Long wins best AD at Sports Business Awards

Jeff Long, College Football Playoff selections committee chairman, discusses the selection process of the semifinal pairings and semifinal bowl assignments during a news conference Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, in Grapevine, Texas. (AP Photo/Tim Sharp)
Jeff Long, College Football Playoff selections committee chairman, discusses the selection process of the semifinal pairings and semifinal bowl assignments during a news conference Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, in Grapevine, Texas. (AP Photo/Tim Sharp)

— Arkansas' Jeff Long won Athletics Director of the Year Wednesday at the Sports Business Awards in New York.

Long was one of four finalists for the award, along with Kentucky's Mitch Barnhart, Baylor's Ian McCaw and Clemson's Dan Radakovich. The award was one of 78 presented during the annual event hosted by Sports Business Journal.

It is the second time Long has won a similar award. He was one of four administrators named athletics director of the year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics in 2013.

"Sports Business Journal for me is a special one," Long said after being named a finalist for the award in March. "I respect that publication and respect those people. It means something to me to be a finalist for that award.

"It talks more about our program. It's the success of our coaches, what we're doing on the field, what we're doing off the field and what we're doing financially. Hog fans should be very proud of what they've helped us do in a small state without a huge alumni population."

The College Football Playoff, for which Long is the selection committee chairman, also won Wednesday for Sports Event of the Year.

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