By Sara Wiliams, RSU
CLAREMORE, Okla.-Ryan Erwin, who has overseen the Dallas Baptist University athletics program since 2006, has been named the new director of athletics for Rogers State University.
RSU President Dr. Larry Rice announced the hire on Wednesday, saying Erwin will be an excellent fit for Rogers State.
“Ryan built a successful NCAA athletic program at Dallas Baptist that wins the right way – with integrity and character,” Rice said. “These are the same ideals that we have championed here at RSU, and we look forward to bringing Ryan’s energy and enthusiasm to northeastern Oklahoma. I can’t wait for the RSU family to get to know Ryan.”
Ryan Erwin becomes the third Director of Athletics at Rogers State. (Photo by DBU Media Relations)
Dallas Baptist fields 15 athletic teams at the NCAA Division I and II level, and also sponsors six competitive club teams. The majority of Dallas Baptist’s teams compete as Division II programs within the Heartland Conference, which RSU joined this year as a candidate for NCAA Division II membership.
“I am honored to be selected as director of athletics at Rogers State University,” Ryan said. “I am genuinely excited to be involved in helping RSU transition to NCAA Division II. I want to thank Dr. Rice and Mr. (Tom) Volturo (executive vice president for administration and finance) for giving me this amazing opportunity and I am looking forward to working at RSU and living in the Claremore community.”
Under Erwin’s leadership, Dallas Baptist registered its first-ever NCAA regional appearances in baseball, men’s basketball, women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, cross country and men’s and women’s golf; a super-regional appearance in baseball; and national appearances in cross country, golf, and track.
Erwin led strategic planning and fundraising efforts that allowed Dallas Baptist to build, improve and expand facilities for a number of sports, including the $7 million construction of Horner Ballpark that opened earlier this year. He oversaw the school’s ice hockey team and the Diamond Belles, an auxiliary support group of the athletic department.
“I have truly enjoyed my time at Dallas Baptist,” Ryan said. “Over the last 10 years I have been afforded so many opportunities and an abundance of support. DBU will always hold a special place in my family’s heart.”
Erwin is an active member of the National Association of College Director of Athletics (NACDA), National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), and the NCAA Division II Athletic Director Association (D2ADA), where he serves on the Board of Directors. Erwin also serves as the chair of the Heartland Conference Athletic Directors and on the NCAA Division II Nominating Committee, as well as a member of the Division II Mentoring Institute for the 2013-2014 year.
While with Dallas Baptist, he instituted academic-focused programs that helped boost the department’s grade point average to the highest level in its history. He also played an instrumental role in developing its Champions for Christ program, as well as its Global Sports Mission Initiative with athletic mission trips to Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Peru, South Korea, England, Honduras, China, Liberia, and Brazil.
Erwin previously served at Dallas Baptist as the assistant athletic director for media relations and compliance from 2003-2006, as well as serving in the Office of the Executive Vice President. He has worked for Today Newspapers in Duncanville and Cedar Hill, as well as the Terrell Tribune, writing for the sports section.
A native of Terrell, Texas, Erwin holds two degrees from Dallas Baptist, including a bachelor’s degree in broadcast communications (2003) and a master’s degree in higher education administration (2004). Erwin and his wife Kristy, a 2003 and 2005 Dallas Baptist graduate, have a son, Gage, and a daughter, Gentry. The Erwins are active members of Longbranch Community Baptist Church in Midlothian, Texas, where they volunteer with the youth department.
Erwin will begin his duties at Rogers State on October 14.