Bucknell University Athletics
Michelle Manning Named Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Administration at Bucknell
12/2/2019 12:02:00 PM | General
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Michelle Manning, currently the director of athletics at Carthage College in Wisconsin, has been named senior associate director of athletics for administration at Bucknell.
In her new role at Bucknell, Manning will directly supervise several varsity programs and will serve as the Department of Athletics and Recreation's primary academic liaison. She will be responsible for overseeing the financial aid and admissions process as it relates to varsity athletics recruitment, and she will partner with Human Resources as the department's hiring manager and liaison. Manning will also oversee Bucknell's NCAA Compliance and Student Services area and will serve as the Deputy Title IX Coordinator for matters related to gender equity in Athletics.
Manning will assume many of the responsibilities previously overseen by Maisha Kelly, who has transitioned into a new role as senior associate AD for development at Bucknell.
"I am very excited to welcome Michelle Manning to our senior administrative team," said director of athletics and recreation Jermaine Truax. "I was extremely pleased that this position attracted a deep and talented pool of candidates, and in the end Michelle stood out as a highly skilled leader in college athletics. Michelle brings a wide array of experiences to the position, as she has been a student-athlete, a head coach, an associate AD, and most recently an AD. I am looking forward to Michelle joining us and bringing those perspectives to Bison Athletics, particularly as we move forward in our strategic planning."
"I am thrilled and honored to be joining the Bucknell Athletics team," said Manning. "I want to thank Jermaine Trauax, Maisha Kelly and the rest of the search committee for this exciting opportunity. I am looking forward to working with the many talented student-athletes, coaches and staff, all of whom are committed to excellence in competition and in the classroom."
Manning assumed the role of director of athletics at Carthage in July 2018. She has overseen an NCAA Division III program with 27 sports, identical to the number of varsity sports offerings at Bucknell. During her tenure at Carthage, Manning successfully launched three new sports and managed a budget of more than $4.5 million.
Some of her notable accomplishments at Carthage include creating the school's first athletics facility master plan; a restructuring of the corporate partnership program that resulted in a 300-percent growth in investments; the installation of new student-orientation programming with a focus on the needs of underserved populations; and the development of a student marketing and promotions team to boost game day experiences.
Prior to her hiring at Carthage, Manning spent seven years at Ithaca College. Her tenure at Ithaca began in 2011, when she was named the assistant director of athletics for business and scheduling and senior woman administrator. In 2015, she was elevated to associate director of athletics for finance and administration, while retaining the position of senior woman administrator.
Athletic department budget, postseason tournament coordination and direct supervision for various athletics programs fell under Manning's watch. She also served as tournament director for a number of NCAA Division III Championship events hosted by Ithaca.
Manning has participated in several highly selective leadership development programs. She was one of 24 participants across NCAA Division I, II and III in the 2017 Women Leaders in College Sport Executive Institute, and she was one of four NCAA Division III administrators selected to participate in the 2016 NCAA Pathways program. Manning was also involved with the 2010 NCAA/National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators Institute for Administrative Advancement.
From 2016-18, Manning chaired the NCAA National Softball Committee. She was also the NCAA Softball Central Region Chair from 2009-11 and the Northeast Region Chair from 2012-18.
Before launching her career as an athletics administrator, Manning served as the head softball coach at Transylvania University for five years from 2006 to 2011, where she compiled a 127-69-1 (.647) overall record. Manning led the Transylvania softball program to four Heartland Conference championships (2006, 2009, 2010, 2011), two Heartland Conference Softball Tournament championships (2006, 2010) and two appearances in the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament (2006, 2010). Manning's efforts landed her 2009 and 2010 Heartland Conference Coach of the Year honors.
Prior to Transylvania, Manning spent two seasons as head softball coach and assistant volleyball coach at Albion College. She served in that same capacity at Shenandoah College for the 2003-04 school year. She entered the coaching profession in 2001-02 at Bethany College, where she served as assistant women's volleyball coach and assistant softball coach. The 2002-03 year saw Manning take on the role as head women's volleyball coach and assistant softball coach at Bethany.
Manning attended Mount Union College, where she was a four-time all-region selection in softball. She captained the softball team also competed on the volleyball team. She earned her bachelor's degree in sport management, marketing and recreation from Mount Union in 2000. She obtained a master's degree in athletic coaching education from West Virginia in 2003.
