Dr. Greg Feris, Wayland Baptist director of athletics, has been named Sooner Athletic Conference Athletic Director of the Year for 2011-12.

The Pioneer athletics program finished ninth in the Learfield Cup Standings, which measure the overall success of athletic programs. Wayland Baptist had several top 10 finishes throughout the year, including a national championship in men's indoor track and field.

Feris also oversaw the beginning phases of the new football program, which kicks off this fall. He has been AD at Wayland Baptist since 1990.

"Besides being an excellent administrator, Greg is a fine and honorable man," said WBU President Paul Armes. "He is unwaveringly committed to the concept of student-athletes who not only become men and women of athletic excellence, but also become true champions of character."

Ferris also provides leadership within the Sooner Athletic Conference. He is involved in all areas of conference administration, serving on the SAC Executive Committee and on the SAC Membership Committee, as well as on the Champions of Character Committee.

"Greg was very instrumental in helping advance our league through the years to our place among the elite conferences in the NAIA," said SAC Commissioner John Hudson. "His leadership was invaluable in multiple areas, from the development and addition of new sports to the recruiting of new members."

Inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2007, Feris has overseen a program that has produced more than 160 All-Americans, 75 NAIA Scholar Athletes and three NAIA Leroy Walker Champions of Character Award recipients. The athletic department at WBU has had six NAIA championships and finished in the top three four other times.

Feris has been in the WBU Athletic Hall of Honor since 2009 and has three times been named a regional Athletic Director of the Year.

With the SAC honor this year, Feris is nominated for NAIA Athletic Director of the Year - an award he won in 1998-99.

Feris and his wife of 45 years, Glenda, have two sons, Chris and Chad.