Fort Lewis College President Brad Bartel has announced that Kelly J. Higgins will take over the Fort Lewis College Athletic Department as acting director of athletics. Higgins will replace departing Director of Athletics Kent Stanley.

Higgins was a finalist during the director of athletics search that produced Stanley.  

“What initially attracted me [to Fort Lewis College] were excellent coaches, a great location, and the vision for Fort Lewis Dr. Bartel had outlined in the FLC strategic plan,” says Higgins.

“I used to work in the RMAC and I have been looking forward to the opportunity of working with good people that I know well,” he added.

Higgins possesses a great deal of experience in collegiate athletics. His past positions include: associate athletic director at The American University, director of athletics and recreation at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, and director of athletics and assistant to the vice president at the University of South Dakota.

He also served as assistant commissioner for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, which is the conference that Fort Lewis College plays in. Currently, he is the owner of KJH Sports Services, a specialized sports consulting service.

Concerning his new responsibilities at Fort Lewis, Higgins is clear about what he needs to do. “My primary role is communicating and implementing the vision of the [college] through the department to achieve our goals.”

He goes on to say that, “The primary job of the athletic director is to create a setting that supports the coaches goals of accomplishing the mission of the institution, which is to help student athletes succeed academically, in sport and in life.”

Higgins will officially take over as director of athletics on March 1, 2008. At that time, Kent Stanley will be reassigned to the President’s Office for special assignments through June 30, 2008.