Former Oakton College Athletic Director Receives Prestigious Service Award
(Story courtesy of Oakton College Athletics)
Des Plaines, Ill. — Former Oakton College athletic director and longtime coach Tom Jorndt received the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 4 Berdy Kuiken Service Award, celebrating his decades of service to collegiate athletics at Oakton and nationally.
The award was presented June 5, 2025, during the NJCAA Region 4 athletic directors meeting at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove. Jorndt received a standing ovation from colleagues, former student-athletes, family and fellow college athletics leaders.
"It was an honor to meet Tom for the first time at this event," said Christine Paciero, Oakton's Athletics director. "His tireless commitment to athletics over the decades is an inspiration to me as well as my colleagues. Oakton, the ISCC [Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference], Region 4 and the NJCAA are so fortunate to have been the beneficiaries of his outstanding service."
Jorndt began his career at Oakton in 1971–72 as a teacher and coach, quickly rising to leadership, becoming interim athletic director in 1972–73 and assuming the full-time role the following year. Over the next several decades, he played a pivotal role in shaping Oakton's
Athletics program.
"I am very honored to receive the Berdy Kuiken Service Award," said Jorndt. "This award is like the Lifetime Achievement Award given at the Oscars. It recognizes not just one accomplishment, but all my service to the students, the College, the Conference and the Region."
As head coach, Jorndt led the men's basketball program for 20 seasons, winning the Illinois Skyway Conference Championship in 1976. He also helmed the tennis program for 30 years, guiding the team to six Skyway Conference titles. His mentorship left a lasting impact on generations of student-athletes.
Jorndt's influence extended well beyond Oakton's campus. He served as the Region 4 men's director from 1986 - 2000. Under his leadership, Oakton proudly hosted the NJCAA National Marathon Championships for nearly a decade, bringing national visibility to the College.
His national contributions include serving as NJCAA Marathon Chairman, Ice Hockey Chairman, and NJCAA Executive Committee member. In these roles, Jorndt helped shape the direction and governance of collegiate athletics nationally. In recognition of his extraordinary impact, Jorndt was previously inducted into the Region 4 Hall of Fame (1999) and the Skyway Conference Hall of Fame (2001).