CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Citing a desire to spend more time with his young family, Dan Hammes has resigned as American Rivers Conference Commissioner.
 
The Conference Presidents Council named longtime collegiate athletics director Keith Hackett to serve as interim commissioner. The council will convene in the coming days to look at next steps and appropriate timeline for the selection of a new commissioner.
 
Hammes joined the conference staff in 2016 as deputy commissioner and was named commissioner in August, 2021.
 
“Dan stepped in at an important time and effectively navigated a number of challenges,” said Presidents Council Chair Mark Putnam, Central College president. “He is well organized and brought discipline and focus to the work of the conference. He has been attentive and responsive to the position’s many areas of responsibility. Dan is very well regarded by the conference presidents, and we regret his departure. But we also appreciate his wish to prioritize the needs of his family and are respectful of his decision.”
 
Hammes, a 2007 Wartburg College graduate and former standout student-athlete, said leaving a position and conference he loves is difficult.
 
“I’m honored to have had the opportunity to serve the conference in a leadership capacity,” Hammes said. “I thank the presidents for entrusting me with this position, as well as thanking the athletics administrators and faculty athletics representatives. My greatest satisfaction came from helping provide positive experiences for our student-athletes, being able to see them compete at a high level and knowing that those experiences carry beyond those moments in time into their lives ahead.”
 
Hammes said he particularly cherishes the time he got to spend with his staff colleagues, Deputy Commissioner Hannah Halverson and Sport Administration Assistant Ali Wilson, as well as his predecessor, former commissioner Chuck Yrigoyen.
 
“I’m grateful to them,” he said. “I truly have loved working in the conference. But this time in my life is calling me in a different direction that will allow me to be more present with my family.”
 
Proven athletics leader: Hackett has served as a college faculty member, coach and administrator. He was athletics director at the University of Alaska-Anchorage for four years and then spent three years as athletics director at Cornell College before retiring. Most recently, he spent six months as the interim athletics director at Simpson College in 2020-21. Earlier he was senior associate athletics director at the University of Nevada-Reno, associate athletics director at Northern Illinois University, assistant football coach at the University of Memphis and head baseball coach at Baker University (Kan.). He also served as executive vice president and provost at St. Gregory’s University (Okla.) and as vice president for admissions and enrollment management/dean of admission for law, graduate and undergraduate admissions at Oklahoma City University.
 
“We are most grateful to Keith for his willingness to take on this role,” Putnam said. “He’s a team-builder with a wealth of knowledge about athletics. He’s known as a strong communicator and a tireless worker. He is both well-known and highly regarded within college athletics.”
 
Hackett said he’s enthused about yet another new athletics leadership opportunity and thankful he was asked to serve.
 
“It’s being involved in college sports,” he said. “It’s been my life for 43-plus years.”
 
Hackett said his familiarity with the conference attracted him to the role.
 
“The American Rivers Conference is a very, very strong conference with outstanding student-athletes,” he said. “It’s one of the top conferences in the NCAA Division III. I also like the strength of the all-academic teams and the numbers of student-athletes on those teams. That shows a focus on academics as well as athletics.”
 
Hackett said he’s already orienting himself to his new role and intends to soon embark on a listening tour, meeting with conference presidents and athletics directors, as well as coaches and student-athletes.
 
“This will help me discover where we are and gather information for the presidents about where we want to go as a conference and what they’re going to look for in their search for a new commissioner,” he said.
 
Putnam thanked the conference office staff in conducting the league’s day-to-day operations as well as paving the way for a smooth leadership transition.
 
“We want to acknowledge the fine work of Hannah Halverson and Ali Wilson,” he said. “They’ll be working diligently and thoughtfully as we complete the academic year.”