It is with Tiger Pride and sadness that Towson University announces the departure of Athletics Director Mike Waddell. On June 10, Waddell will begin a new position as the senior associate athletics director at the University of Arkansas.
“In a relatively short amount of time, Mike Waddell began an impressive transformation of Towson University’s NCAA Division I Intercollegiate athletics program,” said Towson University President Maravene Loeschke in a statement.
“We wish him well at the University of Arkansas, and we know that he will bring the same energy, leadership and excellence to his new job as he did here at Towson. He will be missed. The TU community wishes Mr. Waddell and his family all the best in his new endeavor.”
During the 2012-13 athletics season, student-athlete academic achievement significantly improved, with more than 131 players achieving a 3.5 GPA or higher. Student-athletes engaged in more than 10,000 hours of service in the Baltimore community. Towson captured six CAA championships and four Tiger coaches were named CAA Coach of the Year. Five student-athletes were named CAA Player of the Year, nine were selected as All-Americans and more than 53 were named to All-Conference status. Finally, the Towson men’s basketball team recorded the biggest NCAA single-season turnaround in the history of college basketball.
As Towson’s athletics director, Waddell successfully negotiated a multimedia rights partnership with CBS Collegiate Sports Properties that expanded the department’s development staff and led to record totals in annual giving over the last two years. He also recently secured a new multi-year footwear and apparel agreement with Baltimore-based Under Armour.
An interim athletics director has not yet been determined. A national search will begin immediately for a permanent athletics director.
