Former SMU A.D. Jim Copeland Named To NACDA Hall Of Fame

CLEVELAND (NACDA/SMU) — Former SMU Athletics Director Jim Copeland will be inducted into the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Hall Of Fame as part of its 2009 class, the organization announced May 5. Copeland will be among eight administrators joining the Hall.

Copeland is a past President of the NACDA and served as a director of athletics at four institutions over the course of his career - SMU, Virginia, Utah and William & Mary. While at SMU, some of his biggest accomplishments included generating resources and building the state-of-the-art $62-million football facility, Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

Under his tutelage, opportunities for female student-athletes increased and the athletics department accepted a bid to join Conference USA. Under Copeland's direction, three varsity women's sports were added and SMU teams won 58 conference regular season and tournament championships.

Academic success was a large focus of Copeland's tenure at SMU as well. Under his tutelage, 19 student-athletes were named academic All-Americans and SMU posted an impressive 89 percent in the NCAA's initial institutional Graduation/Success Rate. Copeland served on the board of directors of the College Football Association, the NCAA Football Issues Committee, the NCAA Committee for Restructuring of Division I and the NCAA Division I Management Council.

Other members of the 2009 NACDA Hall of Fame class include: Bill Baird, Rhode Island College; Bob Burns, John Brown University; Barbara Hedges, Washington; Bobby May, Rice; Orby Moss, Jr., Georgia State; Phil Roach, Rollins; and Bill Rowe, Missouri State.

The inductees will receive their awards at NACDA's 44th Annual Convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Florida on Friday, June 19 Learfield Sports Directors' Cup Awards Luncheon, sponsored by NCAA Football.

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