Tim Selgo set to step down as Grand Valley athletic director next year

Tim W. Selgo, who is set to enter his 20th year as athletic director at Grand Valley State, announced today that he will step down following the 2015-16 academic year. Selgo was appointed athletic director on February 12, 1996 and put his own stamp of leadership on Laker athletics. 

A promoter of a well-rounded athletic department, Selgo has been a key figure in the Lakers' rise to the top of Division II athletics. Grand Valley State has finished among the top two in the Learfield Sports/NACDA Directors’ Cup standings for 14 consecutive years, including 10 titles (2004-11 and 2014-15). The prestigious award is presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Learfield Sports and the USA TODAY to the best overall collegiate athletics programs in the country. While GVSUhas been dominant nationally, the Lakers have also been a pillar of strength regionally and in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, having won 17 straight GLIAC Presidents' Cup titles as the top athletic program in the 16-team GLIAC. The Lakers' 22 all-time Presidents' Cup titles top all GLIAC institutions. Grand Valley State, which won 45 GLIACtitles in the 24 years prior to Selgo's arrival, has won 161 GLIAC titles in his 19 years as the GVSU Athletic Director. The Lakers have also captured 18 NCAADIINational Championships and 74 regional championships during his time at Grand Valley State.

"The past 20 years have been a wonderful professional experience, more than any one individual could hope for," said Selgo. "I have had the privilege of working at a great university with very talented and hard-working people who care about students. That combination leads to success and this university is certainly one of the greatest success stories in the history of higher education in this country. It has been my intent, through the intercollegiate athletics program, to help GVSU accomplish its mission, which is to 'educate our students to shape their lives, their professions and their societies.'" (See Selgo's full statement)

A well respected leader in college athletics, Selgo will spend the 2015-16 year as the President of NACDA. He previously served as the Chair of the NCAA Management Council (2012), the top post in Division II athletics, following his four year stint on the NCAA DII Management Council (2007-11). Selgo has also been named the NACDA Division II AD of the Year three times (2003, 2007, 2013).

“Tim’s leadership as Grand Valley State University’s athletic director is evident in the myriad of accomplishments made by our student-athletes and our teams over these past two decades,” said Grand Valley State President Thomas J. Haas. “Ten Directors’ Cup titles during his time is the ultimate testimony. His leadership has also been exercised in NCAA Division II and during his time in NACDA. It is said that achievements start at the top and this is the case with Tim. He is the best athletic director in the nation and completes his tenure at GVSU on top, where he should be. I will miss his passion for student-athletes and how he was able to create the environment for success through hiring great coaches, creating the sports complex, and most importantly stressing and achieving student success in the classroom,” added Haas.

Selgo has been a key figure in the development and enhancement of the athletic facilities and programs at Grand Valley State. Lubbers Stadium was renovated in 2011, adding seats to increase capacity to 10,444, as well as installing a new FieldTurf artificial surface. An outdoor track and field/lacrosse stadium was also opened in the fall of 2011, while the Kelly Family Sports Center, which opened for all university activities in 2008, was spearheaded by Selgo. The Laker softball team began play on its new field in 2008 and the Laker baseball field added stadium seating behind home plate in 2010. The GVSU Football Center, located in the north end zone of Lubbers Stadium, has been expanded by more than 4,000 feet since Selgo's arrival, while lights were installed at Lubbers Stadium and the Rob Odejewski Weight Room was built in honor of the late assistant athletic director for marketing and promotions. Selgo also organized projects that enabled every varsity sport at Grand Valley State to have its own locker room. 

A native of Pettisville, Ohio, Selgo was inducted into the Toledo Athletic Hall of Fame in February of 2001 and will be inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame in the fall of 2015.