University of Maine Athletic Director Ken Ralph has been named the new AD at Southwestern University, in an announcement made by UMaine on Monday morning. Ralph will continue his current role until August 31, and takes over at Southwestern on September 15.
Ralph previously spent time as AD at RPI (2002-2007), and then 11 years at Colorado College as Director of Athletics before coming to Orono to take over the Black Bear programs on September 1, 2018. The University will name an interim AD once Ralph departs, while a national search for a permanent one will be launched.
“It has been my honor to represent our students, faculty, staff and alumni in this role for the past four years,” says Ralph. “We have won championships, managed through a pandemic, and initiated an ambitious athletics facility master plan. We are fortunate to have a staff of outstanding professionals who will keep the momentum going. The Athletic Department at UMaine is on very strong footing. I am very grateful to President Ferrini-Mundy for her unwavering support of me during my time in Orono, she afforded me new opportunities to grow and learn but most importantly she gave me the runway to pursue the transformative facilities plan which will serve our students and our community for many years to come. I am also thankful to Chancellor Malloy for his enthusiastic pursuit of the UMS Transforms initiatives and his support of athletics throughout the UMaine System. Likewise, I am grateful for the generous support from our alumni, sponsors, fans, supporters, volunteers, and donors, especially from our friends at the Harold Alfond Foundation who have done so much for me and for UMaine Athletics.”
Over the four-year stint under Ralph’s leadership, the Black Bears captured numerous championships and achieved academic excellence. Ralph also spearheaded an effort to acquire a transformative $90 million capital gift that will support UMaine’s Athletics Facilities Master Plan. The gift, one of the top 10 largest single gifts ever presented to an athletic department, will be used to provide modern facilities for all 17 varsity programs at the University of Maine. “While it is difficult to leave Maine, I am excited about my new opportunity and a return to the residential liberal arts environment,” said Ralph. “Maine is fortunate to have an immensely talented coaching staff and a highly trained support staff. The next AD will walk into a situation where they will be well positioned to meet the challenges of a Division I environment”.
Southwestern is the top liberal arts school in Texas, and is in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference the same league as Ralph’s former employer Colorado College. They sponsor 20 NCAA varsity programs, and have over 500 student athletes.
*information gathered for this story is courtesy of UMaine Athletics*
