ALBION, Mich. —Albion College has named Hall of Fame student-athlete and accomplished administrator, Jennifer Rushton, as its next director of athletics, following a national search. Her appointment is effective June 1.
Rushton joins Albion after spending the last 27 years in a variety of athletic administration and coaching roles at NCAA division I, II, and III institutions, as well as experience in the NAIA. She currently serves as athletic director for Young Harris College, a Division II liberal arts college in northeast Georgia.
Reporting to President Wayne Webster, Rushton will provide strategic oversight of all intercollegiate, intramural, and recreational programs at Albion College, including setting a long-term vision for athletics, implementing program assessment, and directing daily operations to ensure adherence to conference regulations and higher education best practices. Additionally, she will support enrollment and retention goals and strategies, partner in mid and long-range strategic and facilities planning, and build partnerships on campus, with Albion alumni, and in the community to grow support for athletics.
"It was clear through this process that Jennifer brings the experience and competitive desire to be successful not only in terms of wins and losses but also in making sure we are succeeding in supporting and mentoring our student-athletes for life after Albion," said Wayne Webster, president of Albion College. "I have no doubt she brings all the skills necessary to strengthen our legacy of athletic success and support campus-wide initiatives around academic excellence and student success. Her passion to win and her care for her coaches and students, and how she thinks strategically on ways to best support their success shined through in her reference calls and in conversations she had with campus partners."
At Young Harris, Rushton oversees a department of 35 employees and 360 student- athletes, developed a five-year strategic plan for athletics, and managed an operating budget of nearly $3 million and a scholarship budget of $2.3 million. Young Harris athletics has enjoyed much success with Rushton at the helm, from regular conference tournament appearances to conference titles, NCAA qualifiers, coach and athletic training staff of the year awards, and even a College World Series appearance for softball. During her tenure, she reinstated cross country, added women's volleyball, and men's and women's track and field programs. She led the transition from the Peach Belt Conference to the Conference Carolinas.
Prior to her time at Young Harris, Rushton spent six years as senior associate athletic director for compliance and student-athlete services and senior woman administrator at Armstrong State University in Savannah, GA, and had a brief stint as associate director of student-athlete services at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA.
Closer to Albion, Rushton spent three years as assistant athletic director for compliance and academic services at Saginaw Valley State University and eight years at her alma mater and fellow MIAA member, Trine University in Indiana, where she served as head women's basketball coach and associate athletic director, helping to lead the university's transition from the NAIA to the NCAA.
"I would like to thank President Webster and the search committee for this tremendous opportunity. There was a clear sense of passion for Albion College from everyone I met during the interview process," said Rushton. "We will keep the student-athlete experience at the forefront of our decision making, ensuring we focus on their holistic development. There is an excellent coaching staff in place, and I look forward to working alongside them to achieve the highest level of excellence both in the classroom and in competition. I am eager to get to campus and get started.
"I would also like to thank President Drew Van Horn, the staff, and student-athletes at Young Harris," she added. "These are some of the best coaches and student-athletes I've had the privilege to work with and wish them all the best."
Rushton is actively involved in the NCAA, having served on multiple committees and participated in a variety of leadership and mentoring programs. She is currently a member of the NCAA Division II Women's Lacrosse National Committee. In 2023, she was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) Leadership Honor Society.
She graduated from Trine (formerly Tri-State) with a Bachelor of Science in biology and earned a Master of Science in sports management from Georgia Southern University.
At Trine, she was an all-conference women's basketball player in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) from 1995-1997, and served as team captain her sophomore, junior, and senior years. In 1996, Rushton led the Thunder to the Elite Eight of the NAIA Division II Tournament and was named an NAIA All-American. She became only the fourth woman at Trine to score over 1,000 points. She was inducted into Trine's Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Montrose Hill McCloy High School Hall of Fame in 2004.
Rushton will take over from Associate Athletic Director Eric Scott, who has been serving as interim athletic director for the 2023-2024 academic year.
"I want to thank Interim Athletic Director Eric Scott and our entire athletics department staff for their excellent work throughout this academic year," added Webster.
