Dr. Connee Zotos, Drew Director of Athletics from 1994-2008, was recently awarded a Nike Lifetime Achievement Award from Women Leaders in College Sports.

The award is bestowed annually to administrators and professionals who have dedicated their careers to advancing women in sport. Because of their tireless efforts, girls and women participating in sport can enjoy competitive athletics and/or athletic career opportunities. This award is given to individuals who have rendered meritorious service and have retired from or no longer directly involved in full-time employment in the profession.

Dr. Zotos was employed as a college coach, athletic director, and faculty member for 42 years. Most notably, her 14 year tenure as AD at Drew has gone down as the most successful period in the history of the Rangers' Intercollegiate Athletics program. While the list of on-field accomplishments under her watch is extensive, her administrative work to spearhead the formation of the Landmark Conference and advance the stature of women in sports is just as important and impressive.

Under Dr. Zotos' leadership, Drew won 51 conference or league championships in 10 different sports, 28 players were selected as All-Americans, 15 student-athletes were named conference Player of the Year, 39 staff members were named Coach of the Year, and her facilities hosted three NCAA Championships. Based on eight years of data, an average of 72 student-athletes were selected to Conference All-Academic teams per year during her time as Drew's Director of Athletics.

Dr. Zotos was very active in the profession serving on the NCAA Division III Management Council, numerous NCAA and Title IX committees, the NACWAA Board of Directors, the Advisory Board of the Women's Sports Foundation, President of the College Athletic Administrators of New Jersey, and was the Executive Director of Project Fair Play. As a prolific writer and speaker she conducted over 50 workshops and presentations for coaches and athletic administrators and authored 15 publications on a variety of athletically related issues. Dr. Zotos co-authored a book and web resource titled Athletic Director's Desk Reference that contains over 300 management tips, planning tools, policy documents, evaluation instruments, forms, and risk assessment checklists for the effective management of university athletics programs.

Dr. Zotos has been recognized as a NACWAA District and National Division III Athletic Administrator of the Year and a New Jersey AIAW Outstanding Leader in Sports. She is a member of the Glassboro State College/Rowan University Sports Hall of Fame and the Drew University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2011, she received the Garden State Award for enduring leadership in college sports nationally, regionally and in the State of New Jersey.

After retiring from college athletics, Dr. Zotos was a clinical associate professor at New York University where she taught graduate and undergraduate courses in College Sports Operations. She also served as the Associate Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs in the School of Professional Studies. In 2011, she received an NYU School of Professional Studies Teaching Excellence Award. Dr. Zotos retired from NYU in 2018 and continues to work as a Senior Associate for Sports Management Resources, a consulting firm that specializes in issues related to college athletics.

Dr. Zotos received a bachelor's degree in Physical Education from Glassboro State College, a master's degree in Physical Education with a concentration in Sports Management from the University of Colorado and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.