Latest news with #AthleticDirector
CBS News
8 hours ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Keli Zinn, Rutgers University's new athletic director, says championships are "a big part of what drives me"
It's a new day for Rutgers athletics. Keli Zinn was named the university's next athletic director. She was formerly Lousiana State University's athletic director, and the first female athletic director for West Virginia. She will lead Rutgers University's 24 varsity sports, with over 730 student athletes. She has 15 national championships and 34 conference championships under her belt. At LSU,she helped lead the Tigers to four national championships including women's basketball, gymnastics, and twice in baseball, as well as multiple SEC titles in track and field and gymnastics. "The championship piece of it, that's a big part of what drives me. We have some incredible people here who have spent decades at Rutgers, and they want so much to experience that at the highest level of success. And I see part of my job as owing that to them," Zinn said. So how does she recruit the top tier student athletes, coaches and staff to assist with that goal? "It's going after the best. I'm going after that right now. And then get them in here to perform at a really high level," Zinn said. Zinn found creative ways to create program revenue at LSU, which even included a documentary series on Amazon Prime video. She said it all starts with getting in the win column. "We can certainly put up some good wins and show that there is progress being made," Zinn said. It's about cultivating a culture of winning, and sustaining it. "You hear a lot about that grit. You're going to see a mentality that starts at the top, where administrators believe in our success, our coaches believe that they can win here," Zinn said. "And that will translate to our recruits, our current student athletes, and everyone pushing in the same direction." "Keli Zinn brings the strategic drive, operational excellence, and championship pedigree we need right now for Rutgers Athletics," Rutgers President William Tate said when he announced her appointment. "Her leadership style resonates deeply with Rutgers' mission – competitiveness on the field, integrity in our practices, and excellence in the student‑athlete experience. She will guide Rutgers into a new era, with forward-looking leadership, tapping into the Rutgers edge."
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Tennessee Tech makes historic move to Southern Conference, leaving Ohio Valley after 77 years
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Tech announced Wednesday that the school is switching to the Southern Conference on July 1, 2026, and leaving the Ohio Valley Conference, where the Golden Eagles had been members since 1949. 'This historic move changes the trajectory of our athletic aspirations and makes a statement to our campus and our community that Tech sports will be a part of a vibrant conference with new geographic rivalries,' athletic director Casey Fox said in a statement.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
HHI High School announces death of athletic director
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) — Hilton Head High School's Principal Steve Schidrich announced longtime Athletic Director Coach Joe Monmonier's death, in a Facebook post Thursday. Monmonier worked at the school for over 20 years and was athletic director for the last 13. 'Joe was more than an athletic director—he was a true champion for our Seahawk community. His commitment to excellence and athletics left a legacy that has helped shape the spirit of our Seahawk family. He was also a mentor and role model for Athletic Directors across the state of South Carolina,' Schidrich said in the statement. The school announced counselors will be available on campus on Monday for students and staff in need of support. HHIHS is also available to offer support at 843-689-4800. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Holland High School tennis coach Kyle Kreps steps down
Kyle Kreps has stepped down as Holland High School boys and girls tennis coach. Kreps, who played tennis and swam at Holland, coached at his alma mater for 11 years. "After 11 incredible years coaching the boys and girls tennis teams, I've made the heartfelt decision to step down. This was not an easy decision, but I believe this will be the right time for this change to occur as I take on a new role with HPS," Kreps wrote in a letter to the team. Advertisement Kreps will be the assistant principle at Holland Middle School. He has been named Regional Coach of the Year multiple times and led the program to several state tournament appearances. The Holland Christian tennis team defeated Holland 8-0 in a match that featured five three-set matches. "Coaching at Holland has been an incredible journey and I'm grateful to have lived out a dream of mine. The opportunity to work with such dedicated student-athletes and supportive families has been a privilege that I will always hold dear. The memories made on and off the court are ones I will carry with me forever," he wrote. "What I will cherish most are the relationships - the bonds formed with players, the shared commitment to reaching our potential, and the desire to always put the team first. Helping our players develop not only as tennis players but as people was always the ultimate goal." Advertisement Holland High School Athletic Director Blake Muller said the search for Kreps' replacement has begun. Those interested in applying can email Muller at bmuller@ Contact sports editor Dan D'Addona at Dan.D'Addona@ Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland High School tennis coach Kyle Kreps steps down
