NJCAA Insider - April 2018
REGION 3
Covering the state of New York, Region 3 is led by Gary Broadhurst (men's director) and Robert Lowden (women's director.) They are assisted by Keith Martin of Jamestown (NY) (men's assistant) and Kristen Schuth of Genessee (NY) (women's assistant.)
A closer look at Gary Broadhurst – Region 3 Men’s Director
Gary Broadhurst enters his thirty-ninth year at Mohawk Valley (NY) and is currently the Associate Dean of Athletics, Physical Education & Recreation. He directs one of the most extensive, diverse, and successful two-year college intercollegiate athletic programs in the country. Under his leadership the Hawks have captured 20 NJCAA National Championships while finishing second an additional 18 times; 68 Region III Championships with 56 runner-up finishes; and 120 Mountain Valley Conference Titles. Individually, MVCC student-athletes have been selected as NJCAA All-Americans 444 times, 1,110 have been recognized as All-Region and an astounding 160 have been individual NJCAA National Champions. Six student-athletes have been selected as National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) Scholar Athlete of the Year; more than any other institution in the nation and thirty-three have been chosen for the SUNY Chancellor’s Scholar Athlete of the Year. The Hawks won the inaugural NATYCAA Cup in 2004 in the non-scholarship division and have never finished lower than eighth in the history of the national award recognizing excellence at the national level of competition in comprehensive athletic programs.
Broadhurst previously served as the Women’s Regional Director and Chair of the region’s Executive Committee for over 10 years. He is the primary author of numerous policy statements, documents, and procedural operations during his tenure on the Board. Among these were the creation of the Region 3 Director’s Cup; an award that recognized excellence and diversity in broad based intercollegiate programs. The Hawks have won the award twice and never finished lower than third in the region. He has also has served as the treasurer for the Mountain Valley Collegiate Conference since 1998.
Along with being involved locally in collegiate sports, Broadhurst is actively involved in national professional organizations. He is a past President of the NATYCAA. During his presidency, NATYCAA celebrated its 25th anniversary as the only professional organization that represents all two-year institutions of higher education in the United States for athletic administrators. He is the current Treasurer of NATYCAA and has also served on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). NACDA is the professional and educational association for more than 6,500 athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He also sits on the New York State SUNY Athletics Oversight Committee and SUNY Chancellor’s Award selection committee.
Gary began his career at Mohawk Valley in 1979 as a Technical Assistant. He was then promoted to the faculty ranks in 1988 before his appointment as Director of Athletics in 1996. During his tenure, he has served as the head coach of men’s and women's basketball, men and women’s bowling, softball, and both golf programs. Broadhurst has taught almost every course in the department’s curriculum; including several certification courses in the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, and National Safety Council organizations. He is recognized by the State Education Department as certified instructor in the state’s coaching certificate curriculum. He is also a Certified Pool Operator.
A graduate of Sauquoit Valley Central School, Broadhurst began his post-secondary education at Mohawk Valley Community College in 1973 before completing both his B.S.E. and M.S.E. degrees at SUNY Cortland. He resides in Sauquoit with his wife of 38 years, Joan, and is the proud father of two adult children, Rachel and Gary. Jr.
A closer look at Robert Lowden – Region 3 Women’s Director
As athletic director, Robert has expanded the program with the addition of women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field. He has also implemented the “Winning With Character” program, a program that develops moral character in student-athletes. Other initiatives Lowden has implemented is a faculty athletic fellows program, a student-athlete mentor program, a student-athlete advisory committee and an athletic advisory board.
In 2016 Lowden received the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for excellence in professional service. In 2013 he was inducted to the Finger Lakes' Hall of Fame.
Robert played collegiate level baseball at both Monroe (NY) and Miami University of Ohio. After finishing his playing career, Lowden became a graduate baseball coach at his alma matter and in 1984 was appointed as assistant coach of the Ball State University baseball team from 1984-87. He later went on to travel to Italy to coach and conduct baseball clinics in the Italian Professional League from 1991-93 during the summer months. Lowden was one of just eight college coaches selected by USA Baseball to be granted this opportunity. In 1994, he was selected by USA Baseball to coach the East Squad in the U.S. Olympic Festival in St. Louis. In 1996, Lowden was selected to coach the Junior College Baseball National Team which traveled to Tokyo to compete against squads from Japan.
Since joining the athletics staff at FLCC, Lowden has been awarded the Northeast District Coach of the Year Award by the NJCAA in 1992 and 1994 and was twice selected as Regional Coach of the Year those same years.
Lowden graduated from Miami University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and holds a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration from the College at Brockport. Robert currently resides in Farmington, N.Y. with his wife Rosemary and they have one daughter, Maria.