Albion College

Al Deal served as commissioner of the MichiganIntercollegiate Athletic Association, America’s oldestcollegiate conference, from 1971 to 1991. He guided the MIAAthrough a historic period in which the MIAA became one of the firstcollegiate conferences in America to have a combined governancestructure for men’s and women’s sports. His effortsalso increased the MIAA’s stature among NCAA Division IIIconferences. Even in retirement, he and his wife, Connie,frequently attend conference events at the membercampuses.

Last spring, the MIAA established the Albert L. DealScholar-Athlete Award, which will be presented annually to the topgraduating male scholar-athlete in the league.

A Kalamazoo College graduate, Al went on to earn hismaster’s in educational administration from the University ofMichigan. In a distinguished career spanning 40 years in Michiganpublic education, he served four school districts assuperintendent. He also was elected president of the Michigan HighSchool Athletic Association and was active in the MichiganAssociation of School Administrators. In 1988 he was inducted intothe Michigan Education Hall of Fame.

Al was voted into the Kalamazoo College Athletic Hall ofFame in 1995 and four years later his alma mater presented him theDistinguished Service Award.

The Deals reside in Spring Lake.