Bob Bowlsby to Receive the AFCA’s 2023 McLaughry Award

Former Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby has been selected as the 2023 recipient of the AFCA’s highest honor, the Tuss McLaughry Award. Bowlsby will receive the award during the 2023 AFCA Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Bowlsby stepped down as Commissioner of the Big 12 after a decade leading the conference. Since his appointment, Bowlsby successfully navigated television rights deals, protected student-athletes’ well-being, initiated the transition of four schools into the Big 12, and innovated the field of college athletics. Before being appointed by the Big 12, Bowlsby was an athletic director at three universities for a collective 24 years: Stanford University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa.  

During his time as Big 12 Commissioner, Bowlsby guided the conference through a season of chaos into a pivotal period of growth. Most recently, Bowlsby led the way for BYU, UCF, Cincinnati, and Houston to join the Big 12 by 2024-2025. Additionally, in his inaugural year, Bowlsby successfully navigated the addition of TCU and West Virginia to the Big 12 which helped keep the conference its Power 5 status. The Big 12 won 25 NCAA team national championships under Bowlsby’s watch and has placed teams in the College Football Playoff New Year’s Bowls each year during its seven-year history.  

Under Bowlsby, the Big 12 introduced the “State of Collegiate Athletics” forums in 2014-2015 to discuss and address issues in college athletics. The conference also launched the Big 12 Champions for Life campaign, which has successfully featured more than 400 student-athletes and alums who have publicly shared the positive impact sports have had on their lives. In 2017, Bowlsby excitingly reinstated the Big 12 conference championship game for football. This decision has elevated the level of competition within the league and increased comradery amongst Big 12 fans. The Big 12 Now on ESPN+ debuted in 2019 thanks to Bowlsby’s ability to close one of the most famous television deals in college athletics history, a 12-year comprehensive media rights agreement with ESPN and FOX Sports. This platform has allowed for better displaying of the Big 12’s talents and has allowed for the spread of the Big 12’s fan base. 

Bowlsby has served on numerous committees and boards on a national level. He was appointed to the inaugural NCAA Division I Council in 2015 and served as chair of the Football Oversight Committee, which oversees all aspects of collegiate football. Bowlsby was chairman of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee in 2004 and 2005 and was hand selected by President George W. Bush to participate in the Commission on Opportunities in Athletics in 2002. The assembly sought to ensure equality, without limitations, for all athletic participants. Bowlsby has also served as the president of the NCAA Division I-A Athletic Directors’ Association and was a member of the United States Olympic Committee from 2007 to 2014. In addition, Bowlsby was a founding member of the College Football Playoff, as well as a member of the Board of the National Football Foundation, just to name a few.   

Bowlsby attended Minnesota State University-Moorhead (MSUM) and received his bachelor’s degree in 1975. He later received his master’s degree from the University of Iowa in 1978. While at MSUM, Bowlsby was a member of the wrestling team, lettering all four years and winning a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference title. In 1998, Bowlsby was inducted into the MSUM Dragon Sports Hall of Fame, then in 2013, he received the MSUM Alumni Achievement Award. To go along with those honors from MSUM, he was inducted into the University of Northern Iowa Hall of Fame in 2007 and was named the National Athletic Director of the Year in 2002 as a result of his excellence in athletic leadership.  

 Bob Bowlsby has been a pillar in the athletic community and has influenced the landscape of modern athletics. Bowlsby has shown a deep commitment to collegiate sports and has worked with various departments to ensure an excellent and successful future for players, coaches, fans, and communities in the Big 12 and nationally.  

The Award 

The Tuss McLaughry Award is given to a distinguished American (or Americans) for the highest distinction in service to others. It is named in honor of DeOrmond “Tuss” McLaughry, the first full-time secretary-treasurer of the AFCA and one of the most dedicated and influential members in the history of the Association. The award was established in 1964.  

Tuss McLaughry 

Tuss McLaughry began his coaching career at his alma mater, Westminster (Pa.) College in 1916. During his early days in coaching, McLaughry spent his spare time playing pro football with the Massillon (Ohio) Tigers. Knute Rockne was a teammate. He went on to become head coach at Amherst (1922-25), Brown (1926-40), and Dartmouth (1941-55). His most successful years were at Brown, where he had a 15-year record of 76-58-5. In 1926, McLaughry produced Brown’s only undefeated team. Two of his other teams at Brown had only one loss.  

McLaughry retired from coaching in 1954 but continued in his capacity as chairman of the Physical Education Department at Dartmouth until 1960, when he accepted the appointment with the AFCA. He retired from that position in 1965. 

McLaughry played a leading role in the development of the AFCA while at the same time establishing a reputation as a successful head coach at some of the most prestigious schools in the East. He worked diligently throughout his lifetime to advance the best interests of the football coaching profession.