Topics: Administrative, Athletics
January 8, 2015
Mark Sandy is Ball State's new director of intercollegiate athletics. Read his bio.
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Mark Sandy, director of athletics at Eastern Kentucky University since 2005, will serve as Ball State University’s next director of intercollegiate athletics. Ball State President Paul W. Ferguson announced the hiring Jan. 8 at a news conference in the Worthen Arena Lounge.
Sandy, who begins his duties Feb. 1, was selected for the post following a nationwide search. He succeeds Bill Scholl, who was named athletic director at Marquette University in September.
"The interest in this position was wide, and the resulting talent pool of candidates for our new athletic director was deep," Ferguson said. "I am confident that we have found the right person in Mark Sandy to keep our athletic program moving in its positive trajectory. He has more than 35 years of experience in intercollegiate athletics, from coaching to fundraising and from marketing to leadership in Division I athletics. He understands the invaluable connections among departments at a university and has shown a great ability to forge alliances across campus. With his proven record of success of student-athletes in the classroom and in competition at Eastern Kentucky, Mark will be a great addition to the Ball State team."
At Eastern Kentucky, Sandy was responsible for all athletic department activities, including hiring head coaches, marketing and public relations, fundraising, strategic planning, fiscal management and NCAA compliance. During two of his last three years as director of athletics, EKU won the coveted Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner’s Cup, a symbol of overall athletics excellence in conference-sponsored championships. Prior to his service at EKU, he worked for five years at the University of Richmond as associate athletic director and senior associate athletic director. In the latter role, he directed the Spider Athletic Initiative, a $20 million campaign to build an on-campus stadium for the university's football, soccer, lacrosse and track teams.
"I relish the opportunity to lead Ball State’s athletics program," Sandy said. "The Mid-American Conference in general and Ball State in particular represent my ideal of intercollegiate sports, demonstrating the balance of institutional mission and athletic excellence in its proper order. It’s my honor to be a part of that ideal."