Two Voices, One Standard - Cumberland gets two Mid-South Conference Awards

Pavan was named the 2025-26 Mid-South Conference Athletic Director of the Year, marking the fourth time he has earned the honor. He previously received the award in 2017-18, 2019-20 and 2022-23.

The conference said the award recognizes outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing intercollegiate athletics within the Mid-South Conference. Pavan expressed gratitude for being selected by fellow athletics directors.

“I am so humbled and honored to be voted by the other Mid-South Conference athletics directors for this award,” Pavan said. “We have the best conference in the NAIA and all of the athletics directors work hard for the betterment of the conference. I am so blessed to work at Cumberland University with our great coaches, athletic staff and our President, Dr. Paul Stumb.”

Under Pavan’s leadership, the Phoenix continued a tradition of excellence during the 2025-26 year. Cumberland captured four Mid-South Conference regular-season championships and two MSC Tournament titles, finishing third in the Presidents’ Cup standings. The department also placed 49th nationally in the NAIA LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup, reflecting success across its 30 varsity sports.

Pavan’s responsibilities extend well beyond athletics. In addition to serving as Vice President of Athletics, he serves as the university’s Vice President for Facilities and Infrastructure, overseeing day-to-day operations for numerous campus departments. He also served as chair of the Mid-South Conference Administrative Council during the 2025-26 academic year.

Cumberland University President Dr. Paul Stumb praised Pavan’s leadership and character, noting his consistent work ethic and commitment to the institution’s mission and students.

Pavan begins his 19th year leading Cumberland Athletics in 2026-27 and his 42nd year in collegiate athletics. During his tenure, the Phoenix have expanded by adding 12 varsity sports and have strengthened administrative leadership and athletic facilities. Pavan has guided Cumberland to 59 Mid-South Conference regular-season and tournament championships, 147 individual conference champions, two team national championships and 21 individual national titles. He has also helped foster academic success, with Cumberland student-athletes posting a departmental grade-point average above 3.0 for eight consecutive years while earning NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Institution recognition.

Earlier this summer, Pavan was recognized on the national stage after being named one of four NAIA recipients of the NACDA Athletics Director of the Year Award. He will also be inducted into his high school’s Hall of Fame in September.

Cumberland also received recognition on the communications side, as Assistant Sports Information Director Harley Dixon was named the 2025-26 Mid-South Conference Assistant Sports Information Director of the Year.

Dixon earned the award after an outstanding first season in his full-time role. After two years as a graduate assistant in Cumberland’s Sports Information Office, he transitioned to the assistant position for the 2025-26 academic year and quickly became a key part of the department’s communications and broadcast operations.

In his first year, Dixon revamped Cumberland’s live broadcast production, improving the quality and professionalism of streams and creating a more engaging experience for Phoenix fans. He served as the primary communications contact for multiple sports, including men’s and women’s soccer, women’s basketball, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s volleyball and flag football. He also handled play-by-play duties for men’s and women’s soccer and softball broadcasts and added color commentary for Phoenix basketball.

Beyond game coverage, Dixon oversees updates to the athletics website, including biographies and statistics for more than 700 student-athletes, while supporting archival research. He also played a vital role in hosting the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship Opening Round.

Kyle Allen, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information, said Dixon has elevated both broadcasts and the exposure of Cumberland Athletics, adding that his work ethic and creativity have made an immediate impact.

Dixon previously earned national recognition in 2024 with a seventh-place finish in the NAIA-SIDA Publications Contest for his men’s soccer season preview. A native of South Portsmouth, Kentucky, he graduated from Shawnee State University in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in sport management and earned his master’s degree in sports management from Cumberland in May 2025 before joining the athletics communications staff full-time.

The Mid-South Conference Assistant Sports Information Director of the Year award is voted on by sports information directors and recognizes excellence in athletic communications, media relations and service to both an institution and the conference.