2026 NAIA National Awards
Story courtesy: NAIA.org
Sports Information Director of the Year: Josh McDermott, Southern Oregon
(Recognizes an outstanding sports information director based on accomplishments during the previous year in the areas of sports information and service to the NAIA.)
Josh McDermott has worked tirelessly to increase Southern Oregon University's visibility through his prolific production of press releases, programs, stats, bios, websites, web broadcasts, and social media content. He recently was awarded the College Sports Communicators’ 2025-26 Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest award for best event coverage in the College Division, with a winning entry detailing the championship round of the 2025 NAIA Softball World Series and SOU’s victory.
His comprehensive coverage of the university's 18 sports has shone a light on the institution, promoting student-athletes, coaches, and athletics programming. Josh led his staff through a massive undertaking, creating custom videoboard graphics for 100 student-athletes at the NAIA Softball Opening Round.
He supported the Cascade Collegiate Conference by hosting championships in men's and women's soccer, beach volleyball, women's wrestling, and track & field, along with an NAIA Softball Opening Round. This created a high-quality student-athlete experience and promoted the conference on both the regional and national stages.
His devotion to the sports information field is unwavering, and his commitment to bettering everything he has a hand in has made him an asset to Southern Oregon University and the NAIA.
Clarence “Ike” Pearson Award: David Toelle, Kansas Wesleyan
Named in honor of the former statistical crew chief of the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship, the Clarence "Ike" Pearson Award recognizes a member of the NAIA-Sports Information Directors Association (NAIA-SIDA) for their outstanding contributions to the profession.
In his 22 years at Kansas Wesleyan, David Toelle has been a pillar of consistency. As a dedicated servant to the profession of athletic communications, he serves as the chair of the KCAC Sports Information Directors group and as a voice to the KCAC Governing Council on behalf of the sports information directors within the conference.
As Associate Athletic Director for Athletic Communications, David has continually taken on whatever is needed to help an event, department, or institution succeed. David has taken on game operations responsibilities, ensuring facilities, game workers, officials, visiting teams, and countless behind-the-scenes details are handled so competition can run smoothly.
His commitment to service reaches into the Salina community as well. Since 2001, he has volunteered at KSHSAA state basketball tournaments and has also supported state baseball championships through scoring and event management.
His honors include three-time KCAC Sports Information Director of the Year, KWU Young Alumnus Award, and induction into the Kansas Wesleyan Coyote Hall of Fame in 2022.
David’s willingness to serve, great attention to detail, and commitment to others have made a lasting impact on Kansas Wesleyan, the KCAC, and the broader athletic community. He has been a pioneer in bringing the university and other regional institutions into the digital age.
NAIA Hall of Fame: Cindy Potter, Columbia (Mo.)
The Hall of Fame Award is the highest honor presented by the association. Nominees must be of outstanding quality, high moral character, fine leadership ability and must be held in high esteem by their colleagues, former coaches and former athletes. The Hall of Fame consists of an athlete and coach category for each sport currently or formerly sponsored by the NAIA and a category for general meritorious service.
Cindy Potter has dedicated more than 24 years to Columbia College (Mo.), serving in several leadership roles before becoming the first female director of athletics at the college. Widely known as one of the most accomplished sports information directors in NAIA history, she was the first NAIA member to serve on the CoSIDA national board and became the first woman outside of NCAA Division I to serve as president. Cindy served on the National Administrative Council, RISE, and the National Drug Testing and Education Council.
Her awards include the CoSIDA College Division Rising Star Award, the Warren Berg Award, the American Midwest Conference Co-Sports Information Director of the Year Award, and the Clarence "Ike" Pearson Award. She was inducted into both the College Sports Communications and Columbia College Athletic halls of fame.
Cindy is an advocate in all aspects of small college athletics. Her dedication to advancing the field of sports technology has been groundbreaking for sports communicators, women in the industry, and the organization. She has been integral in building an athletic department that produces scholar-athletes, conference championship teams, and consistent national-level success. She is a pioneer in breaking barriers for the association and her female counterparts.