SOUTHWESTERN
ANNOUNCES ADAMS AS NEW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
(Winfield, Kan.) Southwestern College President Brad Andrews
announced today that Jamie Adams has been named as Director of Athletics for
the college. Adams was selected following a competitive national search led by Southwestern’s
executive vice president, Dean Clark, and assisted by Dr. Kurt Patburg of Athletics
Staffing and Consultants.
"This is a great day for our Builder family as we
celebrate all that Jamie Adams will bring to our college," Andrews said.
"Jamie’s career experiences illustrate not only her talent and abilities
but her investment in student-athletes and in athletic programming. She is
singularly focused on helping student-athletes achieve more than they thought
possible. We are excited to move into the next era of Builder athletics under
Jamie’s leadership."
Adams has more than 12 years of experience in
intercollegiate athletics. She currently serves as assistant athletic director
at College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Neb. Before her time at Saint Mary, she
worked at the NAIA National Office for eight years, first as Manager of
Championship Sports before being promoted to Associate Director of Championship
Events. Additionally, Adams was a collegiate athlete at Missouri State, where
she received both her undergraduate and master’s degrees.
"Southwestern
College has a strong history and tradition of excellence in academics with a
robust commitment to athletics,” said Adams. “I am grateful for the opportunity
to play a part in building on that strong foundation. It is truly an honor to join Southwestern
College; this is an incredible opportunity and I am looking forward to what
lies ahead. I cannot wait to get started.”
Beyond
her experience with NAIA, Adams has been tapped to coordinate logistics for
national athletic events including this past June, when she served as the COVID
officer for USA Swimming during the U.S. Olympic Trials. She also actively
serves on several community boards which mostly center around regional
recreation and youth athletics programs.
“I have known Jaime for nearly a decade starting with her
time in the NAIA National Office and her involvement with the championships department,”
said Scott Crawford, commissioner of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
“Having stayed in touch with her during her time at College of Saint Mary, I
see her bringing renewed focus to student-athlete care and wellness, working to
develop coaches and staff, and being committed to quality programming overall
with the institution as some of the key
ways she will impact campus I know she will be a wonderful servant leader at
Southwestern."
Professor Ed Loeb, who has served
as the faculty athletic representative has been the interim athletic director
since Mike McCoy’s retirement earlier this summer.
“I also want to extend my deep appreciation to acting athletic director Dr. Ed
Loeb, associate athletic director Kyle Pond, and all of our coaches for their
work during this transition period,” said Andrews. “It is no small task;
getting ready for and beginning a new academic year with all of the fall sports
seasons and the attention to detail they require. Ed has been outstanding in
his service in this role; Kyle and the coaches have stepped up and done great
work; our student-athletes and our college are the beneficiary of their
leadership. I am extraordinarily grateful.”
Adams is set to begin her work at
Southwestern on September 20.
“My philosophy is that
student-athletes are people first, students second, and athletes third, who
earn the privilege to compete. Sport can and should be used to nurture respect,
responsibility, and an understanding that the good of the team is greater than
any one person,” said Adams. “This belief is consistent with the culture I’ve
found at Southwestern and I look forward to supporting and strengthening these
values in all the ways I’m able. I’m looking forward to all of the growth and
accomplishment that lays ahead for our Builders.”
Fall sports at Southwestern are in
full swing; the full athletics calendar may be found at www.Buildersports.com
