GREENSBORO, N.C.–North Carolina A&T State University Intercollegiate Athletics Director Earl M. Hilton III has been named an Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year for NCAA FCS institutions and was presented his award on Tuesday.

The Under Armour awards program was created to honor intercollegiate directors of athletics for commitment and administrative excellence within a campus or college community environment over the past year. The awards span seven divisions -- NCAA FBS, FCS, Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year Institutions and Junior/Community Colleges -- and annually honor 28 athletics directors (four from each division).

Hilton has served as athletics director at North Carolina A&T State for eight years, leading its 17 Div. I sports teams from challenging circumstances to unprecedented success on the field and in the classroom. Under Hilton, the Aggies have won a combined 29 conference regular-season, championship meets or tournament championship titles and played in 11 postseason bowl or tournament games --where they have won seven games or matches. 

In football, Aggies have won three of the four Celebration Bowls held thus far, an event that pits the winners of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC, in which A&T competes) against the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The annual event is the de facto national championship for black college football.

In men’s and women’s track, Aggies have been even more dominant, winning a combined 11 indoor and outdoor conference championships over the past three years. This past February, N.C. A&T became the first MEAC institution to win three consecutive conference championships in both men’s and women’s indoor track & field. In 2018-19, the women’s basketball team went undefeated in the MEAC, marking the first time in school history the program has accomplished the feat.

In addition, the Aggies won the Southern Division regular-season title in baseball in 2018-19. For all the on-field accomplishments in 2018-19, North Carolina A&T State swept the MEAC's All-Sports awards.

Numerous Aggies have moved on to professional competition over the past few years, as well, including Tarik Cohen of the Chicago Bears, Brandon “Big Stuff” Parker of the Oakland Raiders and 2019 NFL Draft pick Darryl Johnson in the NFL and Cutter Dyals in the Atlanta Braves organization of Major League Baseball. In amateur competition, women’s track star Kayla White and men’s standout Chris Belcher logged global and national best times in the 200-meter and 100-meter sprints. 

Academic performance has grown just as strong. 

“Earl is not only an exceptional leader, focused on excellence in both academic and athletic performance, but an outstanding role model for the coaches and student athletes in our athletics program,” NCAT Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. said. “He leads with his values, never avoids the tough decisions and requires that his teams compete with honor. I could not ask for anything more from an athletics director. This award is richly deserved.” 

Prior to his service as athletics director, Hilton served A&T as assistant athletics director for compliance, associate athletics director for internal affairs and assistant vice chancellor for student affairs. 

Hilton received his B.S., degree in political science in 1992 from Lamar University. He also has a Master's degree in public administration and a Juris Doctorate from Texas Tech University.