University of the Pacific Director of Athletics Adam Tschuor has been named one of the top athletic directors in the country by Silver Waves Media in recognition of his exceptional leadership and visionary approach to athletics.  

Since joining Pacific in 2023, Pacific has added five new varsity programs, revitalized men’s basketball and found new success in conference and post-season tournaments.

The annual list from Silver Waves Media is based on input from other athletic directors, sports agents and industry executives.

"Adam is unbelievably deserving of this honor,” said President Christopher Callahan. “His strategic, forward-thinking approach has helped Pacific Athletics reach new heights, from winning championships to growing our athletic programs at a time when many collegiate athletic programs are struggling.” 

One of Tschuor’s first moves was hiring current men’s basketball coach Dave Smart, resulting in the best two-season turnaround in college basketball. The team won 18 games this past season with a double-bye to the third round of the West Coast Conference tournament and eventual appearance in the quarterfinals. 

"Adam has been one of the best athletic directors I have ever worked with,” Smart said. “He is extremely committed to every team and very involved and invested in every student-athlete. He lives and breathes Pacific Athletics and is incredibly helpful whenever things get tough. He has backed up everything he has promised and is very supportive of all his coaches. He is very deserving of this honor." 

The women’s basketball team has also seen tremendous success during his tenure, earning consecutive Women’s National Invitation Tournament postseason berths in 2023-24 and 2024-25 while earning a first-round bye in the 2025-26 West Coast Conference tournament.

Beyond the basketball court, Pacific has earned back-to-back West Coast Conference regular season championships in men’s water polo, advanced to the 2024 National Invitational Tennis Championship in men’s tennis, claimed a 2025 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation conference title in men’s swimming and made postseason NIT appearances in women’s tennis in 2024 and a National Invitational Volleyball Championship appearance in women’s volleyball in 2024.

Pacific has also expanded its programs at a time when many colleges are cutting back. During the 2025-26 athletics season, Pacific debuted a diving program as well as a men’s cross country/track and field program. STUNT, a form of competitive cheerleading, will begin competition in the spring of 2027 alongside the return of the men’s volleyball program. With these additions, Pacific now has 21 NCAA Division I programs.

Women's basketball coach Bradley Davis, a member of the hiring committee that brought Tschuor to Pacific, echoed praise for Tschuor. 

"Pacific obviously wanted someone who appreciated the rich history of athletics here, valued the current success across multiple sports, and most importantly had a specific vision for Pacific success in the current and changing NCAA landscape,” Davis said. “I think we all saw those things in him, and it's not surprising but deserving that others see it as well."