Andy Bernatow Named 2024-25 GPAC Athletic Director of the Year

(Sioux City, Iowa) – Andy Bernatow of Mount Marty University (S.D.) has been selected as the 2024-25 Hauff Mid-America Sports/Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Athletic Director of the Year.  The award is voted on by the league's athletic directors.

Bernatow has been athletic director at Mount Marty the past four years after an 18 year stint as the head baseball coach for the Lancers.

Since becoming Athletic Director in 2021, Bernatow has led a wide range of impactful projects to enhance the student-athlete experience and athletic facilities at Mount Marty. In the spring of 2022, a new indoor Hitting Room was designed and completed for Baseball, Softball, and Golf. In the spring of 2023, Bernatow was involved with the City of Yankton and the Yankton Baseball Association to complete major enhancements to Bob Tereshinski Riverside Field.

Two years ago, in 2023, Bernatow oversaw the creation of a new Athletics Meeting Room, repurposing an existing space to meet the needs of larger teams and athletic functions. During the spring of 2024, he led the installation of a 7-camera system in the First Dakota Ruth Donohoe Fieldhouse to allow for streaming of indoor track meets. That same semester, he facilitated the installation of a new video board in Cimpl Arena.

In the summer of 2024, Bernatow directed multiple high-impact projects, including the replacement of the Cimpl Arena wood floor and the installation of a new video board and scoreboard at Crane Youngworth Field in collaboration with Yankton School District. Also completed in summer 2024 was the refurbishment of the Hall of Fame area in Cimpl Arena, which now features a digital display and updated signage—honoring the history and tradition of Lancer Athletics.

Bernatow serves the GPAC as the Chair of the Conduct and Ethics Committee and is the liaison to baseball for the conference.  He was also a part of the GPAC video streaming task force, which culminated with the addition of the GPAC Network in the summer of 2024.

"Andy excels in the critical role of a small university athletic director," said Mount Marty University President Marcus Long.  "We are fortunate to have had him at MMU for more than 20 years as both a baseball coach and athletic director.  He is an outstanding athletic director and an even better person."

"The GPAC is honored to present this year's award to Andy Bernatow," said GPAC Commissioner Corey Westra.  "He always steps up when needed for the league.  For example, this year when we needed a baseball host site for our tournament, Andy willingly offered their ballpark in Yankton and they provided a first class experience. Andy loves GPAC and NAIA athletics and is very deserving of this honor from his peers."

Bernatow will be the GPAC nominee for the NAIA ADA Athletic Director of the Year.