海角社区

海角社区 Names Veteran Collegiate Athletics Executive and Michigander David L. Diles Its New Athletic Director

Jul 16, 2021

海角社区 has selected veteran collegiate athletics executive and Michigan native David L. Diles as its new director of athletics after conducting a national search. He succeeds Dr. David Paitson, who earlier resigned after four years to accept an assistant professor of sport management position at University of Indianapolis. Diles begins at LSSU on Aug. 2, 2021, and will oversee 11 Div. II teams in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and a Div. I men鈥檚 hockey team in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

A four-time NCAA athletic director over the past 26 years, Diles comes to LSSU from the Virginia Military Institute, a Division I institution with 18 varsity sports. In eight years running the program, he has played key roles in increasing student-athlete GPA from 2.55 to 2.88, establishing an initiative to recruit athletes with exceptional academic backgrounds, growing the scholarship budget by more than 70 percent, supporting VMI鈥檚 efforts in raising tens of millions of dollars for athletics, erasing an inherited debt of nearly $1.5 million, assisting the VMI Foundation鈥檚 efforts to augment the department endowment from $31 million to $72 million through new gifts and market adjustment, renovating athletics facilities, and winning several conference sportsmanship awards.

鈥淢y wife, Suzanne, and I are thrilled to be returning to our home state and to be joining an institution that we believe in and a leadership team that聽made聽a聽profoundly聽positive聽impression. Both of our adult children, Matthew and daughter-in-law Heather, and Mitchell will be frequent visitors to Sault Ste. Marie, MI,鈥� said Diles. 鈥淧resident Dr. Rodney S. Hanley and Provost Dr. Lynn G. Gillette as chair of the search committee provided a clear and compelling vision of the vital role intercollegiate athletics can play in the advancement of the university. In addition, my familiarity with the GLIAC and the CCHA will allow for a quick transition. I鈥檓 honored to accept this appointment and looking forward to working with the department鈥檚 coaches, staff, and, most importantly, the student-athletes.鈥�

Other career credits include director of athletics and chair of the physical education department at the Div. III Case Western Reserve University (2005-13). During his tenure, student-athlete graduation rate was 92 percent, the program GPA was 3.39, and there were 37 Academic All-Americans. Numerous teams earned NCAA Championship berths. The program also raised millions of dollars for equipment, renovations, construction, and staffing.聽 As athletic director at the Div. I Eastern Michigan University (1999-2005), Diles helped increase the graduation rate of student-athletes to 60 percent, boost their GPA from 2.6 to 3.05, rebalance gender equity in favor of more female participation, create a student-athlete code of conduct, and raise unprecedented external funding. The program won 21 conference championships. At the Div. I St. Bonaventure University (1995-99), Diles as vice president/director of athletics spearheaded an equity plan applauded by The Chronicle of Higher Education, started a radio network for coverage, and raised millions of dollars.

Earlier jobs included assistant director of athletics at Auburn University (1991-94) and Central Michigan University (1989-91). He also served as director of athletics at Dexter Community Schools (1987-89). Diles was an assistant director of public relations for the New York Jets of the National Football League in 1984. Author of numerous articles in professional journals and member of numerous conference and NCAA committees, he earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in journalism and a master of sports administration from Ohio University and a doctorate of education from University of Michigan.

鈥淒avid Diles was easily our top candidate for many reasons,鈥� said LSSU President Hanley. 鈥淗e is a highly experienced administrator with more than 25 years of work as a NCAA director of athletics聽and comprehensive leadership in institutional, conference, and national governance work in athletics. And he has considerable experience in growing programs, supervising聽capital projects, and fundraising. The list of his accomplishments is very lengthy, but perhaps the thing we were most impressed with is his record of ethical leadership at the various places he has served.鈥