2024-25 RRAC Athletic Director of the Year
Lucas Morgan, LSU Shreveport

WACO, Texas – While the LSU Shreveport baseball team is making history, the school's athletic director, Lucas Morgan, is on a historic run of his own. For the third time in the last seven years, Morgan is recognized as the RRAC Athletic Director of the Year as the 2024-25 award winner.

The RRAC Athletic Director of the Year award recognizes the leader who had the best year in overall program performance, facility development, game administration, NAIA Champions of Character commitment, ability to hire and keep quality coaches, program growth in sports and revenue opportunities, contributions at the conference and national levels, and student-athlete development. The award is decided through a vote among all RRAC athletic directors.

Currently competing in the NAIA Baseball World Series, LSUS extended its all-time college record to 56-0 on the season with another victory on Monday night. Morgan has been pivotal in cementing the Pilots' place as a national power in baseball along with conference champion and national tournament caliber programs in men's and women's soccer and men's and women's basketball. The LSUS women's tennis team also reached the NAIA Top 25 this season. (Update: LSUS completed the first undefeated season in college baseball history at 59-0 with the NAIA World Series championship.)

"I am so fortunate to have the incredible staff we have here at LSUS and I am grateful for this honor," says Morgan. "Everyone is fully dedicated to the goals we have set and it shows by all the things being achieved. 

"I also have the utmost respect for the athletic directors in our conference and truly enjoy working with them to grow our profession. I'm so appreciative of them for selecting me to represent the RRAC and look forward to the future with them. My wife also deserves much of the credit. The number of things she does that no one sees allows me to live out my dream and is the difference maker. I couldn't do this without her."

In addition to the 2025 RRAC baseball title, the Pilots won regular season conference championships in men's and women's soccer and women's basketball this year. Morgan and his athletic department also hosted the RRAC baseball tournament as they've done every year since he arrived in 2016. LSUS also conducted the Cajun Collision baseball tournament, which features top RRAC teams and many of the top teams from around the country.

With Morgan at the helm, LSUS has captured 35 RRAC championships, made 33 national tournament appearances, and claimed seven NAIA Opening Round titles. The department has also enjoyed academic success, with student-athlete GPA rising each year of his tenure.

"Lucas has served as one of our conference's top administrators and an important voice from the moment he arrived at LSU Shreveport," says RRAC Commissioner Tony Stigliano. "The respect he has earned among his peers and the quality of his program are why he continues to earn recognition."

Morgan's influence extends beyond his campus and the RRAC. He has been a prominent leader within the NAIA governance structure since 2018, when he was appointed to the NAIA Athletics Directors Association (NAIA-ADA) Board of Directors. In 2024, he was elected as the 2nd Vice President by his peers. He has also contributed to the growth and improvement of NAIA athletics by serving on several key committees, including the NAIA National Administrative Council, NAIA Competitive Experience Committee, the Minority Opportunities Athletics Association (MOAA) Committee and the NAIA Championship Competition Committee. Additionally, Morgan plays a critical role on the NAIA Men's Soccer Executive Committee, including its National Selection Committee.

Morgan has also spearheaded a remarkable transformation of LSUS's athletic facilities, with over $9.5 million invested into construction and renovations. Key improvements include the upgrade of Pilot Field, with a new clubhouse, turf infield, LED lighting, and a new scoreboard, as well as significant enhancements to the Pilots' basketball gym, The Dock, and the soccer complex, which features a new climate-controlled press box, improved locker rooms, and a high-end TifTuf Bermuda grass playing surface. Additionally, Morgan led the rebirth of both the men's and women's soccer programs in 2017-18 and the addition of an eSports program in 2020.

Fundraising efforts under Morgan's leadership have seen extraordinary growth, with the department's budget increasing by 313% and athletic scholarships growing by 218% since his arrival. In the past year alone, LSUS saw a 200% increase in fundraising, allowing for expanded scholarships, staff hires, and facility upgrades.

Morgan's commitment to community engagement is equally impressive. LSUS athletics has become a staple in the Shreveport-Bossier community, with student-athletes contributing thousands of hours to local schools and community service projects, including clean-up efforts, toy drives, canned food drives, and field days. His leadership in these efforts was recognized when he was named to the Greater Shreveport 40 Under Forty Class of 2023.

A former student-athlete himself, Morgan played basketball at Dodge City Community College (Kan.) and Newman University (Kan.) before earning his Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from Wichita State University. He went on to earn a Master's in Physical Education/Sports Administration from the University of Central Missouri.

Morgan resides in Bossier City, La., with his wife, Savoeun. They have three children: Nash, Amaya, and Alexis.  

RRAC Athletic Directors of the Year