Union's Athletic Director
From 1977 to 2000
CAPE COD, Mass. — Eastern College Athletic Conference Commissioner Phil Buttafuoco has announced the recipients of the 2002 ECAC Distinguished Achievement Award in memory of James Lynah. William J. Cleary, Harvard University; Bill Leete, University of New Haven; and Richard Sakala, Union College, have been selected at this year's recipients.
Established in 1957, the ECAC Distinguished Service Award is bestowed to an ECAC male or female athletics administrator who has achieved outstanding success in his or her career and has made significant contributions in the interest of intercollegiate athletics. The awards will be presented at the ECAC Fall Convention Honors Dinner, presented by Jostens, on Tuesday, October 1 at the Sheraton Hyannis Hotel.
Sakala retired as director of athletics at Union in the spring of 2000, a position he had held since 1977. During his tenure, Sakala was the architect of one of the most successful Division III programs in the East. Union football and swimming and diving teams were national contenders while the field hockey, women's volleyball, men's lacrosse, baseball and softball teams enjoyed postseason success within the ECAC and the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association. Union's men's ice hockey team was considered one of the finest in the ECAC and the nation at the Division III level before moving into the ECAC Division I Men's League in 1991.
A former president of the ECAC, Sakala served on the ECAC Executive Council, the finance committee and was a member of several ECAC Championships committees. He was also a member of the NCAA Division III Football Committee.
A driving force behind the formation of the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association in 1995, he helped bring together eight of the finest private New York State small colleges (Clarkson, Hamilton, Hobart/William Smith, St. Lawrence, Rensselaer, Rochester, Skidmore, and Union). Several of the teams have enjoyed postseason success at the state and national levels. He served as the conference's president during the 1997-98 season.
Sakala oversaw the renovation of numerous Union athletic facilities. During his tenure, Alumni Guy, Garis Field, Memorial Field House, Alexander Field and Frank Bailey Field were all upgraded. For his contributions to the school, Sakala was presented with the Alumni Association's Faculty Meritorious Service Award in 1984.
A 1962 graduate of Columbia University, Sakala played quarterback and defensive back for the 1961 Ivy League championship team. He also played baseball for the Lions.