ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Ken Halpin, Winthrop University’s vice president for intercollegiate athletics and athletics
director, has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Council.
The Division I Council is a high-level group responsible for the day-to-day decision-making for Division I. The council is comprised of practitioners who work daily in Division I athletics, and it has primary legislative authority for Division I.
The committee develops and debates new and past ideas and recommends whether they should be introduced as pieces of legislation. Athletic directors, athletic administrators, senior women administrators, faculty athletics representatives and student-athletes serve on the council. Every Division I conference is represented on the council, which also is responsible for a number of NCAA standing committees on various topics.
“Winthrop is extremely proud that Ken has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Council," said Winthrop President Dan Mahony, who team teaches a History and Current Issues of College Athletics course with Halpin, the only one of its kind in the country taught by a university president and athletics director. “Given his knowledge of and experience in athletics administration, we know that he will be a valuable asset to the council and that he will work diligently to enhance the NCAA Division I experience for the thousands of student-athletes who are fortunate to play at this level of competition."
Halpin’s term will begin immediately and run through June 2019, at which time he will be eligible for an additional four-year term.
“It’s truly an honor to be selected to represent the Big South Conference. I look forward to serving with members that I have long respected, and together we will advance the mission of the NCAA while keeping the student-athlete experience front and center,” said Halpin.
Halpin began his role at Winthrop in July 2016. He previously served as deputy athletic director at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington.
He received a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Washington State University in 2015 and an M.A. in sport administration from Gonzaga University in 2008, where he taught as an adjunct professor in the sport management program. He earned a B.A. from Willamette University in 2005, where he was an All-Conference performer in both football and baseball.
For more information, please contact Monica Bennett, director of communications, at 803/323-2236 or e-mail bennettm@winthrop.edu.
