Kilmeade Named to NCAA DII 40th Anniversary Team
INDIANAPOLIS (July 10, 2013) - In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of NCAA Division II, 48 former student-athletes were honored by the NCAA throughout 2013. Developed through a partnership with the Division II Conference Commissioners Association, the 40th Anniversary Tribute Team highlights one male and one female from each of the division's 23 current conferences, plus two at-large nominees. LIU Post men's soccer alumni Brian Kilmeade '86 is among the honorees.
Kilmeade will be presented with his award live on the set of his television show, FOX & Friends, on Wednesday, July 17 at 6:30 a.m.
"This group of former student-athletes is meant to reflect the core values of Division II athletics," said Josh Looney, associate director of Division II. "Commissioners have helped identify a diverse group of championship individuals from Division II's 40-year history. Not only did these former student-athletes act as champions in athletics and in the classroom, they've gone on to live championship lives as well.
"This group is a true representation of Division II's commitment to providing its student-athletes a 'Life in the Balance' that extends beyond athletics."
Kilmeade certainly exemplifies Division II's philosophy of 'Life in the Balance'. A hard-working, blue-collar soccer player for LIU Post – then C.W. Post – he was, in his own words, "an average player" for the Pioneers from 1982-86; a defender, he played for an LIU Post squad that played against strong local Division I opponents including LIU Brooklyn and Hofstra for much of his career. After graduation, Kilmeade took his passion for sports into the media world, where he certainly found a niche. He currently serves as cohost of FOX & Friends, the number one rated morning program on cable television for the past nine years, sharing his unique perspective on the daily news while interviewing the biggest names in politics, sports and entertainment, often securing exclusive content.
Also serving as the networks sports anchor, Kilmeade has reported on or provided live coverage of every major American sport over the last twenty years. Currently, he is the host of the nationally syndicated radio talk show on FOX News Radio, Kilmeade & Friends. The show is heard on 80 stations, as well as XM and Sirius Satellite Radio. Kilmeade has also authored two books; his first, The Games Do Count: America's Best & Brightest On The Power Of Sports (2004), was The New York Times best-seller and presents more than seventy stories straight from America's top leaders and those who were closest to them. His second book, It's How You Play the Game: The Powerful Sports Moments That Taught Lasting Values to America's Finest (2007), reveals personal stories of the defining sports moments in the lives of athletes, CEOs, actors, politicians, and historical figures—and how what they learned on the field prepared them to handle life and overcome adversity with courage, dignity, and sportsmanship. As Kilmeade explained, the book was about "what they've learned in sports – and none of them went pro." A lifelong Massapequa, N.Y., native, Kilmeade still makes time for the sport that he played in college, serving as a youth soccer coach for his sons' teams.
Division II gained its own unique intercollegiate athletics identity when Divisions I, II and III were formalized during a special NCAA Convention held in 1973. Prior to 1973, the NCAA was organized into two divisions - "University" and "College."
The year-long 40th Anniversary celebration will feature a number of initiatives branded by Division II's tradition, history and community influence. A special 40th Anniversary highlight video was unveiled to Division II membership during the 2013 NCAA Convention, officially kicking off the celebration.
Each member of the Division II 40th Anniversary Tribute Team will receive a commemorative 40th Anniversary gift and is slated to have their accomplishments profiled through Division II media channels.
Conferences were asked to submit a list of nominees representative of Division II's ideals. The only requirement was that nominees exhausted their athletics eligibility within the past 40 years and attended a college or university active in Division II.