Aquinas College is excited to announce that Dr. Ronald D. Reeves has accepted the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics position. Dr. Reeves has extensive experience in athletic administration, having worked at the University of Colorado, Southern Illinois University (SIU), the University of North Carolina and Ithaca College.
In his role, Dr. Reeves will oversee all aspects of the Department of Athletics, including planning, fundraising, leadership and administration.
Education and Academic Background
Dr. Reeves, originally from Detroit, earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and has a strong commitment to Catholic education. At UDM, Dr. Reeves was both a track and field athlete and pursued a degree in Communications. He later obtained a master's in sports management from Ithaca College, where he also served as a graduate assistant for track and field. His academic journey continued with a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from SIU.
Outside of academia, Dr. Reeves has held various roles, including positions at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Pentagon, the United States Air Force and the City of Denver.
These diverse experiences, coupled with his extensive involvement in athletics, uniquely qualify him to lead Aquinas’ intercollegiate athletic program, which has 30 varsity and six junior varsity sports and involves over seven hundred student-athletes. A renovation of the weight room is also currently underway.
Key Responsibilities:
- Oversee all administrative, operational and business functions following college policies, including sports medicine policies and management of sports facilities and properties.
- Manage the department's budget, including purchasing and paperwork.
- Lead recruitment, organization and management of coaching and administrative staff for optimal performance.
- Collaborate with various campus departments and committees to ensure effective operations.
- Coordinate hiring, training and evaluation of approximately 60 staff and student employees.
Dedication to Community Empowerment and Leadership
Brian Matzke, chair of the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics search committee, shares: “We are thrilled to bring Dr. Ronald Reeves back to his home state. Ron has a long record of success. His experience, servant leadership and genuine concern for others will foster Aquinas College's coaches, athletic staff and student-athletes to reach their full potential inside the classroom, on the athletic field and in their lives.”
Dr. Reeves has shared his excitement and gratitude for the position. He said, "Enthusiasm. That is the feeling I have when it comes to the opportunity to serve as the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Aquinas College (AQ). I would like to thank President Dr. Cordoba and Vice President Matzke, along with the student-athletes, staff and coaches who are vital to AQ. Returning home after fifteen years away, I have developed the skill set to help uplift the AQ, Grand Rapids, and surrounding communities and push for high achieving scholarship in the classroom to help build the future leaders of the world. In being myself, I look to uplift the AQ, Grand Rapids and surrounding communities. AQ has such a great tradition that we will continue to build and experience together."
Special Thank you to Claudette Charney
Aquinas College would also like to recognize and thank Claudette Charney for her leadership as the interim Athletic Director over the past year. She will continue to serve the AQ community as the Deputy Director for Athletics.