Louisiana Tech President Jim Henderson announced this morning in a press release that Ryan Ivey has been named the University’s new Director of Athletics and Vice President.
Ivey will make his debut on campus at a welcome event for media at 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 29th in the Davison Athletics Complex at Joe Aillet Stadium.
Ivey current holds the same role as AD at Stephen F. Austin University, a member of the Western Athletic Conference.
“Ryan brings the experience, leadership acumen, and understanding of intercollegiate athletics that we were looking for,” said Tech President Jim Henderson. “As an athletics director for more than a decade, he is fully aware of the expectations and challenges this role carries. We could not be more excited to welcome him and his family to Ruston to lead our Bulldogs and Lady Techsters into a new era of competitive excellence.”
Ivey has spent the past five and a half years as the Director of Athletics at Stephen F. Austin University (2018-present) in Nacogdoches, Texas. Prior to his time at SFA, Ivey was the Director of Athletics for three years at Austin Peay State University (2015-18) in Clarksville, Tenn.
He earned his first opportunity as an AD at Division II Texas A&M-Commerce (2013-15). Ivey also spent six years at McNeese State (2007-13), starting out as an assistant athletics director before being promoted to associate AD.
“The Louisiana Tech athletics brand is synonymous with excellence,” said Ivey. “When you think about the student-athletes, coaches, administrators and teams that have called this University home, it is really astounding. We have an opportunity to build upon, grow, and establish future success.
“Our goal will be to build a nationally prominent athletics department with individuals that excel in everything that we do. We will be relentless in our pursuit of excellence, respecting those that have come before us, but building and chartering our own path and successes. Now is the time to be part of this amazing University and department.”
He has a long history on the athletics development side, fundraising on both the private giving and corporate sponsorship side. During his tenure at SFA he led the department through a conference transition, raised private support including securing the 4 largest single gifts in the department’s history, increased ticket sales by 189 percent, and completed more than $30 million in facility improvements.
Ivey was a football student-athlete at the University of Memphis. He earned both his bachelor’s (sports management, 2004) and master’s (sports and leisure commerce, 2010) from Memphis.
He is married to the former Kelley Holt from Fayetteville, Tennessee, and has two sons, Jett and Ace.
“My family and I are thrilled to be joining the Louisiana Tech family and the Ruston community,” said Ivey. “It is an honor and privilege to lead this historic and well-respected athletics department. I want to thank Dr. Henderson and the members of the search committee for their trust and faith in my abilities to fill this role. This is such an exciting time for Louisiana Tech University and the athletics department. I cannot wait to get started.”
