Concordia University Hires UO's Matt English as New Athletic Director
PORTLAND, Ore. – Concordia University President Charles E. Schlimpert announced to the athletic staff the appointment of Matt English as the university’s new athletic director. English is currently the interim executive director of the University of Oregon’s Duck Athletic Fund.
“Matt is a rising star in one of Oregon’s most well-established and storied athletic institutions. I am thrilled that he will join our team in July and help us make our vision for success on and off the field a reality, strengthen our role in the NAIA and in the Champions of Character program and help us raise the funds needed to expand our athletic facilities,” said Schlimpert.
Pat Kilkenny, University of Oregon’s athletic director said of English joining Concordia, “Matt has been an integral part of the tremendous growth in Oregon Athletics over the past several years and exhibited great leadership of the Duck Athletic Fund. Oregon's loss will be Concordia's gain."
In February, Schlimpert announced a restructuring of the school’s athletic director position to better prepare the university to execute its master plan and to propel its athletics program to the next level of success. At the time he stated, “Our extraordinary momentum compels us to realize it is no longer business as usual at Concordia. All of us are redefining our roles, reorganizing our systems and elevating our vision to seize the expanding opportunities for education and service. It is because of the tremendous success realized under our current athletic director that our athletics program has such a promising future.”
English said of his appointment, "I am honored to accept the position of Athletic Director at Concordia University. I am excited to join a team that is already thriving and be part of President Schlimpert's grand vision for CU Athletics and the entire university. A strong foundation already exists and I look forward to working with everyone at CU to reach even greater heights."
English, a native Portlander who graduated from Columbia Christian High School, has a B.A. in Business Administration from Seattle Pacific University and an M.B.A. from the University of Oregon’s Warsaw Sports Marketing Center. Since 2001 he has worked for the University of Oregon’s athletic department in a variety of roles starting as a graduate intern for the Duck Athletic Fund, then as regional director of development for the fund, working his way up to associate director of development for the fund and in June of 2007 took over as interim executive director.
During English’s tenure with the Duck Fund he has helped to grow the fund by more than 40% to $10.5 million. In 2007, he directed fundraising efforts for the athletic department, generating nearly $13 million in support. English has been instrumental in creating and executing the private fundraising plans for the University of Oregon’s planned basketball arena. In addition, he has worked with coaches and administrative staff to assist with scheduling, strategic planning and other administrative duties.
As athletic director, English will oversee the 15 successful NAIA athletic teams at Concordia. He is charged with providing long-range strategic planning and philanthropic leadership to better serve Concordia’s student-athletes and the community. In addition, he will lead the university’s current campaign to build a new athletic complex for baseball and soccer, the development of a possible arena project, and other expansion plans.
In addition to adding a new athletic director, the university over the past several weeks has begun to roll out a new logo for the Cavaliers. The athletic department staff spent much of the past year working with Portland-based Sockeye Creative on the creation of a new logo and identity system, in hopes of more clearly articulating the mission and values of Concordia’s athletics program. Concordia University athletics is a strong and dynamic program and through this new identity system, the University hopes to put forward a singular and bold statement about the history, tradition, and excellence of the Cavaliers.
Concordia University is a private, Lutheran, Liberal Arts university located in northeast Portland that has a mission of preparing leaders for the transformation of society. Founded in 1905, the University serves nearly 1,700 students through its College of Education, College of Health & Human Services, College of Theology Arts & Sciences and School of Management. On April 11, 2008 the university broke ground on a new 74,000 sq. ft. Library & Learning Center that will open in fall of 2009 serving the campus and the community. This summer Concordia will dedicate a state-of-the-art Throw Center for student-athletes, Olympic hopefuls, and community youth to participate and train in the four throwing events and the university’s bookstore will move to the corner of N.E. Ainsworth and N.E. 30th Streets. In the next 12 months, Concordia will also construct a new residence hall along N.E. 27th Street and will break ground on a new athletic complex for baseball and soccer.