Elkins, W.Va. — Davis & Elkins College President G.T. "Buck" Smith today named Jamie R. Joss as Director of Athletics effective August 1, 2015. Joss comes to the position with 23 years' experience in college and corporate sports management.
In making the announcement, Smith said: "Athletics is second only to our Academic Program as the largest segment of the College - with responsibility for recruiting, engaging and mentoring roughly 30% of the student body. We were looking for an experienced and already-successful Athletic Director to lead this key program area. We found him in Jamie Joss.
"The academic performance of our student-athletes is stellar," Smith continued. "Last year, we received word that their graduation rate ranks #1 in the U.S. among all NCAA Division II schools. With this record of performance in the classroom and success of many of our teams, we were positioned to attract a person of Jamie's experience and leadership talent."
Presently Director of Athletics at Warner Pacific College in Portland, Oregon, Joss has college and university athletic administration at several NCAA Division I, II & III schools – including Colgate University, Rochester Institute of Technology and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He was also Sports Information Director for the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Conference. Earlier he was Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach at Division II St. Andrews Presbyterian College in North Carolina.
"The academic reputation, the family environment of the faculty and staff, and the potential for growth and success of the Senators athletic program are what attracted me to D&E," Joss said.
"With dedicated coaches and staff, talented student-athletes, outstanding facilities, affiliation with the Great Midwest Athletic Conference and support of the College, we have the necessary resources to further our commitment to prepare and inspire student-athletes for success and thoughtful engagement in the world," Joss added. "I am eager to begin forging relationships on campus and with our Senator alumni to help our students continue their high academic performance, success in the G-MAC and service to the Elkins community and beyond."
Prior to his arrival at Warner Pacific, Joss worked in the private sector helping launch The Bleachers Corporation, an innovative video streaming provider. Before that he leveraged his vast connections in collegiate athletics to help position SIDEARM Sports as the #1 Provider of College Athletics Websites. As Vice President of Sales and Operations, he was responsible for helping grow the company from 40 clients to nearly 600 in just four years.
Joss earned a B.S. degree in Sport Management from Bowling Green State University and a M.S. Degree in Sport Administration from the United States Sports Academy. He and his wife Jodi have three sons Jansen (8), Jace (6) and Jade (3).