On December 17th, Michael D. Hart '70 was inducted into the prestigious National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony occurred during the National Athletic Directors Conference in Austin, Texas, celebrating Hart’s decades of exemplary service and transformative impact on high school athletics.

Mike has dedicated his life, time, and energy to improving athletics at Salesianum School, the state of Delaware, and nationally through his work on committees. He is still always ready to jump in and assist with any committee and knows all the rules, regulations, and history of how interscholastic athletics has changed over the past 45+ years.

He graduated from Salesianum in 1970 and started working at his alma mater in 1974. In 1976, he assumed the role of Athletic Director and held that position for 43 years. Mike presided over 15 varsity sports and 164 state championships during his tenure. Salesianum’s varsity programs compiled an impressive 5,076 wins to just 1,852 losses and 133 ties under him.

Hart’s influence extends far beyond Salesianum. He was a three-time recipient of Delaware’s State Athletic Director of the Year award and held leadership roles with the Delaware Association of Athletic Directors (DAAD), serving as its president for five terms. On the national stage, Hart earned numerous accolades, including the NIAAA Distinguished Service Award (2012), the National Federation of High Schools Citation Award (1996), and five NIAAA State Awards of Merit. He also received the NHSACA Distinguished Service Award in 1998.

Beyond his accolades, Mike was a tireless advocate for consistency, equality, and excellence in athletics. Throughout his career, Mike served on the following state committees: Swimming, Baseball, Constitutional & Bylaws, Audit, Academic Review, Rules and Regulation, and the Board of Directors. He served on the NIAAA Membership and Awards Committees, a Delegate to the National Convention, and the NIAAA Board of Directors, where he focused on the Investment, Scholarship, and Strategic Planning Committees. He was a member of the National Conference Advisory Committee and the National Coaches Education Committee for the National Federation of High Schools.

Even in retirement, he continues to influence Delaware athletics. He still serves as Executive Director of the Delaware Association of Athletic Directors, the DIAA Swimming and Diving and Baseball committees, and mentoring new athletic directors.

Mike has given so much of his personal time and talent to young athletes across our state and our nation. Hart’s induction into the NIAAA Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to his lifelong commitment to student-athletes, his steadfast pursuit of equality, and his enduring impact on the landscape of interscholastic sports.