RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Citadel Director of Athletics Art Chase earned distinction as the recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award, per an official announcement Friday by The National Football Foundation's Bill Dooley Chapter.

Chase was honored at the chapter's annual Pigskin Preview on Friday, July 24 at the Hilton Raleigh North Hills in Raleigh, N.C. The Outstanding Contributor to Amateur Football Award is presented annually to an individual whose efforts to support the National Football Foundation and its goals have been local in nature or have made significant contributions to the game of football either to the manner in which it is played, coached or enjoyed.

"The National Football Foundation is a special organization, and it is certainly humbling to receive this recognition," Chase said. "For those in North Carolina, it starts and ends with Coach and Marie Dooley because they've epitomized the concept of impacting the lives of young people. It was truly an honor to be associated with the Dooley Chapter alongside so many individuals who dedicated time and energy to uphold the standard set forth by Coach and Marie.

"Relationship cultivation has been the foundation of my 35 years supporting the NFF's initiatives and college football. I've had the privilege of working with nine head coaches and hundreds of staff members who valiantly served the programs at The Citadel, Presbyterian College and Duke University to prepare young men for life after college. Playing a small role in the development of the student-athletes at these three remarkable institutions has been the ultimate reward."

Chase's association with the National Football Foundation includes stints as the Dooley Chapter's president (2020-21) and executive director (2024-25). During his time at Duke, the football program celebrated a pair of College Football Hall of Fame enshrinements in 2010 for former wide receiver Clarkston Hines and 2017 with former head coach Steve Spurrier, as well as the selection of linebacker David Helton as the 2014 recipient of the William V. Campbell Trophy. Along with Helton, Duke had four additional National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award honorees across Chase's tenure: Sean Renfree (2012), Perry Simmons (2014), DeVon Edwards (2016) and DeWayne Carter (2023).

"If there's one person who embodies what this award stands for, it's Art Chase," said Dave Harding, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the National Football Foundation's Bill Dooley Chapter. "Through decades of service to Duke, where he unquestionably left the athletics department better than he found it, his leadership of our Bill Dooley Chapter, and now at The Citadel, Art has dedicated his career to creating opportunities and making a lasting difference for student-athletes across the Carolinas."

Now in his third stint with The Citadel, Chase returned to Charleston after serving in various roles within the Duke University Athletics Department for the previous 25 years, most recently as the Senior Associate Director of Athletics / External Affairs. A member of the Duke Athletics executive leadership team, Chase served as the primary administrator for the football program working with head coach Manny Diaz.

Over his final three seasons (2022-24), the Blue Devils football program recorded 26 victories on the gridiron to rank third among ACC programs in total wins, trailing only Clemson (30) and Louisville (27). In addition, Duke compiled a home record of 16-3 (.842) to mark the highest winning percentage among ACC schools in that time period. In addition to Diaz, Chase worked alongside a pair of Duke head football coaches who earned ACC Coach of the Year honors in David Cutcliffe (2012 & 2013) and Mike Elko (2022).

In 2013, the Duke sports information office was honored by the Football Writers Association of America with a Super 11 Award, an accolade presented annually by the organization to recognize excellence in the media relations field for college football. In 2016, Chase was honored with a 25-Year Award from the College Sports Information Directors of America organization.

He graduated from Guilford College in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in sport management.

A native of Chapel Hill, N.C., Chase is married to the former Kaye Watts of Mayesville, S.C., and the couple has one yellow Labrador, Samson.



NFF Dooley Chapter | Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football | Previous Honorees
1996 – Earle Edwards
1997 – Ernie Williamson & Charlie Bryant
1998 – A.J. Carr
1999 – Hal Stewart
2000 – Frank Weedon
2001 – Ned Gonet & Don Shea
2002 – Russell Blunt
2003 – Tom Suiter
2004 – Tim Stevens
2005 – Tommy Hunt
2006 – Willie Bradshaw
2007 – Charlie Adams
2008 – David Riggs
2009 – Bill Dooley
2010 – William B. Hayes
2011 – Ken Browning
2012 – Eddie Smith
2013 – David Horning
2014 – Billy Ruffin
2015 – Red Wilson
2016 – Rick Steinbacher
2017 – Marvin Jarman
2018 – Henry Trevathan Sr.
2019 – Robert Massey
2020 – N/A
2021 – John Roth
2022 – Darrell "Hawk" Harrison
2023 – Earl Smith
2024 – Dewayne Washington
2025 – 
2026 – Art Chase


About the Pigskin Preview
The National Football Foundation Bill Dooley Chapter's annual Pigskin Preview is set for Friday, July 26 at the Hilton Raleigh North Hills in Raleigh, N.C. Registration opens at 10:30 a.m., with the event program starting at 11 a.m. Head coaches Bill Belichick of North Carolina, Manny Diaz of Duke, Dave Doeren of North Carolina State, Blake Harrell of East Carolina and Trei Oliver of North Carolina Central will all be in attendance. Sponsorship and tickets are available at www.nffbilldooleychapter.org.


About the NFF Bill Dooley Chapter
On August 23, 1995, Bill Dooley, one of the winningest coaches in the Atlantic Coast Conference history, invited athletic directors, coaches and representatives from the University of North Carolina, Duke University, N.C. Central University and North Carolina State University to join him and N.C. Governor Jim Hunt at the State Capitol Old Senate Chambers. It was at that meeting that the universities pledged their support to the newly formed NFFCHOF Chapter and its mission. In 2012, East Carolina University joined the Chapter and, in 2014, the NFFCHOF Board of Directors unanimously voted to name the chapter after its founder.