Coastal Carolina University athletics director moves into new role
"I was asked to move into the role of athletics fundraising with Advancement and the Chanticleer Athletic Foundation, and I will accept and continue to work with the integrity and respect that I have always had for Coastal Carolina University," Koegel said.
"I am extremely proud to have been the director of athletics at Coastal Carolina University, where the student-athletes, administrators, coaches and staff worked together and performed with dignity and class to become great ambassadors on the national and international stage. Thank you to all of them and to our loyal fans, faculty, alumni, and our volunteers, and to the community for their outstanding involvement and support of the Chanticleers.
"I have great compassion for the Athletic Department team and look forward to being a part of the continued growth of the Chanticleer programs," Koegel said.
"We are forever grateful to Warren for his advancement of the athletics program here," said DeCenzo. "The reality is that Warren's retirement in a few years, coupled with his desire to raise funds specifically for the athletic programs, has made us reconsider how he might best serve the University. This change will help us to move forward and position ourselves for the next generation of CCU athletics." Koegel has signed a three and a half year contract with the University.
Koegel will continue as athletics director until a replacement is on board, which is estimated to be Jan. 1, 2010. The president has also honored him with the title of Athletics Director Emeritus in recognition of his accomplishments.
Koegel was hired as director of the University's athletics program in 2001 with the challenge of starting a football team from scratch, while continuing to build the other 16 sports on campus with 400 student athletes.
Koegel will continue to serve on the NCAA committees including Division I Football Issues Committee, Division I Football Championship Committee and the Football Academic Enhancement Working Group.
A search committee for the new athletics director position is being formed to identify and interview applicants in the fall and name a successor by the beginning of the new year, according to DeCenzo.
While the football program is his most high-profile accomplishment, Koegel is most proud of the high grade point averages (GPA) of the student-athletes, and Coastal's exemplary standing in the NCAA APR (Academic Progress Rate).
Under Koegel, Chanticleer athletes have consistently won Big South Player of the Year, Scholar-Athlete of the Year, All-Conference and All-Academic honors. In recent years, several sports have produced All-American performers, while several teams and individuals have earned NCAA All-Academic recognition.
Prior to coming to Coastal Carolina University, Koegel was associate athletic director at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga since 1998. He has served on the football coaching staffs at the University of Connecticut, Rutgers University and Wyoming University. Koegel, who played for five years in the NFL, starred at Penn State University under legendary coach Joe Paterno. During his college career he was a third team All-American during his senior year and played on two Orange Bowl champion teams. He played in the Hula Bowl, East-West Shrine Game and the College All-State Game. Koegel received Penn State's Dedicated Player and Outstanding Senior Awards.
For more information, contact Martha Hunn, Coastal Carolina University director of news and public affairs at 349-2962.