KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association introduces its newest award in honor of Jerry Hughes, the long-time University of Central Missouri Director of Athletics and NCAA Division II legend.

The Jerry Hughes Rising Star Award, established by the MIAA, seeks to recognize a young MIAA administrator or coach who embodies the principles and core values of the MIAA and its membership – fair competition, academic success and service to others.

The award is named in honor of Jerry Hughes, the long-time University of Central Missouri Director of Athletics, who passed away in January 2023.

Like Jerry, this individual consistently makes a positive, lasting impact on the lives and experiences of student-athletes, coaches, fellow administrators, community members, and other institutional stakeholders.

“Jerry’s legacy is not just the successful program he built at UCM. It includes the success and growth of the MIAA and the thousands of student-athletes he has benefited and continues to benefit through his NCAA service,” added Commissioner Racy. “I’m proud of our Association for continuing to honor Jerry’s legacy through this award.”

Selected by MIAA Athletic Directors, the Jerry Hughes Rising Star Award will honor one young administrator or coach who best exemplifies the spirit of Jerry and his passion for making a difference in intercollegiate athletics at the institutional, conference, and national levels.

Each year, the award winner will be presented with the Jerry Hughes Rising Star Award at the MIAA Basketball Championships in Kansas City.

For more information about the Jerry Hughes Rising Star Award, visit TheMIAA.com/RisingStarAward.