Bruce Van De Velde

Bruce Van De Velde

Bruce Van De Velde served as Director of Athletics at Louisiana Tech University from 2010 to July 1 2013 when he stepped down.^[1] From 2008 to 2010, Van De Velde served as Deputy Director of Athletics & Chief Operating Officer at Louisiana Tech University under then-Director of Athletics/Head Football Coach Derek Dooley.^[2]

During Van De Velde's tenure, LA Tech received an invitation to join Conference USA and left the Western Athletic Conference in July 2013.^[3] In 2012, the Louisiana Tech football program received its highest national ranking in school history ^[4] and was ranked in the BCS for the first time. He was responsible for a compliance program that achieved no major NCAA rules infractions from 2008 to the present.^[5] In addition, the student-athlete graduate success rate of 72 percent in 2012 was the highest in the history of the university and one of the top graduation rates in the nation.^[6] All 16 sports programs were APR penalty free and eight programs achieved their highest APR in school history.^[7]

Teams he was associated with participated in the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Holiday Bowl, Peach Bowl, Aloha Bowl, Independence Bowl, Insight.com Bowl, Copper Bowl, Poinsettia Bowl, and Humanitarian Bowl.

Coaching hires at LA Tech include Skip Holtz (football),^[8] Sonny Dykes (football, WAC Coach of the Year), Michael White (men's basketball), and Mark Montgomery (softball).^[9]

Van De Velde was responsible, while at Iowa State University, for hiring Christie Martens (women's golf)^[10] and Christy Johnson-Lynch (volleyball, Big XII Coach of the Year).^[11]

While at Utah State University, Van De Velde hired Stew Morrill (men's basketball - 5-time WAC Coach of the Year).^[12]

Van De Velde has won many awards and earned many achievements including:^[13] General Robert R. Neyland - Outstanding Athletic Director Award (2005) Admiral U.S. Grant Sharp - Award Recipient (1995) PRISM Award - Managerial Excellence (2010) Excellence in Management Cup - Texas A&M University (2009, 2010, 2011)

Education

In 1982, Van De Velde completed his undergraduate degree with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Iowa State University. His postgraduate work includes a Master of Arts degree in Physical Education from The University of Iowa (1991).

Coaching/Recruiting

• Served as Assistant Athletic Director for Recruiting at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA from 1991 to 1992.
• Served as Departmental Recruiting Coordinator at The University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa from 1988 to 1991.
• Was Defensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator for Football at Dana College in Blair, Nebraska from 1985 until 1988.
• Was Assistant Football Coach at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska from 1982 until 1985.

NCAA

• Football Issues Committee (2003 - 2005, 2011 - 2013)^[14]
• Championships and Competition Cabinet (2003 - 2005)^[1]
• Travel Issues Committee (2003 - 2005)^[1]
• Financial Aid Committee (1999 - 2002)^[1]
• Peer Review Committee (1997, 1999 - 2000)^[1]

Division IA Athletic Directors’ Association

^[15]

• Strategic Planning Committee (1999)
• Executive Committee (2011, 2012, 2013)

Western Athletic Conference

• Administrative Committee (2010 - 2012)
• Finance Committee (2011 - 2012)

Big 12 Conference

• Administrative Committee (2004)
• Television Committee (2002 - 2005)
• Conference Bowl Committee (2003 - 2005)
• Conference Finance Committee (2002 - 2005)
• Conference Event Management and Officiating Committee (2002)

References

External links

• Louisiana Tech profile