USC’s Dave Roberts receives athletic compliance group’s highest honor

Dave Roberts, special adviser to USC President C. L. Max Nikias on issues of athletic compliance, has been named winner of the 2017 Frank Kara Leadership Award by the National Association for Athletics Compliance.

Roberts came to USC in the summer of 2010 as vice president of athletics compliance, a position he held until last year. Prior to his appointment at USC, Roberts was a managing partner at the Los Angeles law firm he co-founded, Roberts, Raspe & Blanton.

“Dave Roberts helped USC build a gold standard for athletic compliance,” Nikias said. “This well-deserved honor stands in testament to his inspired leadership, his brilliant legal mind and his remarkable tenacity — traits that enabled our compliance office to affirm the integrity of our entire athletic department. The Trojan Family wholeheartedly salutes him.”

Roberts has had a hand in promoting and improving the compliance profession on a national level through his participation on the association’s Professional Development Committee. He also serves on the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions, the NCAA Division I Enforcement Working Group and the NCAA Division I Enforcement and Infractions Review Group.

The Frank Kara Award is the national association’s premier award, the highest honor that may be bestowed upon compliance professionals. This award, given annually, is named in honor of former University of Minnesota Director of Compliance Frank Kara, a leader in the compliance field.