The three 2021 recipients of the Division III LGBTQ OneTeam Recognition Award were honored at the NCAA Convention on Friday in Indianapolis. The honorees were Johns Hopkins swimmer Matthew McGough, Smith Associate Athletics Director Jess Duff and Springfield College.
"It is such an honor and inspiration to celebrate the accomplishments of Springfield College, Matthew and Jess as NCAA DIII LGBTQ of the Year OneTeam Award recipients for 2021," said Neil Virtue, Division III LGBTQ Working Group chair and swimming coach at Mills. "While this work is never done, it is just as important to pause and celebrate how these award winners exemplify the efforts and work needed in the ongoing struggle to make athletics as inclusive a space as possible. The NCAA DIII LGBTQ working group continues its efforts to support student athletes to be their authentic selves as Division III leads the way toward inclusion in the NCAA."
2021 Division III LGBTQ Student-Athlete of the Year Award: Matthew McGough, men's swimming, Johns HopkinsÂ
Athlete of the Year
McGough, a five-time All-American in swimming and a public health graduate student, founded an Athlete Ally chapter at Johns Hopkins. He said his coaches have always made inclusivity and diversity and equity a pillar of the swim team and have kept the safety of LGBTQ student-athletes a priority. Through the Athlete Ally chapter, McGough has helped facilitate discussions around coming out, intersectionality and mental health among LGBTQ identifying individuals.Â
"Sports is such a safe space for people, and I think it hasn't always been for the LGBTQ community," McGough said. "The creation of this award is formalizing a commitment to making sure that sports are safe for everyone."
The award honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence and service/leadership of LGBTQ student-athletes.
2021 Division III LGBTQ Administrator-Staff-Coach of the Year Award: Jess Duff, associate athletics director, Smith
Administrator of the Year
Duff, a former Division III student-athlete and coach and now associate athletics director at Smith, serves as a Division III OneTeam program facilitator, conducting trainings at Division III schools. She also has been a member of the Common Ground leadership team.
"For me seeing others — be it athletic administration, my coaches, my teammates — live openly and authentically was really transformative in my coming-out process," Duff said. "If I can be that person for someone who might be struggling, I consider that a success."
The award honors the service, leadership and promotion of LGBTQ inclusion by an LGBTQ athletics administrator, coach or staff member.
2021 Division III LGBTQ Athletics Department-Conference of the Year Award: Springfield College
School/Conference of the Year
Springfield ran a video series called "True Colors" to provide a platform for student-athletes from the LGBTQ community to describe their journey. This past year, the school also partnered with Athlete Ally after growing its previous infinity group for LGBTQ athletes over the past couple of years.
"At Springfield College, we always try to get 1% better in every aspect," said Michelle Lee Scecina, assistant athletics director for compliance and student-athlete well-being. "It's a matter of continuing to listen to our students, know that they're going to be heard. They brought ideas to us that we've implemented and done initiatives that have been their ideas that we've partnered with them on."
The award honors an athletics department or conference office that has demonstrated proactive efforts to create and sustain an LGBTQ-inclusive culture.
