The award, given by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, honors one sports information director each year from NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III.

“Alex has been an outstanding contributor to the department since he arrived on campus three years ago. He continues to do amazing things to highlight the successes of our student-athletes and this award is just a small sampling of that great work,” said IC’s director of athletics, Mike Snyder.

In an announcement posted on their website, USTFCCCA highlights Keil’s work compiling the all-time top-5 marks in each event for the Blueboys and Lady Blues and engaging fans through various social media as being key factors in his selection. Keil also created several videos in 2017 to promote IC athletics online.

“It was a great honor to be named the winner of the USTFCCCA Excellence in Communications Award for the NCAA Division III level,” said Keil. “Sports information directors in Division III are asked to do a lot of things during a school year, and it can sometimes be a grind to make it from August to May. That I work alongside 20 incredible athletic programs and many, many more incredible people here at Illinois College makes it much easier. The fact that the track and field coaches took the time to nominate me for my work is recognition enough."

Prior to arriving at Illinois College, Keil spent two years at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he was the primary contact for nine of Penn's 33 intercollegiate programs.