Pat Manak
Patrick Manak assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) on January 1, 2023. Manak has served NACDA for nearly three decades. Starting with an internship in 1992, Manak worked his way up through the organization, holding a variety of roles including Deputy Executive Director before being promoted to Senior Executive Vice President in 2019.
Manak oversees NACDA and the 18 professional Associations, one affiliate and four Foundations that fall under its umbrella, each representing either an athletics director association or business unit reporting to the athletics director.
In addition to the seven athletics directors associations — NACDA, the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) ADA, Division I-AAA ADA, Division 2 ADA, NADIIIAA (Division III), NATYCAA (Two-Year Colleges) and NAIA-ADA — NACDA also manages the following organizations: CABMA (business managers), CEFMA (event/facility managers), D2 CCA (Division II commissioners), DIIICA (Division III commissioners), ICLA (licensing), MOAA (minority advancement), N4A (academic advisors and student-athlete development), NAAC (compliance), NAADD (development), NAATSO (ticketing) and NACMA (marketing), and has a unique hybrid relationship with CSC (sports communicators), which hosts its Annual Convention concurrently with NACDA and its Affiliates.
As CEO, Manak directs the planning and execution of six events annually that provide networking and professional development opportunities for NACDA & Affiliates members. In addition to the National Convention, these events include the NACDA FBS Leadership Summit, held in conjunction with the College Football Playoff National Championship, NACDA Mid-Winter Meetings, the NCAA Men’s Final Four Pre-Game Reception, NACDA Spring Symposium and NACDA & Affiliates Fall Forum.
He manages a staff of 15 full-time employees, six of whom are also former NACDA interns, and three to four interns on an annual basis.
Prior to his appointment to CEO, Manak was instrumental over the last 30 years in growing the NACDA & Affiliates Convention to becoming the largest gathering of athletics administrators in the country. Over 6,000 athletics administrators at all levels of competition and stages of their career annually attend the Convention, which until 2029 will be held in alternating years in Orlando and Las Vegas. Manak led NACDA’s efforts to sign long-term agreements with both cities and their host hotels, the World Center Marriott Resort and Mandalay Bay, to accommodate a larger-scale, all-inclusive version of the Convention that provides an enhanced experience for members, sponsors and exhibitors.
Following his NACDA internship, Manak served a brief stint as Sports Marketing Assistant at Wake Forest University from 1992-93, before returning to the National Office in Cleveland under NACDA’s first Executive Director, Mike Cleary. After Cleary’s retirement in 2011, Manak continued to grow the Association with Bob Vecchione at the helm, assisting with strategic and future planning, financial management, personnel decisions and marketing and communications for NACDA & Affiliates.
Manak is a member of the LEAD1 Board of Directors and the Mike Cleary Northeastern Ohio Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
A Cleveland native, Manak resides in Bay Village, Ohio, with his wife, Denise, also a former NACDA intern and employee. His son, Jack, is a senior at Bowling Green State University (BGSU), and his son, Luke, is a freshman at Miami University (Ohio).
