Rickard Athletics Director of the Year for 2020-21. Price was voted to this honor for the third time in his career.
“I am very blessed to be recognized by my colleagues with this honor,” Price said. “It has also been my distinct pleasure to have served alongside so many dedicated leaders in the OCCAC. The amount of passion and energy each athletics director has not only for their student-athletes but all student-athletes in the conference is infectious.”
Despite Sinclair suspending athletics for the 2020-21 season, Price’s impact on the OCCAC, NJCAA and beyond continued in a big way. Some of his ’20-21 highlights include but are not limited to:
-Selected to be a part of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC)’s “ALL IN TO VOTE” task force. Partnered with head coaches from George Mason, Princeton, Stanford, Utah, Villanova, among others, to foster student civic engagement across the country.
-Chosen as a Regional Ambassador for the NJCAA Committee for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion.
-Participated as a breakout subcommittee member for the Sinclair Equity Summit.
-Continued to act as OCCAC Assistant Commissioner and basketball chair, providing leadership with scheduling and procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
-Named a Norma Dycus Real Sport Award recipient (read more).
-Served on several leadership committees in the region related to COVID-19
COMPLETE LIST of previous conference honorees.