ROME, Ga. — The Berry College Athletics Assistant Coaches Development Program recently received the 2026 Excellence in Innovation Award from Insight Into Academia magazine.
This new honor celebrates colleges and universities shaping the future of intercollegiate athletics through forward-thinking programs, initiatives, operations, and partnerships. Areas of innovation include support for student-athlete success, NIL (name, image, and likeness) education, sports science, performance, community engagement, technology use, and more.
Vikings Director of Athletics Angel Mason said, "This award is so important because it provides visibility to not only our coaches, but the way that Berry develops people overall. It's not just our student athletes, it's our staff, it's our faculty and of course it's our coaches."
Berry will be featured in the November 2026 issue of Insight Into Academia.
Insight Into Academia magazine selected Berry's program because it provides professional development to assistant coaches giving them access to the next steps in their careers in athletics. This program creates opportunities for homegrown talent to rise to the top and understand what it means to "Battle Berry," Mason added. The goal of the program is also to provide a template for other colleges and universities to develop their coaches to coach the next generation of leaders.
"The Insight Into Academia Excellence in Innovation Award: College Athletics recognizes colleges and universities turning bold ideas into meaningful progress in intercollegiate athletics," said Holly Mendelson, co-owner and publisher of Insight Into Academia. "We are proud to honor institutions setting a higher standard for what college athletics can achieve—for student athletes, campuses, and the fans and communities they serve." To see the full list of recipients of the award, visit InsightIntoAcademia.com.
About Berry College
Nationally recognized for academic excellence and as an outstanding educational value, Berry is an independent, coeducational, comprehensive liberal arts college of approximately 2,200 students. For more than a century, the college has offered an exceptional education that balances intellectual exploration, practical learning, and character development. Its 27,000-acre campus is the world's largest. Visit www.berry.edu.
About Insight Into Academia
For more than 50 years, Insight Into Academia has empowered higher education leaders by defining and advancing the best practices shaping the future of the academy. Across its magazine, podcast, webinars, awards, and digital platforms, Insight spotlights the institutions, initiatives, and ideas driving progress across higher education. Through thought-provoking articles, expert advice, valuable resources, and in-depth profiles of top programs, Insight helps higher education understand what's working and what comes next. Recognition by Insight Into Academia reflects leadership, innovation, and a commitment to evidence-based excellence. To learn more, visit www.Insightintoacademia.com
