This year’s Athletic Director Award of Excellence goes to two deserving individuals. The award is named after the former system athletic director of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, Dave Harris.
Tod Morgan
Morgan has been very active in the state of North Carolina, serving in numerous high schools and in various capacities, including coach, athletic administrator, assistant principal, and principal for over sixteen (16) years. Currently serving as the athletic director at Topsail High School, Tod has previously worked at Chapel Hill High School, Jones Senior High School, C.B. Aycock High School, and East Carteret High School. He has served on many committees for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association and has likewise received numerous accolades that distinguish him as a leader in education and athletics.
NCADA executive director Roy Turner says, “A committed servant leader, Tod’s dedication to student-athletes and the community is reflected in his achievements. His leadership and impact extend beyond his coaching roles, as he has influenced countless students and peers through his transformational coaching philosophy and lifelong learning approach.” Current NCHSAA Board member and system athletic director for Gaston County Schools, Chad Duncan, adds, “Tod has the qualities necessary to work with all people, which include a true interest in them as people, a driving work ethic to make them try to achieve at the highest level possible, a positive role model in the community, a love for his occupation and community he represents, and a non-partial person in dealing with everyone as he attempts to make things better for all.”
Justin Roberson
With over ten (10) years of experience in athletic administration, Roberson, the current athletic director and baseball coach at Perquimans High School, also serves as the Dean of Students and is pursuing a Master of School Administration from East Carolina University. He is a graduate of Perquimans High, where he was a multi-sport athlete. Not only is Coach Roberson active in his community but with his leadership, he gets the PHS athletes actively engaged with the community in the local elementary school and nursing home. Roberson serves at the state level for the North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association on their Board of Directors and has been tasked with coaching previous NC State Games’ teams. According to Mike Dufrene, assistant principal, Justin’s “passion, dedication, and vision has taken our athletic programs to a championship level thanks to his leadership. He values wins off the field just as much as wins on the field by developing dedicated coaches and true student-athletes who display good sportsmanship, win or lose. [His] impeccable reputation is a cornerstone of his career.” A colleague adds that “as an athletic director, he consistently demonstrates his dedication to the welfare of our athletes and coaches.” A former teacher and parent of a Perquimans High athlete sums it up nicely – “I am incredibly grateful that my son had the opportunity to be coached by Justin. He taught my son not just about the game but about life – hard work, respect, and tradition. These are lessons that my son will carry forever. [He] is more than just a coach; he is an integral part of our school, our community, and high school sports.”
The Dave Harris Athletic Director Award of Excellence strives to recognize and honor outstanding male and female athletic directors annually who have positively impacted his or her athletic administrators within their respective county and on a statewide level as a mentor and peer collaborator; an impeccable reputation amongst his or her peers for championing good behavior and exemplifying integrity and fairness; and demonstrated leadership, resourcefulness, and promotion of professional development amongst athletic personnel within the schools he/she serves.
The Clary Medal is made possible through the generosity of the Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Family Foundation and annually recognizes an outstanding male and female varsity student-athlete participating in varsity competition in at least two NCHSAA-sanctioned teams. The award is based on each individual’s excellence in athletic participation, extra-curricular activities, and community service, exhibiting a desire to excel in all areas of life – athletics, education, sportsmanship, teamwork, leadership, honesty, and integrity. The Wilburn Clary Medal was first awarded in 2006 and is dedicated to Wilburn Clary. Clary’s athletic career involved coaching, officiating, and administration. He coached several sports at the Methodist Children’s Home for almost 30 years, was an outstanding high school and collegiate official, and served as the executive secretary of the Western North Carolina High School Activities Association from 1949 until 1977 when the organization merged with the NCHSAA.