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."
The
Thompson
File
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's
Background
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.
