Montana State University Athletic Director Leon Costello has been named a 2023–24 FCS Athletic Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), recognizing his transformational leadership and the unprecedented success of Bobcat Athletics.
Costello, who has led MSU’s athletics department since 2016, was honored this week during NACDA’s annual convention in Orlando. He is one of just four honorees from the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), selected among 28 awardees across seven competitive divisions nationwide.
“Montana State University is privileged to have Leon Costello as our athletics director,” said MSU President Waded Cruzado. “Leon has added energy, focus, academic performance and an institutional sense of pride and belonging to MSU. We are proud to call Leon a Bobcat!”
Under Costello’s leadership, Bobcat Athletics has experienced historic success on and off the field. Highlights include:
- The first Big Sky school to finish in the top three of every conference sport in a single academic year (2021–22).
- Three straight NCAA Tournament appearances by the men’s basketball team.
- A 30-win season for the women’s basketball team — a Big Sky record.
- Back-to-back FCS National Championship appearances by the football team in 2021 and 2024.
- A school-record six consecutive playoff berths for Bobcat football.
- Wins in all nine “Brawl of the Wild” Trophy Series competitions against rival University of Montana.
- Multiple Big Sky trophies, including the Presidents’ Cup, two Men’s All-Sports Trophies, and the school’s first Women’s All-Sports Trophy.
“This is an incredible honor, and I truly believe this is an award for Bobcat Nation as a whole,” Costello said. “The accomplishments we’ve achieved are the result of a team effort — from our student-athletes and coaches to the MSU community and fan base. I’m grateful to be part of it.”
Beyond the scoreboard, Costello has led a major facilities overhaul and placed a premium on student-athlete support. Major projects include:
- The Bobcat Athletic Complex, providing a new home for MSU football and support services.
- Renovations to Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, upgrading all student-athlete spaces.
- The soon-to-be-completed Stark-Kennedy Indoor Athletic Center, a cutting-edge facility for football and track and field.
He has also enhanced MSU’s focus on holistic student-athlete care by adding a sports psychologist, a dietitian, and expanded sports medicine and strength staff. The result: a sustained academic track record, with Bobcat student-athletes achieving a GPA of 3.0 or higher for 46 consecutive semesters, including a 3.42 average last fall.
Costello’s journey in collegiate athletics began at Northern Iowa, followed by a key leadership stint at South Dakota State, where he rose to Deputy Athletic Director and played a critical role in a major facilities transformation and external operations management.
Appointed as MSU’s 13th athletics director in 2016, Costello has become a driving force behind a new era of Bobcat excellence.
“I also need to thank President Cruzado and the entire MSU community for their unwavering support,” Costello added. “To our fans, our student-athletes, and my family — thank you. This honor is humbling, and I believe the best is yet to come.”
Originally from Fairbank, Iowa, Costello played basketball at Loras College, where he was team captain and a Bill Bradley Scholastic All-American. He and his wife, Heather, are the proud parents of Cailin, Michael, and Griffin — all active in their own academic and athletic pursuits.
By: DNU staff