Golden Rake Award Bestowed Upon Nick McKenna
Feb 11, 2025 | General
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M assistant athletics director of sports fields Nick McKenna earned the prestigious George Toma Golden Rake Award from the Sports Field Management Association (SFMA).
"Nick is among the very best in the business and very deserving of this honor," Trev Alberts, Director of Athletics, said.
The George Toma Golden Rake Award annually honors a sports turf crew member for their work ethic, job performance and community service. Among the awards criteria are four main tenets – job performance that consistently exceeds expectations, work ethic that consistently exceeds expectations, offers ideas and brings creative skills to the department and assists in additional non-job-related sports events and activities for the community. The recipient is devoted to Toma's 'and then some' tradition of grounds maintenance.
"It's an immense honor for me to receive the Golden Rake Award," McKenna said. "The award is intended to recognize people that consistently go above and beyond in their work. I have been blessed to work with many amazing people during my career that have mentored and guided me to always have the 'and then some' attitude for which George Toma was known."
An emerging icon in the industry, McKenna is one of less than 300 Certified Sports Field Managers (CFSM) through the SFMA. He served on the SFMA's board of directors from 2016-22, ascending all the way to the presidency in 2021. In addition, he has served on the board of directors for the Texas Sports Managers Association, a role he has held since 2012.
McKenna continues a long line of elite sports field managers to bless Aggieland. Craig Potts claimed the Golden Rake Award in 2009. Leo Goertz earned the SFMA's Harry C. Gill Founders Award in 2010.
"Both of my predecessors here at Texas A&M were recipients of similar awards through the Sports Field Management Association," McKenna said. "So, I am extremely honored to join both Leo and Craig on the list of recipients for one of these prestigious awards."
McKenna began his second stint at Texas A&M in August 2011 as the athletic fields foreman/Olsen Field groundskeeper. He was promoted to assistant athletics director in 2016.
In his current role, McKenna helps develop and oversee the maintenance plans for all athletics department playing surfaces, including Kyle Field, the Coolidge Practice Fields, Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park, Davis Diamond, Anderson Track & Field Complex, E.B. Cushing Stadium, as well as numerous landscape and grounds areas surrounding the Texas A&M athletic facilities.
Prior to returning to College Station, McKenna spent four years as a field & facility coordinator at Virginia Tech from 2007-11, overseeing the baseball and soccer/lacrosse facilities in addition to assisting with all of the department's playing surfaces.
McKenna graduated from Iowa State University in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in horticulture with a turf management focus. He served as a student worker in the athletics department during his time in Ames and upon graduating came to work as an athletic groundskeeper at Texas A&M from 2003-05.
The award's namesake George Toma is widely recognized as one of the top groundskeepers to ever pursue the profession, earning the nickname 'Sodfather.' He is one of the founders of STMA and has supervised grounds crews during multiple Olympic Games and the 1994 World Cup. George Toma has earned recognition from the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the MLB Groundskeepers Hall of Fame.
"Nick is among the very best in the business and very deserving of this honor," Trev Alberts, Director of Athletics, said.
The George Toma Golden Rake Award annually honors a sports turf crew member for their work ethic, job performance and community service. Among the awards criteria are four main tenets – job performance that consistently exceeds expectations, work ethic that consistently exceeds expectations, offers ideas and brings creative skills to the department and assists in additional non-job-related sports events and activities for the community. The recipient is devoted to Toma's 'and then some' tradition of grounds maintenance.
"It's an immense honor for me to receive the Golden Rake Award," McKenna said. "The award is intended to recognize people that consistently go above and beyond in their work. I have been blessed to work with many amazing people during my career that have mentored and guided me to always have the 'and then some' attitude for which George Toma was known."
An emerging icon in the industry, McKenna is one of less than 300 Certified Sports Field Managers (CFSM) through the SFMA. He served on the SFMA's board of directors from 2016-22, ascending all the way to the presidency in 2021. In addition, he has served on the board of directors for the Texas Sports Managers Association, a role he has held since 2012.
McKenna continues a long line of elite sports field managers to bless Aggieland. Craig Potts claimed the Golden Rake Award in 2009. Leo Goertz earned the SFMA's Harry C. Gill Founders Award in 2010.
"Both of my predecessors here at Texas A&M were recipients of similar awards through the Sports Field Management Association," McKenna said. "So, I am extremely honored to join both Leo and Craig on the list of recipients for one of these prestigious awards."
McKenna began his second stint at Texas A&M in August 2011 as the athletic fields foreman/Olsen Field groundskeeper. He was promoted to assistant athletics director in 2016.
In his current role, McKenna helps develop and oversee the maintenance plans for all athletics department playing surfaces, including Kyle Field, the Coolidge Practice Fields, Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park, Davis Diamond, Anderson Track & Field Complex, E.B. Cushing Stadium, as well as numerous landscape and grounds areas surrounding the Texas A&M athletic facilities.
Prior to returning to College Station, McKenna spent four years as a field & facility coordinator at Virginia Tech from 2007-11, overseeing the baseball and soccer/lacrosse facilities in addition to assisting with all of the department's playing surfaces.
McKenna graduated from Iowa State University in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in horticulture with a turf management focus. He served as a student worker in the athletics department during his time in Ames and upon graduating came to work as an athletic groundskeeper at Texas A&M from 2003-05.
The award's namesake George Toma is widely recognized as one of the top groundskeepers to ever pursue the profession, earning the nickname 'Sodfather.' He is one of the founders of STMA and has supervised grounds crews during multiple Olympic Games and the 1994 World Cup. George Toma has earned recognition from the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the MLB Groundskeepers Hall of Fame.
Fightin' Texas Aggie Band Halftime: Utah State
Saturday, September 06
Fightin' Texas Aggie Band Halftime: UTSA
Sunday, August 31
Pluckers Playmakers: Episode 3
Tuesday, April 15
Pluckers Playmakers: Episode 2
Wednesday, April 02
