Old Dominion University has been named one of the nation’s “Best College Athletic Departments” as announced by Front Office Sports on Thursday.
This year’s winners were determined by Sports Innovation Lab through their data-driven methodology. Athletic departments submitted applications and responded to questions about their facilities, NIL (name, image, and likeness), college-athlete mental health support, financial literacy training, career mentorship, career transitions, and more.
“This is a great honor and tremendous reflection of the values and efforts of all within ODU and ODU athletics to support our student-athletes in their academic and athletic pursuits,” ODU Director of Athletics Dr. Wood Selig said. “We are humbled and appreciative and certainly recognize the other outstanding programs included in this prestigious ranking.”
To recognize these departments, Front Office Sports and Sports Innovation Lab teamed up to identify this year’s best athletic programs, those modeling to the rest of the collegiate athletic sector how to innovate on behalf of college athletes of today and tomorrow.
Factors for ODU earning the award ranged from the department’s focus on increased enhancements for student-athlete mental health, recent facility upgrades to Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium and the LR Hill Sports Complex, and the upgrades to the women’s soccer locker room.
Click here for the full list of winners.