Lourdes University President Dr. William J. Bisset, Ph.D. has announced that Jo Ann Gordon has been named the Gray Wolves' new Athletics Director, a role that she previously served in a part time role while also coaching softball.
 
"Jo Ann's extraordinary 13-year service to our student athletes and coaches makes her the ideal person to lead our athletics department at this time," Bisset said.  "I have no doubt Jo Ann's experience and reputation as a skilled intercollegiate athletic administrator will provide the leadership necessary to maintain the high standards we strive for on a day to day basis at Lourdes as one of the top NAIA athletic programs in the country."
 
Gordon returns to the role that she served in for two years from 2016 through 2018 before moving into an associate athletics director role in the summer of 2018.  In 2022, she became the first compliance officer for the athletics department as well.
 
Gordon arrived at Lourdes in 2011, starting the softball program from scratch.  The Gray Wolves competed for the first time in the spring of 2013 and Gordon spent nine seasons leading the program.  In 2016, she guided Lourdes to a Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference tournament runner-up finish, and a berth in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round, the first tournament appearance in program history.
 
She emphasized the student portion of student-athlete as a coach, having 44 players named to the WHAC All-Academic Team.  The Gray Wolves were named a NAIA Scholar Team all nine years she guided the program, and 35 softball players were named NAIA Scholar-Athletes.  In addition, Gordon produced four CoSIDA Academic All-American selections, two First Team and two Second Team picks.  She has also had six student-athletes named CoSIDA Academic All-District I First Team.
 
"I would like to thank Dr. Bisset for this opportunity," Gordon said.  "It is truly an honor and privilege to take on this responsibility.  There is a lot of positive momentum within our athletics department and across campus.  I look forward to building upon that momentum and offering continued support to our student-athletes, coaches, and campus community."
 
Gordon earned her bachelor's degree at Kent State in 1990 in physical education and went on to earn a master's degree in sports administration from the school in 1999.