Winthrop UniversitySenior Associate Athletic Director Internal Operations/Chief Operating Officer/SWA
Oct. 2016 - Oct. 2019Rock Hill, SCIn my role as Senior Associate Athletic Director, COO, and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) at Winthrop University, I had the privilege of leading the daily operations and budget management for our Division I NCAA athletic department, which included a dedicated team of 60 employees. I directed the management of our facilities and events, overseeing 17 athletic programs and 315 student-athletes, ensuring everything ran smoothly and efficiently.
As a vital member of the Athletic Director’s senior leadership team, I acted as second-in-command, collaborating closely to develop and implement our department's strategic plan, DRIVE to '25. This plan not only ensured Title IX compliance but also advanced our gender equity initiatives, which I am particularly passionate about.
My responsibilities also included managing multiple sport programs, hiring and evaluating coaches, and serving as the Director for several conference and NCAA championships. I took great pride in spearheading our diversity recruitment efforts, creating a more inclusive environment within our athletic department.
Overall, my tenure at Winthrop University was marked by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and a focus on empowering both our student-athletes and staff.
Some key achievements in this role include:
• Accelerated ticket sales by 124%, generating over $200,000 in revenue, and increased facility rental revenues by 47%, adding $100,000 through strategic partnerships.
• Spearheaded the first tennis fundraiser, raising $7,000, and implemented the Eagle Cup Award, boosting student-athlete community service engagement by 21%.
• Revamped department operations, improving efficiency by 30% across facility management, events, and ticketing, while managing a $13M budget.
• Directed conference championship events, increasing facility usage by 22% and overall attendance by 33%, while empowering diversity recruitment efforts that led to an 18% increase in underrepresented staff.