The NCAA has selected 21 administrators across all three divisions as its cohort for the 2024-25 Pathway Program, a yearlong initiative designed to prepare senior-level athletics administrators for their next career step as directors of athletics or conference commissioners.
ThePathway Program, under the direction of NCAA leadership development, is an intensive, experiential learning opportunity for selected participants who work at an NCAA school or conference in Divisions I, II or III. During the year, the participants will be paired with and have regularly scheduled meetings with a campus or conference mentor. The mentors include directors of athletics, conference commissioners and school presidents, along with others in leadership roles.
The program is structured to help cement their leadership purpose and enhance their skills in areas that focus on strategic planning; fundraising; message articulation; diversity, equity and inclusion; organizational leadership; hiring processes; and engagement with search firms. The 2024-25 cohort will meet June 23-28 for a weeklong education session in Indianapolis. Participants will return in the fall for more programming and to observe their divisions' respective governance meetings. The program will conclude in the summer of 2025 at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics conference in Orlando.
"The past two cohorts saw six learners ascend into the director of athletics or conference commissioner role, as well as seven additional learners promoted into elevated positions that bring them one step closer to leading an athletics department or athletic conference," said DeeDee Merritt, director of leadership development at the NCAA. "The Pathway Program continues to illustrate why it is a signature developmental opportunity for senior-level administrators in the membership and the future executive leaders in college athletics. We are excited to embark on another year of transformative change with the 2024-25 cohort."
The Pathway Program was created in 1997 and has produced more than 300 program alumni, with nearly 30% of the graduates moving on to become athletics directors or conference commissioners. Additionally, more than 70% of the program alumni have received some level of promotion in relation to their title or job responsibilities.
The following have been selected for the 2023-24 NCAA Pathway Program:
- Joseph Arnold, deputy athletic director for compliance and sports administration, Clark Atlanta.
- Becky Clark, associate director of athletics for internal operations and compliance/senior woman administrator, Eckerd.
- John Daniel, deputy athletics director/chief financial officer, Cincinnati.
- Charvi Greer, deputy athletic director for student services/senior woman administrator, Tulane.
- Tiffini Grimes, deputy athletics director/senior woman administrator, Purdue.
- John Heck, senior associate commissioner for compliance, governance and sport administration, Coastal Athletic Association.
- Chassidy Holloway, associate executive director/senior woman administrator, Midwest Conference.
- Abigail Howard, deputy athletics director/chief administrative officer/general counsel, Army West Point.
- Greg Hulen, senior associate director of athletics/chief revenue officer, Missouri.
- Matt Hutchinson, associate athletic director/director of development, Washburn.
- Libby Ladrach, associate athletics director, Wooster.
- Matthew McMasters, assistant director of athletics for business operations, Tufts.
- Ahleasha McNeal, senior associate athletics director for academic services and compliance/senior woman administrator, Lincoln Memorial.
- Casie Runksmeier, deputy athletics director/senior woman administrator, Colby.
- Joni Stephens, senior associate athletics director for internal operations/senior woman administrator, The Citadel.
- Denise Thompson, senior associate athletics director for external operations/senior woman administrator, Manhattan.
- Al Tomlinson, deputy athletics director/external, Toledo.
- Tiffany Tucker, deputy athletics director/senior woman administrator, University of North Carolina Wilmington.
- Candice L. Turner, deputy athletics director/senior woman administrator, Wayne State (Michigan).
- Ryan Wildenhain, associate athletics director for student-athlete development, Marymount (Virginia).
- Jason Young, senior associate athletics director/chief operating officer, Fairleigh Dickinson