Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference President Jim Knight (left) presenting Nathan Ruff with the 2024-25 ACAC Athletic Director of the Year award.
St. Mary’s University is proud to celebrate Nathan Ruff, who has been named the 2024–25 ACAC Athletic Director of the Year — a well-earned honour recognizing a transformative year for Lightning Athletics and the visionary leader behind it.
When Nathan joined St. Mary’s, the challenges were immense. With no on-campus gym and limited resources, the idea of competing — let alone winning — in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) seemed far-fetched. But where others saw obstacles, Nathan saw opportunity. Under his leadership, Lightning Athletics has become one of the most respected and successful programs in the country.
This past year was nothing short of historic:
- Every Lightning team medaled in the ACAC
- Women’s Basketball captured St. Mary’s first-ever CCAA national medal (silver)
- Cadence Laplante won gold at the ACAC Cross Country Championships — the first in school history
- St. Mary’s hosted the 2024 ACAC Cross Country Championships
- Indoor Track earned two silver medals, with several athletes setting personal bests
- Men’s Basketball climbed to a #1 national ranking, with star players breaking long-standing ACAC scoring records
What makes these accomplishments even more remarkable is that they’ve been achieved without the benefit of a campus facility — something that is now finally in the planning and fundraising phase, thanks to the trust Nathan has built across the university community.
Off the field, Nathan’s dedication to student-athlete success is equally strong. The combined GPA of Lightning athletes this year was over 3.0, with every senior on track to graduate. He’s cultivated strong partnerships with faculty, academic advisors, and student support staff to ensure athletes thrive in the classroom and beyond.
Nathan has also built something much bigger than wins — he’s built a culture. Game days are electric, with full stands, autograph-seeking kids, and a sense of unity that stretches far beyond the court. Lightning athletes engage regularly with local schools, while new community initiatives like pub nights, alumni games, and 50/50 raffles have doubled fundraising and expanded the program’s reach.