Archive: Sports

Aurora, N.Y. – Following a nationwide search, Wells College has hired Michael Lindberg as the Director of Athletics, Provost and Dean of the College Dr. Cindy Speaker announced Thursday afternoon. Lindberg currently serves as the Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Ithaca College where he has served various roles dating back to 1986.

"We are delighted to have Mike join the Wells community as our new Director of Athletics," said Speaker. "I believe his vast experience in intercollegiate athletics will allow us to build on our foundation and take the athletic program to the next phase of growth, competitive success, and community development. I know that he is committed to the preparation of students for success in college and life. I am confident that under Mike's leadership we will be able to ensure quality experiences for our student athletes and the entire Wells community."

At Wells, Lindberg will oversee a department that has experienced exponential growth in recent years. Since becoming a co-educational institution in 2005, the cadre of sport offerings has expanded from six all-women's teams to 14 sport offerings in 2014-15. In the past year, Express teams have accounted for two North Eastern Athletic Conference championships and one NCAA Division III Tournament berth. Academically, a school-record 57 student-athletes earned NEAC Scholar-Athlete recognition in 2014 after achieving a 3.40 grade point average or higher.

"I am honored and thrilled to have been named Director of Athletics at Wells College," remarked Lindberg. "I would like to thank Provost Speaker for having the confidence in my abilities to lead the Express. The vision for Wells College is exciting as it connects new and unique opportunities for student engagement while heralding its' longstanding traditions of excellence.  I look forward to working collaboratively with the Wells College community and particularly with the dedicated student-athletes, coaches and staff."

Lindberg joins Wells after nearly 30 years at Ithaca, most recently serving as the Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics for 27 varsity programs and 80 full-time coaches, staff members and graduate assistants dating back to 1998. Managing nearly 800 student-athletes at Ithaca, Lindberg was responsible for NCAA compliance, game day operations, staff recruitment, sport oversight, and student-athlete support services. He served as the Department's liaison with admissions, alumni relations, athletic training, medical services, first year programs, and judicial affairs. In addition, he assisted with the development of long-term strategic planning, budgeting, fundraising and stewardship for the College's nationally-recognized athletics program.

At Ithaca, Lindberg collaborated in the development of policy and procedure for the management, marketing and scheduling of all athletic facilities, including the $65.5 million Athletics and Events Center that opened to the public in the fall of 2011. During his tenure, Lindberg also served key roles across the campus as the Senior Assistant Director of the Campus Center and Activities, advising several on-campus organizations including the Student Programming Board, Inter-Fraternity Council and the Leadership Advisory Committee.

A member of the NCAA Elite 89 Award Project Team, Lindberg has acted as chair of the Division III Baseball and Women's Basketball National Committees for the New York and East regions, respectively. Additionally, Lindberg has served as a Host Site Coordinator at Ithaca, managing NCAA Division III tournaments and championships in baseball, basketball, football, men's lacrosse, men's soccer, women's soccer and softball.

The chair of the championships committee for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), he was the Division III representative on the Board of Directors and has directed tournaments in football and women's gymnastics. A member of the Executive Committee representing the East Region for the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association, Lindberg has served as Tournament Director for the Division III National Championship.

Lindberg has extensive experience working with the Empire 8 Conference, serving initially on the committee to form the conference. He assisted with the research and drafting of the league's constitution and bylaws. Since the creation of the modern-day Empire 8 in 1999, Lindberg has coordinated the Empire 8 Student Leadership Summit.

A member of the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Lindberg was the Vice Chair for the Association of College Personnel Administrators Commission IV. Additionally, he was the Regional Coordinator/Regional Conference Chair for the National Association of Campus Activities.

Across campus, Lindberg provided representation for the athletic department at Ithaca College committees for gender equity, health education and promotions, orientation, academic advising, alcohol and other drug education, campus life awards and the communications and marketing advisory committee. Regularly appearing at panels as a guest speaker, Lindberg led keynote presentations at the NCAA Champs/Life Skills Continuing Education Conference and the National Association of Campus Activities East Region Professional Development.

Since joining Ithaca College, Lindberg's service to the campus at large have earned him the institution's Sport Management and Media Leadership and Service Award, the Supervisors Academy Award and the Choice Award. His extensive work with the College's gymnastics program earned him Administrator of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches for Women.

Lindberg is a graduate of Le Moyne College, earning his bachelor's degree in Business Administration while playing varsity soccer for the Dolphins. He received his master's degree College Student Personnel Administration from Indiana University. A resident of Lansing, N.Y., Lindberg and his wife Bonita have three daughters, Katie, Liz and Nina.

v10i31