Surprise, Ariz.- OUAZ is proud to announce that Athletic Director Kevin Steele has been selected as an inductee into the 2025 NAIA Hall of Fame – Meritorious Service, the highest honor bestowed by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Steele will be formally recognized at the 2026 NAIA National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
This distinction recognizes individuals of outstanding character, leadership, and service who have made transformative contributions to the NAIA and the broader world of intercollegiate athletics. Kevin Steele exemplifies these qualities, and his career stands as a model of vision, innovation, and servant leadership.
Founding Father of OUAZ Athletics
As the founding athletic director of OUAZ Athletics in 2017, Steele built the Spirit athletic program from the ground up. Starting with no teams and one building, he launched more than 30 varsity sports in just a few years, growing the student-athlete population to over 800. Under his leadership, OUAZ quickly became a force within the NAIA and NCCAA, capturing national championships in men's volleyball, beach volleyball, and water polo, while making regular appearances on the national stage across multiple sports.
Equally important, Steele oversaw the development of world-class athletic facilities that transformed the West Valley: Spirit Field, Faith Arena, and the $25 million O'Dell Center for Athletics. These facilities have elevated OUAZ Athletics and provided an elite experience for student-athletes, coaches, and fans alike.
A Career of Lasting Impact
Steele's contributions extend well beyond Surprise, Arizona. Over a career spanning more than 30 years, he has held athletic director roles at MidAmerica Nazarene University, California Baptist University, Blinn College, and Redlands Community College, each time leaving a legacy of championships, program growth, and facility development. His programs have won multiple national championships, and he has mentored dozens of coaches and administrators who now serve across the NAIA.
A three-time NACDA Athletic Director of the Year (2002, 2015, 2022) and two-time Heart of America Athletic Conference AD of the Year, Steele has also been a national leader within the NAIA. He has served as Chair of the NAIA Hall of Fame Committee, President of the NAIA Athletics Directors Association, and as a member of both the National Administrative Council and NAIA Growth and Advisory Panel. His leadership has helped shape the policies, standards, and traditions that define NAIA athletics today.
Leadership Grounded in Faith and Character
At the heart of Steele's leadership is his faith in God and commitment to servant leadership. He has always emphasized that athletics is more than competition, and is a platform to develop student-athletes into leaders of integrity, character, and purpose. Through his mentorship, he has created a "Steele Tree" of coaches and administrators who continue to advance the mission of the NAIA across the country.
As one colleague noted, "Kevin is, quite simply, a builder. A builder of programs. A builder of people. A builder of the NAIA."
A Legacy Worth Celebrating
Kevin Steele's induction into the NAIA Hall of Fame – Meritorious Service is both a personal milestone and a celebration for the entire OUAZ community. His vision and leadership not only built Spirit Athletics into a national powerhouse but also left an enduring legacy across collegiate athletics.
OUAZ Athletics congratulates Kevin on this well-deserved honor and looks forward to celebrating his achievements with the NAIA family in Kansas City in 2026!