Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference has named Tabor College’s Rusty Allen athletic director of the year for 2011-12.

Allen, who will be recognized at a conference Aug. 7 in Ottawa, automatically becomes a candidate for NAIA national athletic director of the year.

Also Tabor’s vice president for enrollment management, Allen has since 2008 directing a staff of 40 in working with 320 athletes and 19 sports at Tabor.

He was selected by his peers on the KCAC governing council.

“Rusty is very deserving of this award,” Tabor’s president, Jules Glanzer, said. “His proactive leadership, coupled with his commitment to excellence, has made a significant impact at Tabor, in the KCAC, and in the NAIA.

“I am thrilled that his colleagues have recognized his positive leadership and significant accomplishments.”

Allen spent seven years as head coach of women’s basketball at Tabor, advancing three consecutive times to the NAIA Division II “sweet 16” before becoming vice president for athletics.

Since then, he has overseen construction of a new football stadium and track complex as well as renovation of Tabor’s baseball field and gymnasium.

Under his leadership, Tabor started men’s and women’s bowling programs and was an opening round host for the NAIA baseball tournament.

In his tenure, a total of 18 Tabor athletes have qualified the NAIA nationals in track and field, 16 have been named NAIA Daktronics scholar-athletes, and three have been named to NAIA All-America teams — two in baseball, one in volleyball.

Allen also has served as Tabor’s housing director, admissions director, and dean of enrollment. He and his wife, Debbie, and their children, Jordan, Jesse, and Whitney, reside in Hillsboro.