In her new role at Bucknell, Manning will directly supervise several varsity programs and will serve as the Department of Athletics and Recreation's primary academic liaison. She will be responsible for overseeing the financial aid and admissions process as it relates to varsity athletics recruitment, and she will partner with Human Resources as the department's hiring manager and liaison. Manning will also oversee Bucknell's NCAA Compliance and Student Services area and will serve as the Deputy Title IX Coordinator for matters related to gender equity in Athletics.
Manning will assume many of the responsibilities previously overseen by Maisha Kelly, who has transitioned into a new role as senior associate AD for development at Bucknell.
"I am very excited to welcome Michelle Manning to our senior administrative team," said director of athletics and recreation Jermaine Truax. "I was extremely pleased that this position attracted a deep and talented pool of candidates, and in the end Michelle stood out as a highly skilled leader in college athletics. Michelle brings a wide array of experiences to the position, as she has been a student-athlete, a head coach, an associate AD, and most recently an AD. I am looking forward to Michelle joining us and bringing those perspectives to Bison Athletics, particularly as we move forward in our strategic planning."
"I am thrilled and honored to be joining the Bucknell Athletics team," said Manning. "I want to thank Jermaine Trauax, Maisha Kelly and the rest of the search committee for this exciting opportunity. I am looking forward to working with the many talented student-athletes, coaches and staff, all of whom are committed to excellence in competition and in the classroom."
Manning assumed the role of director of athletics at Carthage in July 2018. She has overseen an NCAA Division III program with 27 sports, identical to the number of varsity sports offerings at Bucknell. During her tenure at Carthage, Manning successfully launched three new sports and managed a budget of more than $4.5 million.
Some of her notable accomplishments at Carthage include creating the school's first athletics facility master plan; a restructuring of the corporate partnership program that resulted in a 300-percent growth in investments; the installation of new student-orientation programming with a focus on the needs of underserved populations; and the development of a student marketing and promotions team to boost game day experiences.
Prior to her hiring at Carthage, Manning spent seven years at Ithaca College. Her tenure at Ithaca began in 2011, when she was named the assistant director of athletics for business and scheduling and senior woman administrator. In 2015, she was elevated to associate director of athletics for finance and administration, while retaining the position of senior woman administrator.
Athletic department budget, postseason tournament coordination and direct supervision for various athletics programs fell under Manning's watch. She also served as tournament director for a number of NCAA Division III Championship events hosted by Ithaca.
Manning has participated in several highly selective leadership development programs. She was one of 24 participants across NCAA Division I, II and III in the 2017 Women Leaders in College Sport Executive Institute, and she was one of four NCAA Division III administrators selected to participate in the 2016 NCAA Pathways program. Manning was also involved with the 2010 NCAA/National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators Institute for Administrative Advancement.
From 2016-18, Manning chaired the NCAA National Softball Committee. She was also the NCAA Softball Central Region Chair from 2009-11 and the Northeast Region Chair from 2012-18.
Before launching her career as an athletics administrator, Manning served as the head softball coach at Transylvania University for five years from 2006 to 2011, where she compiled a 127-69-1 (.647) overall record. Manning led the Transylvania softball program to four Heartland Conference championships (2006, 2009, 2010, 2011), two Heartland Conference Softball Tournament championships (2006, 2010) and two appearances in the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament (2006, 2010). Manning's efforts landed her 2009 and 2010 Heartland Conference Coach of the Year honors.
Prior to Transylvania, Manning spent two seasons as head softball coach and assistant volleyball coach at Albion College. She served in that same capacity at Shenandoah College for the 2003-04 school year. She entered the coaching profession in 2001-02 at Bethany College, where she served as assistant women's volleyball coach and assistant softball coach. The 2002-03 year saw Manning take on the role as head women's volleyball coach and assistant softball coach at Bethany.
Manning attended Mount Union College, where she was a four-time all-region selection in softball. She captained the softball team also competed on the volleyball team. She earned her bachelor's degree in sport management, marketing and recreation from Mount Union in 2000. She obtained a master's degree in athletic coaching education from West Virginia in 2003.
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