General | 07/16/24 | 3:48 PM

HELENA, Mont. – Frontier Conference Commissioner Dr. Scott Crawford has announced the conference's award winners and NAIA Awards Day nominees for the 2023-24 academic year. Among the yearly honors, Carroll College Athletic Director Charlie Gross has been named Co-Athletic Director of the Year, and the institution has been named the Frontier Conference School of Character.

Gross was selected by his peers as one of this year's Athletic Director's of the Year based on accomplishments during the previous year in the areas of athletics administration at his institution and service to the Frontier Conference and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). 

Success continues to be prominent across all areas of Carroll Athletics. In competition, the Fighting Saints had another memorable year featuring exciting play and historic performances. The Carroll Men's and Women's Cross Country teams won their third and fourth, respective, Frontier Conference titles. Carroll Women's Basketball advanced to the NAIA National Semifinal for the first time in the 50 year history of the program. Multiple student-athletes earned NAIA All-American honors, three coaches earned conference Coach of the Year honors, and Jamie Pickens of the Women's Basketball team was named NAIA National Player of the Year. The Fighting Saints finished runner-up in the Bandy Award standings, accruing a total of 102.5 points across all Frontier sports.

In the classroom, the Saints were equally as impressive. Across all sports, the Fighting Saints ended the spring semester with a department-wide 3.41 GPA, the highest of any in the Frontier Conference. As has been the case for many years, Carroll led the conference in Academic All-Conference selections for nearly every sport. 

In addition to the performance of the Carroll student-athletes, Gross oversaw some transformational changes within the Athletic department this year. Two additional sports were announced in the winter of 2023, Competitive Cheer and Competitive Dance, as well as the addition of two developmental programs in JV Men's Soccer and JV Men's Basketball. All four programs will begin this Fall.

The Saints Athletic Association, the chief fundraising arm of Carroll Athletics, continued to grow. The 2023-24 year saw growth in every measurable category, including membership, revenue, and individual event revenue. All proceeds from the SAA are directed toward the growth and benefit of Carroll's 400-plus student-athletes.

The crowning achievement of the year, however, resides in the oversight of the single largest investment in Carroll Athletics in the last 20 years. The Nelson Stadium Enhancement Project was officially announced, and implemented over the course of the last 12 months. The historic venue received a major face-lift, with a synthetic turf and precision stadium lighting installed this summer. The renovation is of tremendous value to the department, increasing quality practice and game access to over two-thirds of Carroll student-athletes, as well as transforming the space into a true multi-purpose community asset.

In addition to the Nelson Stadium Enhancement Project, Gross has overseen several other facility upgrades in the past year, including a new Softball locker room, as well as a new ADA-accessible locker room inside the Carroll PE Center.

Continuing a trend, Carroll was once again named an NAIA Five Star Gold institution, a distinction that has happened every year of Gross' tenure.

The School of Character award celebrates institutions within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) that exemplify exceptional commitment to fostering character development among their student-athletes. This award recognizes institutions that not only meet the rigorous standards of a 5-star institution but also demonstrate outstanding dedication to embracing the 5 core values of the NAIA Champions of Character program.

Under Gross' leadership, the Fighting Saints will move forward on the national ballot for NAIA National School of Character.

To continue to stay up to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics, visit www.carrollathletics.com.

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