The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Executive Committee made history today by naming Mary Ellen Leicht the Executive Director of the organization. Leicht becomes just the third executive director for the NJCAA dating back to 1939, and is the first female to be named to the position. She also becomes the first female chief executive of any intercollegiate athletic association in the United States. Leicht served as the Acting Executive Director during the six month search by the Executive Committee under the guidance of NJCAA President Art Becker. "I am extremely pleased with the selection of Mary Ellen Leicht as the new Executive Director of the NJCAA," said Becker. "The NJCAA Executive Committee interviewed an excellent group of candidates but it became apparent that Mary Ellen possessed the right combination of qualities that we wanted in a leader. Her long time experience with the NJCAA and her knowledge of the inner workings of the organization will allow her to make a seamless transition to the job as Executive Director. She now has the opportunity to set the course for the future of the NJCAA; a future that starts today."Leicht will oversee all business and day-to-day operations of the second-largest intercollegiate athletic association in the country. The NJCAA is the only national governing body of intercollegiate athletics for two-year colleges and its current membership of 525 institutions is second only to the NCAA. A 20-year veteran of the NJCAA, Leicht stepped into the organization in 1989 serving as an Eligibility Administrator and was quickly promoted to Associate Executive Director. She has led many of the organization's most challenging initiatives, which resulted in more efficient and effective regulations. She assisted with the development of a divisional competition structure for 28 different sports and was instrumental in the comprehensive overhaul of eligibility regulations. Leicht also directed the implementation of the association's current online eligibility and letter of intent program.
Leicht doesn’t see her selection as the first female executive as anything but the NJCAA being the NJCAA,” It is a great honor but the NJCAA as an organization has been race and gender blind for years. I have worked on both in the men’s and women’s divisions over the years. I hope that my being selected as the first female executive of the NJCAA opens doors in the future but really it won’t be a change from the past 20-years.”
When asked if she felt as though she was a pioneer for women in college athletics, she said “I think of a pioneer as the women from 20-years ago that fought for Title 9. It was these women that laid the groundwork for so many women such as me. I just hope that I can open doors for those that follow behind me, regardless of race or gender.”
She has championed improvements in equity of sports seasons, scholarships, and contests as well as qualifying standards for NJCAA championship events.
This past year (2008-2009), some 54,364 student-athletes competed in 28 different NJCAA sports. Over 3,500 teams competed last year in the NJCAA and the association held 48 national championship events. Thus, the organization and its member institutions offer many opportunities for student-athletes to learn, compete and succeed. Under Leicht's direction the focus of the organization will continue to be on the student-athlete.
"The NJCAA fulfills a unique niche in the higher education landscape," adds Leicht. "We (NJCAA) provide opportunities to individuals who may not have been able to further their academic and athletic careers due to family ties, economics or a myriad of other reasons. There is a long list of professional and Olympic athletes who got their careers started at an NJCAA institution, which speaks to the high level of competition experienced within our organization." "Looking into the future, the NJCAA will continue to showcase those stories which reflect the two-year college experience, not just athletically but also academically as well as from a community service standpoint. In addition, the association will continue to look at legislation which gives the two-year college student-athlete the best opportunity for success on the field of play as well as in their future life endeavors."
Leicht was a four-year letter winner in basketball at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, receiving a B.B.A. in business administration. She went on to obtain a M.S. in sports administration from the University of New Mexico and spent a year with the High Country Athletic Conference before joining the NJCAA staff in 1989.
“I think it is important that each college helps the student-athlete understand that their career will end one day. It is hard for an 18 or 19 year old to understand that their moment as an athlete is fleeting. We have to train these kids to understand that when the crowds are gone, they will need their education to fall back on. It is our job to help them understand they need to become career oriented and help them on the path to becoming productive members of society,” said Leicht.
Leicht hopes to work closely with member colleges as she wants every school to be informed of the happenings within the NJCAA. It is her goal to work with member schools and set up groups around the country to discuss the individual schools needs.
It is a testament to the NJCAA to have only had three executive directors since 1939 and USC Salkehatchie wishes Executive Director Mary Ellen Leicht the very best and she begins her journey.
USC Salkehatchie named it's first female athletic director in the school's history last year, when Mrs. Jane Brewer accepted the job.
Mrs. Brewer became one of the first female athletic directors in Region X with her appointment, the conference that USC Salkehatchie participates in all sports.
