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Baldwin
Wallace
University
has
named
Steve
Thompson as
the
University's
Director
of
Athletics
following
a
national
search. Thompson will
begin
leading
the
Yellow
Jackets
on
June
7.
"We are thrilled to welcome Steve to the BW Athletics Department and to our BW community," said President Bob Helmer. "Steve comes to BW with an extensive knowledge of the NCAA Division III philosophy not only as an administrator but as a former student-athlete. We look forward to him enhancing our student-athlete experience as well as continuing to improve the athletic department and facilities as we seek excellence in all ways."
Thompson succeeds interim director of athletics John Snell '87, who will return to his assistant director of athletics role after running the department for the 2020-21 academic year following the retirement of Kris Diaz '78 last June.
"Having grown up in Northeast Ohio, Baldwin Wallace has always been a premier Division III institution producing excellent outcomes in competition and in the classroom," Thompson said. "I look forward to working with the entire BW family, especially our scholar-athletes, in creating a transformational Yellow Jacket experience."
Thompson comes
to
Berea
after
serving
the
past
three
years
as
the
director
of
athletics
at
Bethany
College
in
West
Virginia. At
Bethany,
he
led
the
daily
operations
of
the
Bisons'
21
intercollegiate
athletic
sports
teams,
created
a
new
alumni
engagement
strategy,
signed
an
agreement
with
BSN
Sports
and
Nike
to
be
the
exclusive
apparel
provider
and
renewed
a
partnership
with
Riddell
Corporation.
Prior to Bethany, Thompson was the director of athletics at Eureka College in Illinois for four years and was the women's basketball head coach for three years. As athletics director, he made a series of upgrades and renovations to Eureka facilities, including the Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena and Convocation Center, which was dedicated in October 2015, and the addition of turf and lights to Peter FioRito Stadium at McKinzie Field in the summer of 2017.
As a coach, Thompson led his team to a 2017 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship, a berth into the NCAA Tournament and earned the SLIAC Coach of the Year Award.
Before
Eureka,
he served
two
years
as
assistant
athletic
director
for
facilities
and
operations
at
Kent
State
University,
where
he
directed
the
day-to-day
operations
of
several
athletic
facilities,
including
the
25,000-seat
Dix
Stadium,
home
of
the
Golden
Flash
football
team.
Thompson
also
contributed
to
long-term
strategic
planning
and
coordinated
the
game-day
experience
for
Kent
State
football.
His
role
in
student
involvement
and
alumni
relations
helped
increase
attendance
to
more
than
85,000
fans
for
the
2013
season.
From
2007
through
2012, Thompson was
assistant
athletic
director
for
facilities
and
operations
at
Case
Western
Reserve
University.
Thompson earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from The College of Wooster in 2001 and a Master of Science in sports administration from Kent State in 2007. While at Wooster, he was a three-year letterwinner and a team captain in men's basketball. The Fighting Scots won two North Coast Athletic Conference regular season titles, three NCAC Tournament championships and secured three NCAA Division III Tournament bids.
