THE FOLLOWING IS A DANVILLE AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE RELEASE
DANVILLE – Danville Area Community College (DACC) Athletic Director Tim Bunton has been named the 2026 Loyalty Award recipient by the National Junior College Athletic Association—one of the organization’s highest honors recognizing long-term leadership, integrity, and commitment to student-athlete success.
The NJCAA Loyalty Award is presented annually to an athletic director who exemplifies excellence in competition and in the classroom while advancing the mission of two-year collegiate athletics. Bunton’s recognition reflects more than three decades of service to DACC, where his leadership has shaped a culture grounded in opportunity, accountability, and student success.
“Tim’s impact goes far beyond wins and championships,” said Brian Hensgen, Assistant Vice President of Student Services and Director of the NJCAA Division II Men’s national Basketball Tournament at DACC. “For over 30 years, he has been a steady, trusted leader—someone who built programs the right way, with a clear focus on students first. His legacy is in the lives he’s influenced, the standards he’s set, and the respect he’s earned across the country.”
Bunton’s career at DACC is defined by both competitive success and student outcomes. He revived the Jaguar baseball program in 1995, leading it to 672 wins, a Region 24 Championship, and a sustained run of winning seasons. More importantly, 182 of his 210 sophomore student-athletes continued their education after DACC—an enduring measure of his commitment to academic achievement.
Since being named Athletic Director in 2006, Bunton has overseen multiple Jaguar teams advancing to national competition while strengthening facilities, expanding program resources, and cultivating partnerships that support scholarships and long-term growth. His leadership has consistently reinforced DACC’s student-first philosophy.
On the national stage, Bunton has played a key operational role in the NJCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship, hosted in Danville since 1994. Serving as Assistant Director of the tournament alongside Hensgen, he has helped elevate the event into one of the premier championships in two-year college athletics—enhancing the experience for student-athletes, fans, and the community.
The award comes at a meaningful moment, as both Bunton and longtime friend and colleague Hensgen will retire from DACC in May 2026, closing chapters on careers that have helped define Jaguar athletics locally and nationally.
“Tim represents what this award stands for—loyalty, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to students,” Hensgen added. “As he retires, the foundation he leaves behind will continue to benefit DACC and NJCAA programs for years to come.”
Bunton’s recognition is not only a personal milestone, but a reflection of DACC’s broader commitment to excellence—where athletics serves as a pathway for student growth, academic success, and opportunity.
Danville Area Community College is a comprehensive community college serving Illinois District 507, which consists of Vermilion County and parts of Champaign, Iroquois, Edgar, and Ford counties, since 1946. The College offers Associate degrees and certificates in both university transfer and applied career and technical programs. DACC’s historic, 76-acre main campus is located at 2000 East Main Street, Danville. The College has a higher-learning center in Hoopeston at 847 E. Orange. To apply to DACC, call 217-443-3222 or visit the Web site at www.DACC.EDU.
