Claflin's O'Neal Named CIAA Athletic Director of the Year
CHARLOTTE, NC - After completing another fantastic year, the awards are coming in for the Claflin University Department of Athletics. On Tuesday afternoon, Claflin University Director of Athletics Tony O'Neal was honored as the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Athletics Director of the Year.
O'Neal was honored for his efforts in leading the tremendous successes of Claflin University and the CIAA throughout the 2023-24 athletic year. Throughout the 2023-24 academic year, O'Neal has led several renovations including improvements to locker rooms for Lady Panthers basketball and volleyball as well as the installation of new seating for Edward L. Tullis Arena. The renovations also included the addition of a hospitality suite into the arena as well. The student-athletes of Claflin University also saw success in the classroom where 82% of the student-athletes earned a 3.0 or higher grade-point average with 16 student-athletes earning a perfect 4.0 GPA. The student-athletes also saw competitive success where the Panthers men's indoor track & field team claimed their second straight CIAA championship. The Panthers outdoor track & field team placed second at the 2024 CIAA Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championship Meet as well. The Panthers will also send one individual and the 4x400m relay team to the 2024 NCAA Division II Men's Outdoor Track & Field National Championship Meet. Also, for the second straight season, the Claflin Lady Panthers softball team finished as runners-up for the CIAA Softball Championship.
The award was given at the 2024 CIAA End of Year Awards Ceremony in Richmond, Virginia. For more information on Panthers' athletics, contact the Claflin University Department of Athletics Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to
www.athletics.claflin.edu.