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Georgia Tech Football Faces Crossroads Season With New AD Coming
Georgia Tech Football Faces Crossroads Season With New AD Coming originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The past decade on The Flats has been a slow fade from national relevance, but now Georgia Tech finds itself at a critical inflection point. Brent Key, once the sentimental interim, now sits in year three as the full-time head coach with a 14–12 record and back-to-back bowl appearances—the program's first such streak in a decade. Yet the momentum is fragile, and the stakes in Atlanta have never been higher. Advertisement Georgia Tech enters 2025 perched on the edge of two futures. One where it fully reclaims its spot among college football's power programs. The other? A slow slide into irrelevance, watching rivals surge ahead while Tech spins its wheels in neutral. Brent Key's Balancing Act Let's be honest: Brent Key didn't win this job in a traditional way—he was handed the keys during a turbulent transition. Now, with a new athletic director expected to step in following the exit of J Batt, the honeymoon might be over. Key's record—14-12 over two seasons (7-6 in both 2023 and 2024)—is steady, not spectacular. And while bowl games are better than basement finishes, steady won't keep you employed for long in today's arms race of college football. Especially not in Atlanta, a city with SEC-sized expectations and no patience for stagnation. Advertisement The upcoming schedule won't allow him to hide. Georgia Tech's 2025 slate reads like a national showcase: Georgia. Tennessee. Notre Dame. Colorado. Those are more than just games—they're high-stakes auditions. Win, or even compete credibly, and the program could earn an invitation back into college football's exclusive rooms. Lose big, and a coaching search might finally begin in earnest. Where Does Tech Fit in the New ACC? Tech's urgency is only heightened by the ACC's newly introduced revenue model, which prioritizes performance and TV ratings. No more guaranteed slices of the pie—schools that show up in primetime and win reap bigger rewards. So, where does Georgia Tech stand? Somewhere in the middle. This season is a golden opportunity to change that narrative. Advertisement The Yellow Jackets are one of the few programs in the ACC with the combination of brand potential and big-game matchups to cash in. But without tangible results—wins, rankings, and national buzz—Tech risks being just another mid-tier program fighting over the scraps Clemson, Florida State, and now SMU leave behind. J Batt's Blueprint and the Search for a Successor J Batt didn't stay long, but he left a trail of bold moves and financial fixes that gave the program a real shot at relevance. Before arriving in Atlanta, Batt was Alabama's financial engineer, a behind-the-scenes operator helping fund the Saban Empire. At Tech, he went to work immediately: a record-setting $78.2 million haul for the Alexander-Tharpe Fund. A $500 million "Full Steam Ahead" facilities overhaul. Hyundai naming rights for Grant Field. A neutral-site Georgia rivalry game in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. These weren't Band-Aids—these were surgical moves to bring Tech football into the modern era. Advertisement Revenue jumped from $29 million to $59 million. Georgia Tech leapt from 66th to 38th in Division I football revenue rankings in under two years. Now, with Batt off to greener pastures, Jon Palumbo—who's been in the department since 2022—takes over. Whether he maintains the same aggressive vision remains to be seen. But make no mistake: the next AD will have full license to make a coaching move if things stall. A Sleeping Giant in a Fertile State There's no reason Georgia Tech should be a middling program. The state of Georgia is a top-5 recruiting haven, and Tech's last two classes—ranked 33rd and 18th nationally—suggest Key has found a pitch that resonates. But closing the gap with SEC programs that dominate the region will require more than just talent—it requires proof of concept. Advertisement The good news? The schedule gives Tech a platform. The bad news? It also gives them nowhere to hide. And then there's the big hypothetical looming: realignment. If the SEC ever comes calling again—remember, Tech was a founding member—it'll be games like these that determine if the Yellow Jackets are ready to come home. Six Years Removed From Paul Johnson and the Triple Option Six seasons ago, Paul Johnson's option-based offense was phased out. The rebuild hasn't exactly gone according to plan, though the transfer portal has helped accelerate the process in recent years. Teams like Colorado have shown how quickly a new identity can take root. Tech isn't that far off—but it needs a signature season to flip the narrative. Advertisement That brings us to 2025. A year where bowl eligibility won't be enough. A year that could cement Brent Key as the long-term answer—or end the chapter before it truly began. Related: Georgia Tech Lands Explosive WR in 2026 Recruiting Win The Bottom Line In the NIL and transfer portal era, programs either adapt fast or get left behind. Georgia Tech has the infrastructure. It has a pipeline to talent. It has the city. What it doesn't have—yet—is proof. 2025 is the year to change that. Or else the new AD, armed with J Batt's blueprint and no emotional ties to the current regime, might decide it's time for buzz off. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
