After close to nine months without an athletic director, Marquette University has appointed Bill Scholl head of athletics, the university announced on Tuesday.
Scholl, who will officially serve as the university’s vice president and director of athletics beginning mid-October, comes to Marquette from Ball State University, where he has been director of intercollegiate athletics and led 19 NCAA Division I athletic programs.
“Our search committee did a tremendous job of finding a leader who embraces our tradition, shares our values and shows an adept ability to navigate the changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics,” said the university’s president, Michael Lovell, Ph.D., in his announcement of the appointment. “Bill brings a combination of strong leadership qualities that are grounded in integrity, an extensive history of leading successful athletic programs and a track record of developing student-athletes who are scholars and who compete at the highest level of NCAA athletics.”
Scholl, who has more than 20 years of experience in athletics administration, has been at the helm of Ball State’s athletic programs since 2002. During his tenure, eight programs excelled to the postseason and 13 teams achieved first or second in the Mid-American Conference.
During his time at Ball State, Scholl also was chairperson of the Mid-American Conference’s basketball issues working group and served on the conference’s finance committee.
Prior to joining the Ball State Cardinals, he spent 23 at his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, eventually serving as deputy athletic director.
“I am truly honored and thrilled to join the Marquette family,” Scholl said of his new position. “I want to thank Dr. Lovell, Bill Henk and the search committee, as well as everyone I met with and spoke to about this position. It is clear how much everyone here loves Marquette, the mission of the university, and the fact that athletics is part of the fabric at this great institution.”
Bill Henk, Ph.D., dean of the university’s College of Education, chaired the search committee, which was formed in July. Henk serves on both the University Academic Senate and the University Leadership Council and was a collegiate basketball player, himself.
The search committee, which worked in tandem with the executive search firm Korn Ferry, selected Scholl from a pool of candidates that included current athletic directors, up-and-coming deputy athletic directors and professionals outside the realm of collegiate athletics.
“In addition to seeking a proven winner, we aspired to securing an athletic director who understood Marquette, our mission, and the importance of the student-athlete experience,” Henk said.
