KENNESAW, Ga. | Jul 11, 2017

Williams returning to Boston College as Senior Associate AD for Administration

Kennesaw State University Director of Athletics Vaughn Williams has accepted the position of senior associate athletic director for administration at Boston College. The announcement was made today by BC Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond.

Williams, 47, who presided over unprecedented athletics growth as the Owls’ director of athletics since 2011, returns to Chestnut Hill where he served as assistant athletic director for operations and facilities from 1998 to 2004.

“I want to thank Kennesaw State University for the opportunity to lead Owl Athletics over the last six years,” said Williams. “The community embraced my family and me with open arms, and we forged relationships that will last forever. I want to extend my most heartfelt thank you to every student-athlete, past and present, the talented coaches, and staff. You deserve the credit for believing in our vision, and doing the arduous work every day to impact lives. Kennesaw State Athletics has the capacity to remain on this upward trend, and that is all due to the people I just mentioned. Most importantly, I feel very fortunate to have played a small part in all we did together. I wish Owl Nation nothing but the best. The Black & Gold will always have a place in my heart.”

Among the highlights of Williams’ six-year tenure at KSU were the highly successful launch of a Division I football program, the creation of the OWLS Champions Initiative (OCI) to promote the holistic development of student-athletes, and the signing of a long-term apparel deal with Adidas.

Williams and his team have achieved remarkable increases in donor giving and corporate partnerships to help fund student-athlete scholarships and facilities improvements, while cultivating relationships with local business, community, campus, and political leaders. Just recently, Williams, together with the Atlanta Braves, announced the Owls would host a football game at SunTrust Park in 2018 – the first football game played in the new home of the Braves.

For his distinguished efforts, Williams was named a winner of the 2016-17 Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year Award in March by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). In his time at Kennesaw State, he served on the NCAA Division I Council, the NCAA Legislative Subcommittee and last year began a stint on the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) Selection Committee.

“Vaughn’s efforts on behalf of Kennesaw State University athletics has been nothing short of remarkable,” said Kennesaw State University President Sam Olens. “He has been instrumental in taking the program to the next level, has been a tireless leader and booster for our coaches, our student-athletes and for the entire university. We wish him great success in his new role.”

Williams’ tenure has seen the Owls capture 20 conference championships and make 23 appearances in NCAA postseason play. Those successes were highlighted by seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances by men's golf, the baseball team's stunning run to the 2014 NCAA Super Regional, two ASUN titles by women’s golf and 14 conference titles combined for the track and field programs.

Success in the classroom was paramount under Williams as the Owls consistently boasted a cumulative GPA near 3.0 for its 400 student-athletes. In the latest data released by the NCAA, Kennesaw State had two programs (volleyball and women's tennis) earn NCAA Public Recognition Awards, while five programs recorded their highest APR since the data began (baseball, men's basketball, women's lacrosse, women's tennis and volleyball).

A native of New Jersey, Williams attended college and played football for the University of Massachusetts.

Williams’ last day at Kennesaw State is set for July 28. Forthcoming from President Olens is the announcement of an Interim director of athletics, and a succession plan.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.