The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) released the 2018-19 end-of-year award winners on Monday, and Montreat College’s Jose Larios was named AAC Athletic Director of the Year. Nominations were accepted and voted on by each member institution’s athletics director at the conference’s annual Council of Athletics Administrators (CAA) and Faculty Athletic Representatives (FAR) spring meetings, which took place at the Kingsport, Tenn., Visitors Center. This is Larios’ first AAC Athletic Director of the Year award.

“I’m humbled to be honored in this way,” said Larios. “We have so many great athletic directors in our league, so this is a really major honor for Montreat College. Our improvements over the years have only come due to the support of President Paul Maurer and the college’s Executive Leadership Team. I share this honor with our amazing coaches and athletic staff. The Christ-centered work they do each day is paramount to Montreat College’s mission. I’m grateful for my AAC colleagues to recognize the momentum on our campus through athletics.”

Larios was nominated by Donny Mayfield, athletic director at Tennessee Wesleyan University. “Jose has done a terrific job at Montreat College over the last several years,” said Mayfield. “It’s evident in the growth of his facilities and student athlete experience. I also enjoy hearing about what he does with his Champions of Character program. He’s very active in our conference as well as at the national level, and I think he’s extremely deserving of this honor and recognition.”

This year, Larios saw Montreat College’s highest finish in the AAC’s All-Sports Standings in 16 years, including AAC Championships for men’s cross country and men’s indoor track and field. Men’s basketball also finished as regular-season and AAC tournament runners-up, earning their first NAIA Tournament appearance since 2006. Academically, Montreat College posted a top-3 total for AAC All-Academic honorees the past two years.

Over the past five years, Larios led the growth of Montreat College’s student-athlete population by more than 150 students while overseeing multiple athletic facility projects, such as the planning and construction of Pulliam Stadium’s track and turf field, as well as the new Roxy Hines Softball Field. Larios also supervised renovations to the McAlister Fitness Center, Newell Baseball Field, and the women’s basketball locker room.

Learn more about the Montreat College athletic program.