Haskell Indian Nations University (Kansas) Zach Wilkerson has been awarded as the 2025-26 Continental Athletic Conference Athletic Director of the Year for leading the department to tremendous success this past season.

Wilkerson completed his fifth season guiding the Fightin' Indians and oversaw the department win five league championships during the 2025-26 athletic season.

He has implemented new fundraising and sponsorship opportunities with five programs raising over $50,000 for the past two years. Haskell Indian Nations' golf programs has conducted multiple tournament fundraisers.

Administratively, Wilkerson has hired five full-time federal employees and transferred another federal employee to be full-time within the department of athletics at the Lawrence, Kansas-based institution. This has resulted in increasing the department staff from three employees to nine, including a full-time Sports Information Director and Equipment Coordinator/Strength & Conditioning coach.

During his tenure he has oversaw facility improvements by refinishing the gym floor inside the Coffin Complex and completing construction of the Haskell Softball Complex. Haskell Indian Nations has converted racquetball rooms into indoor golf and indoor track and field throwing areas. The institution also updated its weight room and training room for its student-athletes.

Haskell Indian Nations has received a Gold Star Champions of Character rating each year as athletic director.